Perhaps this is by choice? Here in the UK the last census indicated that over 65% of households were married with kids. Any father or husband worth his salt will naturally put his family before himself or indeed friendships.

It is therefore important to build a circle of close, trusted friends who understand this rather than a larger one of wishy-washy relationships. We also don't know the benchmark. If you regard 30 friends as a minimum then 5-6 could be described as 'barely any'.

I'd describe myself as a man over 30 with 'barely any friends'. But the ones I do have are lifelong relationships from school days, University housemates or other dads I met when my kids were younger. I don't see them that often its true beyond weekly online gaming with a core group of 3-4. But I also wouldn't wish it any other way.