How the score is calculated
Short version: the 0–100 score is a weighted sum of three components. We chose the weights; research didn't. Treat it as a map, not a measuring instrument.
Where we start from
The World Health Organization defines loneliness as the unpleasant feeling that arises from a mismatch between the social connection a person wants and the connection they actually have. It defines social isolation objectively: few relationships and interactions. Loneliness can therefore exist among many people, and its absence among few.
The questions about feeling are loosely inspired by items in widely used scales (the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale) but are neither translations nor licensed versions of them. A review of the eight most commonly used scales points out that different instruments capture different aspects, and that some items measure related constructs rather than loneliness itself. That's why we measure three things separately and show them side by side instead of hiding them in one number.
Three components
| Component | What it contains | Range | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeling | 4 questions on how often you felt disconnected in the last 2 weeks, each 0–3 | 0–12 → 0–100 | 40% |
| Need × reality gap | 6 areas, each with "I need" (0–10) and "I have" (0–10); gap = max(0, need − have) | 0–100 | 40% |
| Objective isolation | 4 questions on contact in an ordinary week, each 0–3 | 0–12 → 0–100 | 20% |
How the gap is weighted
The gap in each area is multiplied by how much that area matters to you (the "I need" value). An area you don't need doesn't raise the score even if you "have" zero in it. The formula:
gap = Σ(gapi × needi) / Σ(needi) × 10
An area marked "doesn't apply" (currently only closeness with a partner) is left out of the calculation entirely. If every need is 0, the gap is 0.
Adjustments for time
- Lasting a year or more: +4 points.
- Getting worse: +3 points. Getting better: −3 points.
- A life event that took people away doesn't change the score; it only changes the wording of the result.
The result is clipped to 0–100 and rounded.
Bands
| Score | Label |
|---|---|
| 0–19 | Small gap |
| 20–39 | Mild gap |
| 40–59 | Noticeable gap |
| 60–79 | Large gap |
| 80–100 | Very large gap |
The bands are evenly spaced and chosen for readability. They are not clinical thresholds.
Why 40 / 40 / 20
By the WHO definition, the core of loneliness is a subjective mismatch, not a count of contacts. So the two subjective components (feeling and gap) carry 80% between them and objective isolation 20%. We keep isolation in the score anyway: without it, someone who is in fact alone and has got used to it would get a low number even though the health risk remains.
We did not derive these weights from data, and with the current architecture we collect no measurements, so we can't verify them yet. If we ever introduce voluntary, anonymous research, we want to test the weights against data; until then the score is a guide. We show the three components precisely so you can see what is keeping your number up.
What's free and what's in the full analysis
The short result on LonelyMeter shows the overall number, the band, the three components and the shape of your six gaps (ranked, unnamed). The full analysis on MyFullReport works from the same values and adds what needs more than one screen: which area is which and why it pulls the score, a breakdown of each area with a gap, one first step, a four-week plan, and when to look for support. The score calculation is identical on both sides; the analysis doesn't "recalculate" anything, it interprets.
What the model can't do
- It can't tell loneliness apart from depression, anxiety or exhaustion, which often overlap with it.
- It doesn't measure the quality of relationships (trust, safety, being able to be yourself) other than through your own "I have" estimate.
- It doesn't account for cultural differences in how much closeness is "normal".
- It's a snapshot of one day. That's why we keep a history in your browser and show what changed at the next measurement.
Sources
- WHO: Social connection – questions and answers
- WHO Commission on Social Connection: From loneliness to social connection (2025)
- WHO: Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death
- Maes, M. et al.: How (Not) to Measure Loneliness: A Review of the Eight Most Commonly Used Scales
Who is behind it
LonelyMeter is run by Lebwerte, a non-profit association; the full analysis is provided by MyFullReport (Carrabela s.r.o.). Neither is a healthcare organisation. The project comes from a simple conviction: the first step out of loneliness is being able to name it precisely, not "I'm lonely" but "this is what's missing, here, this much". Comments on the methodology are welcome at hello@lonelymeter.com.