The tribe called the world’s best fathers gets outpaced by rich American dads

June 22, 2026 - 01:38

The Aka Pygmies of Central Africa have long been celebrated as the gold standard of involved fatherhood. Anthropologists often pointed to them as a model of egalitarian parenting, where men spend significant time holding, feeding, and playing with their infants. But new research suggests that the title of "world's best dad" may now belong to a different group: affluent American fathers.

In his book "Dad Brain," author and researcher Michael J. Diamond examines how fatherhood has evolved across cultures. He was surprised to find that while Aka fathers are still highly engaged, they have been statistically outpaced by high-income dads in the United States. According to the data, Aka men spend about 57 minutes per day on primary childcare tasks like feeding and bathing, and 96 minutes on secondary childcare, such as keeping an eye on a child while doing other chores.

Meanwhile, American fathers in the top income bracket now log more than double that time in direct care. The shift reflects a broader change in modern fatherhood, where paternity leave, flexible work, and cultural pressure to be hands-on have reshaped the role. Diamond notes that the Aka remain remarkable for their physical closeness and emotional warmth, but the numbers tell a different story about who is actually putting in the most hours. The findings challenge old assumptions and highlight how economic privilege can change the way men parent.