Citizens Engage More Where Democracy Delivers, Says New Afrobarometer Report
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
A new report by Afrobarometer has revealed that Africans are more politically and civically engaged when they feel democracy is working and their leaders are responsive to their needs.
The flagship report, drawing on data from over 53,000 face-to-face interviews across 39 countries between 2021 and 2023, found that trust in electoral fairness and local governance significantly boosts citizen participation.
Activities such as voting, attending community meetings, and raising issues collectively were more common where citizens believe their voices matter.
Interestingly, the report challenges common assumptions from the Global North. It shows that Africa’s poorest citizens – and those in less wealthy nations – are often more politically active than their wealthier counterparts.
Despite economic hardships, they are more likely to identify with political parties, attend meetings, contact local leaders, and organise around community issues.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they voted in their last national election, and over 60% discussed politics with family or friends. However, just 9% reported participating in protests.
The report also spotlights persistent engagement gaps, especially among women and youth.
While younger people (aged 18–35) are more likely to protest, they lag behind older generations in most other forms of participation – particularly voting, where the gap is as wide as 18 percentage points.
Notably, citizens with little or no formal education are more likely to vote and engage at the grassroots level than those with post-secondary education.
Afrobarometer’s Director of Communications, Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, said the findings underline the critical link between responsive governance and active citizenship. “This report is a call to action for African governments to strengthen democratic institutions and listen more to their people,” she noted.
Country scorecards accompanying the report offer a snapshot of citizen participation across the continent, making it easier for policymakers, civil society, and researchers to understand where engagement thrives – and where it’s faltering.
Afrobarometer has conducted surveys in up to 42 countries since 1999, aiming to provide reliable data on African views and experiences with governance and democracy.
For more information, visit www.afrobarometer.org.
