A landmark global study has ranked five African countries as the world’s top performers in youth mental health. Ghana leads the list, followed by Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, outperforming the United States, the UK, Canada and most of Europe, even as 41% of young adults worldwide are in a “mind health crisis.”
Key Points
- The Global Mind Health in 2025 report by Sapien Labs surveyed nearly one million people across 84 countries using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), measuring 47 aspects of cognitive, emotional and social functioning.
- Ghana ranked 1st globally for youth mental health, followed by Nigeria (2nd), Kenya (3rd), Zimbabwe (4th) and Tanzania (5th). All top five spots are African.
- High-income nations ranked near the bottom. The US, Canada, Japan and Australia were among the lowest performers; Italy was Europe’s best at 20th place.
- Protective factors driving Africa’s strong rankings include high spirituality, later average age of first smartphone use, stronger family bonds and lower consumption of ultra-processed foods.
- Despite top global rankings, African youth still score lower than older adults within their own countries, reflecting a universal generational gap that began before COVID-19 and has not recovered.
- Researchers warn that Africa’s advantage is not permanent. As urbanisation and smartphone adoption accelerate, the protective factors behind these rankings could erode.
Context
Sapien Labs, a Washington DC-based nonprofit, has been tracking global mind health trends through the Global Mind Project, one of the largest ongoing mental health assessments in the world. Their 2025 report finds that youth mental wellbeing has been declining generationally for years, a trend that predates the pandemic, widened sharply during it, and has shown no signs of recovery. Young adults globally score an average MHQ of just 38, more than 60 points below adults over 55. Higher national wealth has not helped: countries that spend the most on mental health care, including the US and UK, continue to rank among the worst for youth outcomes.
Why It Matters
Africa’s youthful population is set to be a major driver of the global economy over the coming decades. These rankings suggest that the continent holds a genuine mental health advantage rooted in culture, community and lifestyle, not wealth. But that advantage requires active protection. Governments in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and beyond are being urged to implement policies around social media age limits, smartphone restrictions in schools and food additive regulation before modernisation erodes what makes African youth stand apart.
Source: Business Insider Africa
