More than eight in every 10 Africans say their governments are failing to keep prices under control, while three out of four believe authorities are not creating enough jobs, according to a new Afrobarometer survey that paints a stark picture of life on the continent despite signs of economic recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey, covering 50,961 respondents across 38 African countries, found that 82% of citizens rate their governments poorly on price stability, 79% say efforts to narrow the gap between rich and poor are failing, and 76% are dissatisfied with job creation.
The findings suggest that while inflationary pressures may be easing in some economies, many Africans continue to feel squeezed by high living costs, unemployment and persistent poverty.
Afrobarometer’s latest Pan-Africa Profile shows that 59% of Africans describe their national economic conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad,” while almost half say their own living conditions remain poor.
The survey also reveals the depth of hardship facing households across the continent.
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Nearly four out of five Africans (79%) reported going without a cash income at least once during the past year. About 65% said they lacked access to medical care, while 58% experienced food shortages. More than half also reported going without clean water and cooking fuel.
The findings come as governments across Africa attempt to rebuild economies weakened by the pandemic, global supply-chain disruptions, debt pressures and inflation shocks.
Although public assessments remain overwhelmingly negative, the report detected signs of improvement compared with the immediate post-pandemic years.
Across 28 countries surveyed consistently since 2014, the proportion of citizens who view their national economies negatively has fallen by seven percentage points from the 2021-2023 survey period. However, economic perceptions remain worse than they were a decade ago.
For many Africans, unemployment remains the most pressing economic challenge.
The survey ranked unemployment as the second most important issue governments should address, cited by 33% of respondents, behind only healthcare, which was mentioned by 38%.
The rising cost of living ranked among the top concerns for 23% of respondents, reflecting continuing pressure on household budgets despite declining inflation in some countries.
Poverty, economic management and wages also featured prominently among citizens’ priorities.
The findings highlight a growing disconnect between improving macroeconomic indicators and the lived experiences of ordinary Africans.
While several countries have reported stronger growth, lower inflation and improved fiscal conditions in recent years, the survey suggests that the benefits have yet to reach many households.
Afrobarometer noted that public evaluations of government performance on price stability, job creation, poverty reduction and economic management have improved modestly from pandemic-era lows. Nevertheless, large majorities still believe governments are falling short on issues that directly affect their daily lives.
The results underscore the challenge facing policymakers across the continent: converting economic recovery into jobs, higher incomes and improved living standards that citizens can actually feel.
For millions of Africans, the survey suggests, the cost-of-living crisis remains far from over.
