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Only 13 of 38 countries have majorities who feel completely free to say what they think, with perceived media freedom falling in 20 nations.
Demand for civic space holds strong across Africa even as the supply of freedoms wanes, according to the latest Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile. Africans broadly express support for their right to join any organisation and for the media’s freedom from censorship and its responsibility to report on government mistakes.
Yet their experience of these freedoms is highly uneven and, in many contexts, eroding—increasingly constrained by the very governments that are formally committed to protecting them.
About the Survey
The new report is based on 50,961 interviews across 38 African countries conducted in 2024/2025. It shows that while many citizens say they can associate freely and vote without pressure, only 13 of the countries have majorities who feel “completely” free to say what they think.
Perceived freedom of speech has declined over the past decade, and only a slim majority of Africans consider their media free.
Key Findings
Right to Associate and Media Freedom
On average across 38 countries:
| Indicator | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Affirm the right to join any organisation of their choice | 64% |
| Endorse the media’s right to publish without government control | 65% |
| Say media should investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption | 72% |
Perceived Freedom of Speech
- Approximately 65% of citizens say they feel “somewhat” or “completely” free to say what they think
- In 25 of 38 surveyed countries, fewer than half feel “completely” free to say what they think
Countries with lowest complete freedom of speech:
- Eswatini – 18%
- Togo – 15%
- Comoros – 8%
- Congo-Brazzaville – 7%
Across 28 countries surveyed consistently since 2014, assessments of freedom of speech have declined by 7 percentage points.
Freedom to Associate and Vote
Strong majorities report feeling “somewhat” or “completely” free to:
| Indicator | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Join any political organisation they want | 77% |
| Vote for their preferred candidate without feeling pressured | 86% |
Notable exceptions: Comoros and Congo-Brazzaville report some of the lowest levels of freedom to associate and to vote.
Perceived Media Freedom
Only a slim majority (53% ) see the media in their country as “somewhat” or “completely” free to report without government interference.
Perceived media freedom declined significantly in 20 of the 30 countries surveyed consistently between 2019 and 2025.
About Afrobarometer
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Ten survey rounds in up to 45 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys (2024/2025) cover 38 countries.
Full report: https://apo-opa.co/4vjzCDv
