This study presents a 6-item scale for measuring overall, emotional, and social loneliness, validated through confirmatory factor analysis on survey data. The original 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale has been widely used but is too long for large-scale surveys. The authors developed a shorter version of the scale, which was tested on data from two surveys (N=9,448). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the scale's two-factor structure, with emotional and social loneliness as distinct dimensions. The 6-item scale demonstrated good reliability and validity, with high correlations with the original 11-item scale and with key determinants of loneliness, such as partner status and health. The scale was found to be suitable for large-scale surveys and provides a reliable and valid measure of overall, emotional, and social loneliness. The study also highlights the importance of considering both objective and subjective factors in understanding loneliness. The 6-item scale is recommended for use in research and surveys due to its brevity, reliability, and validity. However, further research is needed to explore the scale's performance in different contexts and populations. The study contributes to the understanding of loneliness as a complex phenomenon influenced by various social, psychological, and health-related factors. The findings suggest that the 6-item scale is a useful tool for measuring loneliness in diverse populations.This study presents a 6-item scale for measuring overall, emotional, and social loneliness, validated through confirmatory factor analysis on survey data. The original 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale has been widely used but is too long for large-scale surveys. The authors developed a shorter version of the scale, which was tested on data from two surveys (N=9,448). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the scale's two-factor structure, with emotional and social loneliness as distinct dimensions. The 6-item scale demonstrated good reliability and validity, with high correlations with the original 11-item scale and with key determinants of loneliness, such as partner status and health. The scale was found to be suitable for large-scale surveys and provides a reliable and valid measure of overall, emotional, and social loneliness. The study also highlights the importance of considering both objective and subjective factors in understanding loneliness. The 6-item scale is recommended for use in research and surveys due to its brevity, reliability, and validity. However, further research is needed to explore the scale's performance in different contexts and populations. The study contributes to the understanding of loneliness as a complex phenomenon influenced by various social, psychological, and health-related factors. The findings suggest that the 6-item scale is a useful tool for measuring loneliness in diverse populations.