Prevalence and patterns of social isolation and loneliness among older adults in Singapore

Author

• Yi Wen TAN, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
• Le Ha Linh PHAN, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
• Emi LOH, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
• Rachel Wen Yi NGU, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Report

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

10-2026

Abstract

As Singapore rapidly transitions into a super-aged society (Lau, 2024), social isolation and loneliness have become growing concerns among academics, policymakers, and social service professionals alike (A. Chan et al., 2023; Fang & Tan, 2023; Shafeeq, 2025). News reports in 2025 highlight an increase in helpline calls from older adults seeking help for their loneliness and emotional distress (Shafeeq, 2025). The prevalence of socially isolated elderly living alone is projected to increase fourfold between 2020 and 2060 (Ng et al., 2020), highlighting the urgency and relevance of addressing this social issue.

Keywords

Social Isolation, Social engagement, Social Networks, Activity Engagement, Demographics

Discipline

Gerontology | Sociology

First Page

1

Last Page

30

Publisher

SMU Centre for Research on Successful Ageing

City or Country

Singapore

Embargo Period

10-29-2026

Citation

TAN, Yi Wen; PHAN, Le Ha Linh; LOH, Emi; and NGU, Rachel Wen Yi. Prevalence and patterns of social isolation and loneliness among older adults in Singapore. (2026). 1-30.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/rosa_reports/32

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.