A new Afrobarometer report covering 38 African countries reveals that most Africans continue to face economic hardship despite modest improvements in economic perceptions since the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, based on 50,961 interviews conducted in 2024 and 2025, highlights that unemployment and rising living costs remain among the most pressing concerns for citizens, while majorities rate their governments poorly on key economic issues.
Government Performance on Economic Issues
According to the findings, 82 percent of respondents said their governments performed badly in keeping prices stable, while 79 percent expressed dissatisfaction with efforts to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. About 76 percent rated their governments poorly on job creation, and 73 percent said authorities were failing to improve the living standards of poor citizens. The survey showed that 64 percent of Africans believe their governments are doing a poor job of managing the economy overall.
Modest Improvements but Persistent Challenges
While public assessments remain largely negative, Afrobarometer noted some improvement compared with the pandemic years. Across 28 countries surveyed consistently since 2014, ratings of government performance on economic issues improved modestly in the latest survey round. However, perceptions of economic conditions remain weaker than they were a decade ago. Six in 10 Africans, or 59 percent, described their country's economic situation as 'fairly bad' or 'very bad,' while nearly half of respondents said their personal living conditions were poor.
Widespread Material Deprivation
The findings also highlighted widespread material deprivation across the continent. Majorities of respondents reported that they or a family member had gone without essential necessities at least once during the previous year. About 79 percent said they lacked a cash income at some point, while 65 percent reported going without needed medical care. Food shortages affected 58 percent of respondents, while 57 percent experienced a lack of clean water and 52 percent went without cooking fuel.
Top Priorities for Africans
The report identified unemployment as the second most important issue Africans want their governments to address, cited by 33 percent of respondents among their top three priorities. Only health ranked higher at 38 percent. The increasing cost of living was also a major concern, with 23 percent of respondents listing it among their top priorities. Poverty, economic management, and wages were also frequently mentioned.
Afrobarometer said the findings underscore the continuing economic challenges facing millions of Africans despite signs of recovery from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pan-African research network conducts nationally representative surveys on democracy, governance, and quality of life across the continent. Its latest survey round covered 38 countries and was conducted through face-to-face interviews with adults in their preferred languages.
