Is it okay to only have 2 friends? (2023)

Is it normal to have only 2 friends?

Despite the high volume of #squadgoals grams posted by acquaintances you don't actually go out with, it's actually perfectly normal to have just a few close friends. So whether you've grown apart from your high school or college friend group, or never had one to begin with, here's why—and why it's OK!

Companionship needs vary from person to person

While some people need a lot of social time, others don't. If you're more introverted, you probably feel most comfortable with a few close friends.

While she and other friendship researchers admit there aren't many studies that have specifically tackled the question of how many friends people should aim for, those that have been done offer a range — and somewhere between three and six close friends may be the sweet spot.

On average, people have three to five close, personal relationships. That's all. Those of you who worry that you only have a few close friends can relax. You are well within normal.

If you've ever thought “Why do I have no friends?” it may reassure you to know that you aren't unusual. A 2019 YouGov survey found that more than 20% of people in the US have no close friends.

According to anthropologist Robin Dunbar, human brains have a limit on how many meaningful relationships they can keep track of. Dunbar says most people can have up to: 5 intimate bonds: spouses, best friends, and so on. 15 close friends: people you trust and spend time with regularly.

You can simply say "I have enough". With friendships, it's more about quality than quantity, meaning it's better to have a few good friends that you love, trust and have a deep meaningful connection with than 1,000 friends that you only know at the surface level.

The study suggests we benefit from "feeling a sense of belonging within one's social network" and, really, that could be achieved with any number of buddies. The ideal number is three to five, but it's of course possible to have fewer than that (or more) and be living your best life.

Can you have more than one best friend? According to Dr. Gut, the answer is “yes. " She believes it is important to have close friends in all spheres of your life.

Why do I have less friends?

You're Selfish

Consider whether or not being selfish contributes to the fact that you don't have friends. Friendship requires you to give sometimes, even when you don't feel like it. If you're only willing to do what you want, when you want it, it's unlikely that your friends will tolerate it for very long.

Even as our friendship circles appear to be shrinking, new evidence suggests that having a more robust social network is important. Put simply, Americans with larger social circles are less likely to report feeling lonely or isolated.

However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.

Introverts may be happy with two or three good friends; extroverts may need far more. You have enough friendship in your life if you connect frequently enough—in person, by phone, even online—that you don't feel isolated. Yet one in three older adults in one national survey said they do feel lonely.

The older we get, the fewer friends we have. According to a recent study by experts from Aalto University in Finland and the University of Oxford in England, our social network shrinks after we reach our mid-20s.

Obviously, most people don't meet all of their friends during childhood and, unfortunately, not all friendships last forever. The poll found that the average friendship lasts for 17 years, however, 17 percent say they've had the same best friend for over 30 years!

They don't have any friends.

If your new partner is somewhat of a lone wolf, that could be cause for concern. Jessica Harrison, a licensed professional counselor and owner of Courageous Counseling and Consulting, says a lack of long-term friendships is a major red flag.

Some people view loners in a negative context. However, some studies show that being a loner can lead to happiness for the individual and could actually be good for your health. Some people in this study experienced greater life satisfaction with less frequent interaction with their friends.

All you need is three (or four, or five)

Out of dozens of connections, the number of close friendships people have, Dunbar found, is five. Similarly, a 2020 study found that having three to five close friends is enough to feel fulfilled.

How many friends we can have?

The theory of Dunbar's number holds that we can only really maintain about 150 connections at once.

Much is used with uncountable nouns So much friends is wrong while as many friends are correct. Because many is used for countable nouns. He has got many friends is correct because it is countable. Much is generally used for quantities.

Anthropologist Robin Dunbar believes the evolutionary structure of social networks limits us to 150 meaningful relationships at a time — even with the rise of social media.

While might feel like you don't need friends to be happy, it is important to have people you can trust and can turn to when you need support. People are social creatures and tend to thrive when they have high-quality connections with other people.