Hiwot Daniel experienced childhood loneliness after her father died when she was two and her mother focused on basic needs. Relatives provided financial support but limited emotional engagement, leaving Daniel feeling sad and unseen until college. At 22 and studying psychology and pharmacology in Addis Ababa, Daniel credits that experience with building resilience. Evidence shows loneliness is serious and widespread among African youth. A 2023 Gallup-Meta survey of 142 countries found 22 of the 29 countries with highest loneliness prevalence were in Africa. A 2025 WHO report found poorer countries and young people are especially vulnerable.
Her father died when she was two years old, leaving her mother busy meeting basic needs. Growing up as an only child, no one asked Daniel questions like, "How was your day? What are you planning after school? Is there anything troubling you?" "There was no emotional support. I'm so thankful to my relatives because it was with their support that I got an education," said Daniel when we spoke.
"There was no emotional support. I'm so thankful to my relatives because it was with their support that I got an education," said Daniel when we spoke. "[But] they focused more on financial support than on emotional support. They would say, 'What do you mean by loneliness? Why are you saying lonely? We're here with you. But that's not how I wanted to share my experience with them."
High prevalence of loneliness in African countries The evidence that loneliness is serious and widespread issue among African youth has been building over the past few years. In 2023, Gallup, an opinion research institute, teamed up with Facebook's parent company, Meta, to run a global survey on social connection. They interviewed about 1,000 people in each of 142 countries. And they found that among the 29 countries with the highest prevalence of loneliness, 22 countries were in Africa.
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