According to the market research firm Euromonitor International, the number of people living alone globally is skyrocketing, rising from about 153 million in 1996 to 277 million in 2011 -- a 55 percent increase in 15 years, the Guardian reported.

Sweden has more solo dwellers than anywhere else in the world, with 47 percent of households having one resident; followed by Norway at 40 percent. In Japan, about 30 percent of all households have a single dweller, and the rate is far higher in urban areas. China, India and Brazil also see fast growth in one-person households.

The rise of living alone has been a transformative social experience. It changes the way people understand themselves and their most intimate relationships. It shapes the way people build their cities and develop their economies.

The wealth generated by economic development and the social security provided by modern welfare states have enabled the spike. More people live alone than ever before because they can afford to.

The rise also stems from the cultural change that Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology in the late 19th century, called the cult of the individual.

Another driving force is the communications revolution, which has allowed people to experience the pleasures of social life even when they're living alone.

In addition, young solitaires actively reframe living alone as a mark of distinction and success. They use it as a way to invest time in their personal and professional growth.

(China.org.cn April 1, 2012)

英国《卫报》报道，欧睿国际信息咨询公司的市场调查显示，全球独居人数增长迅猛，从1996年的1.53亿人增至2011年的2.77亿人——15年间增长了55%。

瑞典的独居人数比世界其它国家都多，47%的家庭只有一口人。排在其后的是挪威，比例为40%。在日本，30%的家庭只有一个人，而该比例在城市地区更高。中国、印度、巴西的单人家庭数也增长迅速。

独居兴起改变社会。它改变了人们理解自我以及亲密关系的方式。这种生活方式也影响城市建设和经济发展的方式。

经济发展创造的财富以及现代福利国家提供的社会保障使得独居人数猛增。与过去相比，更多的人选择独居，因为他们有足够的钱这么做。

这种增长也来自于文化变迁，19世纪晚期社会学的创始人物埃米尔•涂尔干将其称之为个人崇拜。

另外一个驱动力是通讯革命，这使得人们独居也能享受社会生活的乐趣。

另外，年轻的独居者积极地将独居重新定义为卓越和成功的标志。独居成为他们花时间增进个人和职业成长的方式。