Audit finds widespread loneliness among older people in Lithuania

More than a third of older people surveyed in Lithuania felt lonely during the past year, while most did not seek help, an international audit by the State Control Office found, LRT reported.

Of those who said they had felt lonely very often, often or sometimes, 87% had not asked for help. The audit also found no systematic way to identify lonely older people in Lithuania. Loneliness is not treated as a separate social policy issue in strategic documents, and there are too few indicators to assess its scale.

The parallel audit, titled “Governments’ preparedness for an ageing population”, examined how Lithuania, Poland and Israel support older people’s wellbeing, enable them to continue working and address loneliness.

At the start of 2026, 28.8% of Lithuania’s population was aged 60 or older. That share is projected to rise to 43.5% by 2100. Life expectancy in the countries covered by the audit is expected to increase by around three to four years by 2050.

“Longer life expectancy is a major achievement for society, but it also raises a very concrete question for the state: are we creating opportunities for people not only to live longer, but also to remain active and independent for as long as possible and to participate in society?” State Controller Irena Segalovičienė said.

In 2024, 13.2% of Lithuania’s residents aged 65 and older were working, close to the average of 13.7% across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. However, Lithuania has set no specific employment targets for people of pension age, and the measures in place are not sufficient to significantly improve opportunities for older people who want and are able to work.

The State Control Office said Lithuania needs a comprehensive approach to population ageing, including clear targets to increase employment and reduce loneliness, designated responsible institutions and specific measures. A law establishing the foundations of policy for older people was adopted in Lithuania in June, but progress will depend on how its provisions are implemented.