Africans Lead the World In Grassroots Civic Engagement – Afrobarometer
While voter turnout often dominates conversations on democracy, a new Afrobarometer flagship report shows that Africa’s true democratic strength lies in grassroots participation.
From community meetings to collective action, Africans are outpacing other regions of the world in engaging directly with leaders and neighbours to demand change.
The report, launched in Dakar, Senegal, compares Afrobarometer data from 39 African countries with similar surveys in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East/North Africa (MENA).
It reveals that nearly half of Africans (48%) attended a community meeting in the past year, almost double the figure in Latin America (26%). Similarly, 42% joined with others to raise an issue, far ahead of Asia, Latin America, and MENA (12%-17%).
Africans are also more likely than Asians to contact local councillors and traditional leaders, underscoring the importance of community-based governance across the continent.
However, Asia leads in voter turnout (81% vs Africa’s 72%) and party affiliation (53% vs 41%).
When it comes to street protests, the MENA region tops the chart with 20% participation, compared to Africa’s 8%-10%.
“These findings highlight Africa’s long history of participatory democracy at the local level,” said Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Afrobarometer’s Director of Communications.
“Citizen engagement in Africa is not just about casting a ballot; it is about working together to solve problems and holding leaders accountable every day.”
Afrobarometer, a non-partisan survey network, has conducted nine rounds of nationally representative surveys since 1999, covering up to 42 countries.
The latest report also includes country scorecards that offer snapshots of civic engagement trends at the national level.
The findings underline Africa’s role as a global leader in bottom-up democracy, suggesting that the continent’s greatest political asset may be the resilience and activism of its citizens.
