Over 70% of 20-Something Office Workers Experience Loneliness; 1 in 3 Lack Real Connections, Tokyo Sharehouse Survey Finds

'Tokyo Sharehouse', operated by Tokyo Sharehouse LLC (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Tetsuro Moriyama), conducted a 'Survey on Loneliness Among Office Workers in Their 20s' targeting male and female employees in their 20s. The survey revealed the reality of loneliness felt by young professionals, their coping mechanisms, and their attitudes toward real-world connections.

<Background>

As work styles and values continue to diversify, and more young people opt out of workplace drinking events, real human relationships are becoming increasingly sparse. Coupled with comparisons to others via social media and anxiety about the future, office workers in their 20s are highly susceptible to various feelings of loneliness daily. Additionally, while the spread of smartphones and advancements in AI technology have increased the means to spend fulfilling time alone—such as watching videos or interacting with AI—it remains questionable whether these activities actually bring a sense of security and emotional fulfillment. Consequently, Tokyo Sharehouse LLC conducted this survey to understand the reality among 20-something office workers.

<Survey Summary>

- Over 70% of 20s office workers answered that they sometimes feel lonely.

- Many of those who feel lonely reported feeling so 'when worrying about the future' or 'during alone time on days off or before bed.'

- The top 3 coping methods for loneliness were: 1. 'Watching videos', 2. 'Enjoying hobbies', and 3. 'Eating/drinking delicious food.'

- Over 40% of those who feel lonely reported that taking action to relieve it does not sufficiently eliminate their feelings of loneliness.

- Over 1 in 3 of 20s office workers answered that they do 'not' have real connections where they can feel 'human warmth' or a 'place to belong.'

- Approximately 65% believe that in the future, real connections providing 'human warmth' and a 'place to belong' will be needed more than ever.

<Survey Overview>

Survey Period: May 11 to May 12, 2026

Survey Method: Internet research

Survey Target: Office workers in their 20s (male and female)

Number of Respondents: 442

Monitor Provided by: RC Research Data

*Because response ratios are rounded to the nearest tenth, totals may not equal exactly 100.0%.

Over 70% of 20s Office Workers Feel Lonely

First, regarding the question 'To what extent do you feel lonely?', the top answer was 'Sometimes' at 42.5%, followed by 'Never' at 28.1%, 'Frequently' at 15.8%, and 'Always' at 13.6%. The combined total for 'Sometimes', 'Frequently', and 'Always' reached 71.9%. This indicates that over 70% of 20s office workers experience loneliness.

Loneliness Often Felt When Anxious About the Future or During Alone Time

Next, asking those who experience loneliness 'When do you feel lonely?', the top answer was 'When feeling anxious about the future' at 46.2%, followed by 'When spending time alone with no plans on a day off' at 35.2%, and 'When alone thinking before going to bed at night' at 33.3%. This shows that loneliness is often felt not only during moments of future anxiety but also during routine alone time on holidays or at night.

Top 3 Coping Methods: Videos, Hobbies, and Good Food

When asked 'How do you relieve loneliness when you feel it?', 48.4% answered 'Watching videos (YouTube, etc.)', 41.8% said 'Enjoying hobbies (gaming, fan activities, etc.)', and 34.6% answered 'Eating or drinking delicious things'. This reveals that media consumption and hobbies are the primary outlets.

Over 40% Feel Coping Actions Are Insufficient

Furthermore, when asked 'How much do your actions to relieve loneliness actually eliminate the feeling?', 46.5% said 'Relieved to some extent', 30.8% said 'Not relieved much', 12.9% said 'Sufficiently relieved', and 9.8% said 'Not relieved at all'. While 'Relieved to some extent' was the most common, the combined percentage of 'Not relieved much' and 'Not relieved at all' reached 40.6%, indicating that for over 40%, their actions are inadequate.

Over 1 in 3 Lack Real Connections

When asked 'Do you have real connections where you can feel human warmth or a place to belong?', 64.7% answered 'Yes' and 35.3% answered 'No'. This reveals that over 1 in 3 lack such real-world ties.

Roughly 65% Believe Real Connections Will Become Increasingly Necessary

Finally, when asked 'Do you think real connections providing human warmth or a place to belong will become more necessary in the future?', 45.9% answered 'Somewhat think so', 25.3% answered 'Don't really think so', and 19.0% answered 'Strongly think so'. The combined total of 'Somewhat think so' and 'Strongly think so' was 64.9%, highlighting a strong recognition of the future need for genuine connections.

<Conclusion>

This survey clarified that over 70% of office workers in their 20s experience loneliness, particularly when anxious about the future or spending time alone. The top coping methods are watching videos, enjoying hobbies, and eating/drinking, though many find these methods insufficient. The findings underscore a critical gap in real-world connections among young professionals.