Few help their neighbors in a crisis – young people least inclined to help
Few Swedes are prepared to help their neighbors in crisis situations. Only four out of ten would intervene in emergency situations such as illness or an accident, according to a new Sifo survey commissioned by Wallenstam. Among young people, the proportion is even lower: 25 percent.
While few people are inclined to intervene during a crisis, nine out of ten believe that neighborly cooperation is important for security in the residential area. The low level of helpfulness can partly be explained by the fact that many people lack contact with their neighbors. Only half of apartment dwellers have some form of neighbor contact, compared to three out of four in detached or terraced houses.
The survey also shows that one third of people feel lonely sometimes or often. Among younger adults, loneliness is more evident – a full 47 percent experience loneliness, compared to only 20 percent of older people. Meanwhile, one out of four feels that is has become more difficult to connect with neighbors today than ten years ago. Many people report increased anonymity and that social contacts are increasingly taking place digitally.
“Sweden is characterized by a high degree of autonomy and independence – both socially and economically. We also have a high proportion of single-person households, among the highest in the world. By creating the right conditions for more contact between neighbors, we can strengthen both togetherness and security in our residential areas,” says Hans Wallenstam.
And there is a strong desire for more togetherness. Almost everyone would like some form of contact with their neighbors, and seven out of ten want to talk to them at least once a week. Simple social activities are most in demand such as garden parties, barbecue evenings or coffee breaks.
To read the full survey, please visit: www.wallenstam.se/ensammatillsammans (only in Swedish).
From the survey:
- 39 percent offer support in emergency situations, e.g. in the case of illness or accident
- 25 percent in the age group 18-34 offer support in emergency situations, e.g. in the case of illness or accident
- 88 percent believe that neighborly relationships are important for wellbeing and security
- 50% of people living in apartments lack contact with their neighbors
- 47% in the age group 18-34 experience loneliness
- 26% of Swedes feel that it is more difficult to establish contact with their neighbors today than a decade ago
- 58% believe that this is due to increased anonymity and a more reserved attitude among neighbors
About the survey
The survey was carried out in Kantar Media’s online panel (the Sifo panel) during the period January 22–29, 2025. A total of 1,025 people aged 18–79 were interviewed. The online panel is nationally representative where participants are recruited based on random sampling. There is no self-recruitment in Kantar Media’s online panel (the Sifo panel).
For further information, please contact:
Elisabeth Vansvik, Communications Director Wallenstam AB (publ) tel. 46 31 20 00 00 or 46 705 17 11 38
Wallenstam is a property company that manages, builds and develops properties for sustainable living and enterprise in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Uppsala. The property holding is valued at around SEK 68 billion and the customer base consists of around 12,300 households and 1,000 enterprises. The total lettable area is around 1.4 million sq m. Wallenstam is self-sufficient in renewable electrical energy through its own wind turbines in operation. The company’s B shares have been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 1984.