New research by the Policy Institute at King’s College London reveals a stark increase in the number of young people spending Christmas alone, with figures jumping ninefold from 1% in 1969 to 9% in 2024. For 21- to 34-year-olds, one in 11 will be spending the holiday solo this year, a significant shift in festive traditions.
Overall, the proportion of people spending Christmas Day alone has more than doubled, rising from 5% in 1969 to 11% today. While the share of over-65s spending Christmas alone remains steady at 15%, other demographics have seen a sharp increase in solitary celebrations.
Prof Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute, remarked: “Christmas is just a little bit lonelier and less joyous or magical than it was 55 years ago. The proportion of people spending the day alone has doubled, and fewer people find it as enjoyable.” Despite this, 80% of people today still say they enjoy Christmas, compared to 86% in 1969, and nine in 10 will spend it with family or friends.
Other findings from the study reveal evolving attitudes toward Christmas. Most Britons (79%) believe shops push Christmas goods too early, up from 59% in 1969. The holiday’s religious significance has diminished, with 60% of people now viewing it as a family occasion, compared to 53% in 1969.
Joe, a 35-year-old Londoner spending Christmas alone, shared his perspective: “The day will be entirely mine. Why subject ourselves to the nightmare of Christmas travel and commercialism?”
Despite societal changes, some traditions endure. Complaints about Christmas being overly commercialised remain unchanged, with 80% of Britons expressing the same sentiment as in 1969.