Africans Lead the World in Civic Engagement, New Afrobarometer Report Shows

DAKAR, Senegal, September 22, 2025 – Africans are outpacing citizens in other regions of the world when it comes to collective action and direct engagement with leaders, according to a new flagship report from Afrobarometer. The findings highlight Africa’s strong traditions of participatory democracy and community‑based problem solving, setting the continent apart in global comparisons of civic and political engagement.

The report, which draws on survey data from 39 African countries and compares it with findings from Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), reveals that Africans are far more likely to attend community meetings, join with others to raise issues, and contact local leaders. These results underscore the vibrancy of grassroots democracy across Africa, even as challenges of governance, inequality, and political representation persist.

A Global Comparison of Citizen Engagement

Afrobarometer’s analysis focuses on seven key indicators of citizen participation:

• Voting in national elections
• Political party affiliation
• Political discussion
• Attending community meetings
• Joining with others to raise an issue
• Contacting leaders
• Participation in protests or demonstrations

On several of these measures, Africans lead the world. Nearly half (48%) of Africans reported attending at least one community meeting in the past year, compared to just 26% of Latin Americans. Similarly, 42% of Africans said they joined with others to raise an issue, while only 12%–17% of respondents in Asia, Latin America, and MENA reported doing the same.

When it comes to contacting leaders, Africans are also ahead of their peers in Asia, particularly in reaching out to local councillors and traditional leaders. This reflects the enduring importance of local governance structures and traditional authority in African political life.

Voting and Party Affiliation

While Africa does not lead on every measure, the continent still demonstrates strong levels of political participation. In self‑reported voter turnout, 72% of Africans said they voted in their most recent national election. This places Africa just behind Asia (81%), but ahead of Latin America (71%) and well ahead of MENA (55%).

Party affiliation tells a similar story. Forty‑one percent of Africans say they feel close to a political party, compared to 53% in Asia. Latin America and MENA trail far behind, with only 24% of citizens in each region reporting party ties.

Protest and Demonstration

The one area where Africa lags is protest participation. Only 8%–10% of Africans reported taking part in a protest or demonstration, compared to 20% in MENA. Analysts suggest this may reflect both cultural and institutional differences: while protests are a common form of political expression in the Middle East and North Africa, Africans may rely more heavily on community meetings and direct engagement with leaders to voice concerns.

Why Africa Leads

Observers note that Africa’s strong performance in collective action may be rooted in the continent’s long history of participatory and local democracy. In many African societies, community meetings and collective decision‑making have long been central to governance. Afrobarometer’s findings suggest that these traditions continue to shape modern political behaviour, even as countries undergo rapid social and economic change.

Dr. Joseph Asunka, CEO of Afrobarometer, explained:

“These results highlight the resilience of Africa’s democratic culture at the grassroots level. While challenges remain in terms of governance and accountability, Africans are clearly committed to engaging with one another and with their leaders to address pressing issues.”

Country Scorecards

The flagship report is accompanied by detailed country scorecards that provide snapshots of citizen engagement across the 39 surveyed African nations. These scorecards allow policymakers, civil society organizations, and citizens themselves to compare levels of participation and identify areas where engagement is strongest or weakest.

For example, some countries report exceptionally high levels of community meeting attendance, while others show stronger patterns of voter turnout or party affiliation. These variations highlight the diversity of Africa’s democratic experiences and the importance of tailoring reforms to national contexts.

About Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer is a pan‑African, non‑partisan survey research network that has been tracking public opinion on democracy, governance, and quality of life since 1999. Over nine survey rounds, the network has conducted interviews in up to 42 countries, reaching tens of thousands of citizens.

Surveys are conducted face‑to‑face in the language of the respondent’s choice, ensuring accessibility and accuracy. National samples of 1,200–2,400 respondents yield country‑level results with margins of error of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Afrobarometer’s data is widely used by governments, development partners, researchers, and civil society organizations to inform policy and strengthen democratic governance.

Key Findings at a Glance

• Community meetings: 48% of Africans attended at least one in the past year, vs. 26% in Latin America.
• Collective action: 42% joined with others to raise an issue, vs. 12%–17% in Asia, Latin America, and MENA.
• Leader contact: Africans more likely than Asians to contact local councillors and traditional leaders.
• Voting: 72% turnout in Africa, compared to 81% in Asia, 71% in Latin America, and 55% in MENA.
• Party affiliation: 41% in Africa, second only to Asia (53%).
• Protests: MENA leads with 20% participation, compared to 8%–10% in Africa.

Conclusion

The Afrobarometer flagship report paints a compelling picture of Africa as a continent where citizens are deeply engaged in civic life. From community meetings to direct contact with leaders, Africans are demonstrating a commitment to participatory democracy that outpaces other regions of the world.

While challenges remain — from ensuring free and fair elections to strengthening institutions of accountability — the findings suggest that Africa’s democratic future is being built not only in parliaments and presidential palaces, but also in villages, towns, and neighbourhoods where citizens come together to solve problems and demand change.

Source: APO Group