A survey by A Mission for Michael asked “over 3,000 adults who live alone to understand how many expect to spend Christmas 2025 in solitude – and why,” according to a statement. “When extrapolated nationally, the findings suggest that a staggering 14 million Americans will be alone this Christmas.”
While Connecticut does not top the list of states spending the holidays alone, it still lands in the top ten at 9th overall, according to A Mission for Michael: “94,630 residents expected to spend the day on their own.”
The data weighs the number of people who live alone with those who plan to spend Christmas alone, according to A Mission for Michael.
Wisconsin topped the list overall, with Tennessee in second and Louisiana in third, according to the study.
Battle brewing in a CT city over large scale development. Plan is to mine a nature preserve.
Check out what else A Mission for Michael learned in their survey below:
Why Are So Many Spending It Alone?
Respondents shared a wide range of reasons – from the logistical to the deeply emotional:
- 29% live far from family or friends and can’t make the trip
- 17% say travel is simply too expensive
- 20% are staying away due to family conflict
- 11% are tied up with work
- 16% say they actually prefer to spend Christmas alone
- 7% don’t celebrate Christmas at all
How Do They Feel About It?
While not everyone feels bad about a solo holiday, a significant portion carry emotional weight into the season:
- 25% say they feel lonely
- 22% feel sad
- 9% report being overwhelmed
- 7% are anxious
- 37% are simply indifferent
How They Cope
Some people have proactive plans to make the best of it, while others admit they will just see how it goes:
- 28% will watch holiday movies or TV to feel festive
- 19% plan to “treat themselves” with food, gifts, or self-care
- 15% will connect virtually with loved ones
- 8% will work through the day to stay busy
- 5% will volunteer or get involved in their community
- 3% are going away on a solo trip
- 22% say they have no plan at all
Perceptions and Fears
- 47% believe there’s still a stigma to spending Christmas alone
- 27% say Christmas 2025 may be their loneliest yet
- 59% agree that Christmas magnifies loneliness more than any other time
- 56% believe we are living through a “silent epidemic” of holiday isolation
- 38% would skip Christmas entirely if given the option
When asked what their biggest fear is about spending Christmas alone:
- 16% worry about feeling depressed
- 14% fear feeling forgotten
- 13% dread having no plans
- 11% fear having no one to talk to
- 6% feel embarrassed to admit it
- 40% say they have no fears about it at all
“We often think of Christmas as a time of joy, but for many people, it becomes a mirror for everything they feel they’re missing”, said Anand Meta LMFT (Executive Director, AMFM). “Loneliness doesn’t take a holiday, but neither does hope – and the more we normalize these feelings, the easier it becomes to reach out, speak up, or simply take the pressure off a ‘perfect’ Christmas.”