Five African nations Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania — have ranked highest globally for youth mental health, even as 41 percent of young adults worldwide struggle with significant psychological distress.
The 2025 Global Mind Health Report, published by Sapien Labs, revealed that 41 percent of internet-connected adults aged 18 to 34 across 84 countries are experiencing what researchers describe as a “mind health crisis.”
Released on Wednesday, the report draws on data from nearly one million participants surveyed through the Global Mind Project, one of the world’s largest ongoing assessments of mental well-being.
According to the findings, Ghana ranked first globally in youth mind health, followed by Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. All top five positions were occupied by sub-Saharan African countries. In contrast, wealthier nations such as the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, along with several European countries, ranked near the bottom.
The rankings are based on the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), an index measuring 47 aspects of emotional, cognitive, social and physical functioning needed for daily life, work and relationships.
In Nigeria, young adults aged 18–34 recorded an MHQ score of 64, placing the country second out of 84. Older adults ranked 10th globally, with a higher MHQ score of 113. Overall, Nigeria was among the top-performing countries in MHQ scores.
However, generational differences were evident. Among Nigerians aged 18–24, the average age of first smartphone use was 16, ranking 66th globally for early childhood smartphone exposure. Both younger (18–34) and older (55+) groups ranked in the bottom third for regular consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Family closeness rankings declined significantly between generations — from 15th place among those aged 55 and above (80 percent reporting strong ties) to 41st among 18–34-year-olds (61 percent). Both age groups scored highly in spirituality, ranking 13th among younger adults and 7th among older adults.
Researchers noted a striking generational shift. In the early 2000s, young adults were regarded as the most mentally healthy demographic. Today, they are four times more likely than those over 55 to experience clinical-level mental health challenges that affect productivity and quality of life.
Founder and Chief Scientist of Sapien Labs, Tara Thiagarajan, said the crisis reflects a steady generational decline that extends beyond rising cases of depression and anxiety. She explained that many young people now face difficulties with emotional regulation, relationships and focus.
The report identified four key factors driving the global decline: early smartphone exposure, increased intake of ultra-processed foods, weakening family bonds and reduced spirituality.
Among 18–24-year-olds, earlier access to smartphones was linked to higher rates of mental health challenges in adulthood. Ultra-processed foods were estimated to account for 15 to 30 percent of the mental health burden, even after adjusting for other variables. Individuals reporting weak family relationships were nearly four times more likely to fall into distressed categories compared to those with strong family connections.
Spirituality emerged as a significant protective factor. Young adults with a strong sense of connection to a higher power scored at least 20 points higher on the MHQ than those with low spirituality. Tanzania ranked highest globally in spirituality and also had one of the oldest average ages for smartphone adoption.
The findings suggest a possible inverse relationship between national wealth and youth mental health, with sub-Saharan African countries outperforming many high-income nations. Nevertheless, researchers cautioned that despite strong global rankings, African youth still scored lower than older generations within their own countries, highlighting a universal generational gap.
The divide between young and older adults began before 2020 and widened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While youth mental health declined sharply, older populations experienced only modest drops. Over the past five years, the gap has remained largely unchanged.
Thiagarajan noted that despite increased mental health spending in countries like the United States and across Western nations, improvements have been limited. She stressed the need to address broader social and lifestyle factors affecting young people’s productivity and well-being.
David Blanchflower, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College, warned that widespread distress among young adults poses serious economic risks.
“When almost half of the core workforce globally is struggling with mental health challenges, it threatens entire economies and societies,” he said.
The report recommended policy measures such as limiting smartphone use during school hours, setting minimum age requirements for social media access, and strengthening regulations on additives in ultra-processed foods.
For Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, researchers emphasized the importance of preserving cultural and social factors supporting strong mind health outcomes while preventing the generational decline seen elsewhere.
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