The Value of Friendship Among Aging Populations Without Partners and Children Across 87 Low-,Middle-,and High-Income Countries

Abstract

Rising life expectancy, declining fertility, and changing partnership patterns are disrupting traditional families and may increase the importance of friendship in later life. Older adults without partners or children (e.g., unpartnered, childless, and “kinless”) might rely more on friendships for support. Yet, friendship remains understudied in aging research, especially across diverse global contexts. This study uses data from the World Values Survey and United Nations (64,277 adults aged 45+ across 87 countries) to examine how family structure, region, and development level influence the value placed on friendship. The results reveal regional variation in friendship emphasis, high value placed on friendship among those who have never had a partner or child regardless of global context, and high emphasis on friendship among those with disrupted partnerships specifically in highly developed countries. Findings highlight the need to prioritize friendship in research and policy, especially with accelerating demographic shifts occurring globally.