- Solo dining in the U.S. is rising, with 69% of people who live alone eating all their meals solo. This trend is driven by more people living alone, smaller family sizes, delayed marriages and greater independence, particularly among women.
- Shared meals are linked to higher life satisfaction and stronger social connections, while frequent solo dining is associated with depression, anxiety and health risks like cardiovascular issues.
- Globally, meal-sharing varies: Latin America leads in social dining, averaging nine shared meals weekly, while South Asia ranks lowest with fewer than four, highlighting cultural and regional differences.
Full Story
More Americans are dining solo. While this may seem harmless, studies show it could be affecting happiness and well-being.
The latest World Happiness Report ranks the United States 24th out of 140 countries, its lowest ranking ever. A growing trend of Americans eating alone is one contributing factor.
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Solo dining on the rise
Since 2003, the number of people who live alone and eat all their meals solo has climbed. It jumped from 55% to 69%, a 25% increase over the past two decades.
But solo dining isn’t just a trend among those who live alone. The data also shows that both men and women across different age groups are eating more meals by themselves.
Several factors contribute to this shift. One of the biggest reasons is more Americans are living alone than in previous generations.
Smaller family sizes, delayed marriage and parenthood also play a role. Additionally, greater economic opportunities for women have led to more independent living.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in solo dining. But even as the world has returned to normal, the numbers have stayed high.
Does eating alone impact happiness?
While eating alone can be convenient, studies suggest it may not be good for long-term well-being.
Shared meals are linked to higher life satisfaction, stronger social connections and greater community engagement. In contrast, frequent solo dining is associated with higher risks of depression, anxiety and cardiovascular issues.
Global dining habits vary
Meal-sharing practices differ worldwide.
- Latin America and the Caribbean lead in social dining, with people sharing an average of nine meals per week.
- South Asia ranks the lowest, with people eating fewer than four meals a week with others.
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In parts of East and South Asia, cultural differences may also play a role. Some respondents in the World Happiness Report did not consider family members or household members as “someone they know” in a social context.
The bottom line
A “table for one” might be convenient, but research suggests that pulling up an extra chair could be the key to boosting happiness.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
Do you find yourself eating alone more often than not? Maybe it’s a quick solo lunch at your desk or dinner in front of the TV. It turns out more Americans are dining alone than ever before, and according to new research, this trend might actually be affecting happiness levels.
The U.S. has dropped to its lowest ranking ever in the World Happiness Report—falling to 24th place out of 140 countries. That’s a dip from 11th place in 2012, when the report first started. One contributing factor? More Americans are eating alone.
Since 2003, the number of people who live alone and eat all their meals solo has risen from 55% to 69%—a 25% increase. Data also shows that both men and women are eating more meals alone than ever before, a trend seen across different age groups.
So why is this happening? One major factor is that more people are living alone. Smaller family sizes, delayed marriage and parenthood also play a role. With greater economic opportunities for women, independent living has become more common. Even though solo dining spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers haven’t changed much since.
While eating alone may be convenient, studies suggest it’s not great for long-term well-being. Research links shared meals to higher life satisfaction, stronger social connections, and greater community engagement.
Meanwhile, dining alone has been linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, and even cardiovascular issues.
The report also shows how meal-sharing habits vary worldwide. Latin America and the Caribbean lead in social dining, averaging nine shared meals per week. On the other end, South Asia ranks the lowest, with people eating fewer than four meals a week with others.
In parts of East and South Asia, cultural differences may shape how people define social connections. Some respondents didn’t consider family or household members as “someone they know.”
For context, Taiwan leads East Asia in happiness rankings at 27th place, just three spots below the U.S. Singapore follows at 34th, while other Asian countries ranked lower on the list.
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