West Virginia has the 2nd highest rate of loneliness in the United States

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Feeling lonely? You’re not alone there.

According to a new study by ValuePenguin West Virginia has the second highest loneliness rate in the United States at 16.1% “usually or always feeling lonely.”

WV ranks low in school systems, high in early education

The study also covered the least and most social states by calculating the percentage of the people of each state who go more than a week without socializing with friends or family, which for West Virginia is 43.2%, or 12th overall.

The study also found that rural states are the loneliest, with number one being Mississippi, and others including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Alaska.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.