Mozambique leads Portuguese-speaking countries in a global ranking of youth mental health, while Brazil records one of the weakest performances and Angola stands out as one of the most spiritual countries, according to a study released today.
According to the Global Mind Health 2025 report by Sapien Labs, Mozambique ranks 12th out of 84 countries in terms of mental health among people aged 18 to 34, placing it among the best performers in Africa and well ahead of Portugal, which appears in 46th position.
The Global Mind Health project is presented as the largest ongoing study of its kind, measuring online-linked mental health worldwide, and is based on data from more than 2.5 million people across 85 countries.
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Angola ranks 25th globally, reflecting a positive overall performance, although it falls behind African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, which top the ranking.
Brazil is the worst-performing Portuguese-speaking country in the study, ranking 79th out of 84, in contrast with several African nations that dominate the top positions.
Overall, the study concludes that “countries with relatively better mental health are predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa,” while wealthier nations such as the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany rank among those with the poorest outcomes.
The study uses a Mental Health Quotient (MHQ), an index that measures the ability to cope with life’s challenges and function productively. The MHQ aggregates self-assessments across 47 cognitive, emotional, social and physical dimensions.
In Angola’s case, one of the most notable factors is spirituality. The country ranks 7th out of 69 countries on this indicator, with one of the highest scores worldwide, while Mozambique places 9th.
Another key factor analysed was family relationships, considered crucial for psychological balance. The study finds that young people with weak family ties are four times more likely to experience mental health problems.
Despite their strong overall mental health performance, Angola and Mozambique show relatively low levels of family closeness among young people, ranking 71st and 78th respectively. This contrast is notable, as spirituality and family relationships are identified as two of the most influential factors for mental health.
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The report also highlights that spirituality is particularly strong in Africa, noting that “14 of the countries with the highest spirituality levels are on the African continent,” which helps explain the strong mental health outcomes observed in several African nations.
Portugal shows an opposite profile, with relatively low spirituality, ranking 44th, but stronger family ties, placing 18th globally, illustrating how different cultural and social factors shape mental health outcomes across countries.
Later access to smartphones is another factor favouring African countries. Young people in Angola and Mozambique received their first mobile phones later than their European counterparts.
According to the report, “the earlier young people receive smartphones, the greater the likelihood of experiencing mental health problems in adulthood,” including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
High consumption of ultra-processed foods, more common in Western countries, also contributes to poorer outcomes, as it is associated with increased depression and reduced emotional and cognitive capacity.
Portugal and Brazil rank among the countries with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods, in 17th and 27th place respectively, while Angola and Mozambique are among those with the lowest consumption, ranking 62nd and 73rd.
Globally, the report warns of a growing crisis, particularly among young people, noting that “almost half of adults under 35 face significant mental health challenges,” a rate four times higher than that observed among older generations aged over 55.
