Social circle at peak at age of 21

But this number drops sharply to 68 by the time we are 29-years-old.

The decline continues to 63 at age 39,43 at 49-years-old and plummets to around 41 when we hit 55.

The research undertaken by Nivea found our social circle peaks at 21 as we meet people at work while keeping in touch with friends from school and university.

But as our working lives take over,we lose contact with some old friends causing the number to drop to around 68 by the time we reach 29-years-old.

Although this decline continues into old age,it slows down slightly for people in their 30s when many of them become first-time parents.

It is believed that this is because people form new friendships while on the maternity ward,at post-natal groups and when taking their toddlers to nursery.

The Nivea Closeness Report found the balance between our numbers of ‘best friends’,‘close friends’ and ‘acquaintances’,remains fairly constant throughout our lifetime.