I wouldn't be too hard on him. Lots of people have friends who are just friends because of their life circumstances.
Some examples:
hey you're single, so am I - you're someone I can hit the bars with on weekends or do something with on Sundays when those with relationships/families are otherwise occupied.
Or - hey, our kids are in swimming together - so when they have lessons we have the same 1.5 hours of free time to go for coffee, so we do it together, etc.
I'd look at who his really close friends are, and judge from that more - who would he trust his secrets to, call in a crisis, etc. - it's likely a much smaller group, and how those people would respond in those situations might tell you something about them, and him.