Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya Top Global Youth Mental Health Rankings in 2025 Sapien Labs Report

Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya Top Global Youth Mental Health Rankings in 2025 Sapien Labs Report

 A new global report by Washington, DC-based nonprofit has ranked Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya among the top countries worldwide for youth mind health, even as 41 per cent of young adults globally face what researchers describe as a growing “mind health crisis.”

Young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have emerged as global leaders in mind health outcomes, according to the Global Mind Health in 2025 report released by Sapien Labs, a nonprofit organization led by experts in neuroscience, psychology and computational science.

The report, based on online survey data from nearly one million people across 84 countries, found that 41 per cent of internet-enabled young adults aged 18–34 are experiencing significant declines in cognitive, emotional, social and physical capacities needed to navigate daily life.

Despite this troubling global trend, several African countries dominated the top rankings for youth mind health. Ghana ranked first globally, followed by Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania — making the top five countries entirely African.

Africa Outperforms Wealthier Nations

The study reveals a striking regional contrast, with young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa consistently outperforming peers in higher-income regions such as North America, Europe and parts of Asia.

Nigeria recorded an average Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) score of 64 among young adults aged 18–34 — tied for second best globally — while older Nigerians (55+) recorded an average score of 113. Ghana posted the highest youth score worldwide at 69.

In contrast, countries such as the United Kingdom ranked among the lowest performers, placing 81st out of 84, while the United States ranked 58th.

The report suggests a possible inverse relationship between national wealth and youth mind health outcomes.

A Generational Decline

According to the findings, today’s young adults are four times more likely than those over age 55 to experience mental health challenges of clinical significance.

Lead author Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist of Sapien Labs, said the crisis extends beyond rising rates of depression and anxiety.

“The mind health crisis appears to be a progressive slide from generation to generation,” she said, noting that many young adults struggle with emotional control, focus and relationship management.

Previous research by the organization indicates that the generational gap began widening before 2020 and deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic years, when youth mind health declined sharply while older adults experienced only minimal decreases.

Four Key Drivers Identified

The report highlights four primary factors contributing to the global decline in youth mind health:

1. Early Smartphone Adoption: Among young adults aged 18–24, those who acquired smartphones at younger ages were more likely to report struggles later in life.
2. Ultra-Processed Food Consumption: After controlling for other factors, these foods are estimated to contribute between 15 and 30 per cent of the mental health burden.
3. Weakened Family Bonds: Individuals with poor family relationships were nearly four times more likely to fall into distressed or struggling mind health categories.
4. Diminished Spirituality: Young adults reporting strong spiritual connection scored significantly higher on the MHQ. Tanzania ranked highest globally in spirituality measures.

Researchers noted that young adults in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa reported stronger family bonds, higher spirituality, and later adoption of smartphones during childhood compared to peers in wealthier regions — factors believed to offer protective benefits.

Policy Recommendations

The report calls for targeted policy interventions, including:

• Restricting smartphone use during school hours.
• Establishing minimum age requirements for social media access.
• Investing in research and regulation to reduce harmful additives in ultra-processed foods.

Economist Professor David Blanchflower of Dartmouth College warned that the findings have serious economic implications, as nearly half of the global youth workforce faces significant mental health challenges.

“With almost half of young adults globally struggling, this represents a crisis that could undermine economies and societies if root causes are not addressed,” he said.

About the Study

The Global Mind Health in 2025 report draws on data from the Global Mind Project, which tracks 47 aspects of mind health across more than 85 countries in 25 languages. Sapien Labs developed the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) to measure overall emotional, social, cognitive and functional capacity.

Full country rankings and background research are available in the organization’s online pressroom.