Citizens are more likely to participate in political and civic activities if they are satisfied with  the way their democracy works, believe that their elections are free and fair, and see their  local elected officials as responsive to their needs. And contrary to theories and findings from  the Global North, Africa’s least-wealthy citizens, and least-wealthy countries, report higher  rates of engagement than their better-off counterparts.  

The report, the second in an annual series on high-priority topics, draws on data spanning the  past decade, including the latest round of nationally representative surveys in 39 countries,  representing the views of more than three-fourths of the continent’s population. The analysis focuses on key indicators of citizen engagement: voting, political party affiliation, political  discussion, attending community meetings, joining with others to raise an issue, contacting  leaders, and protesting.  

The findings, based on 53,444 face-to-face interviews, show that most Africans participate in  multiple political and civic activities, with voting being the predominant form of engagement  and protesting being the least common. But gaps exist, especially among youth and  women. Poorer, less educated, and rural Africans tend to participate more in political and  civic activities than their wealthier, more educated, and urban counterparts. 

The report also shows that across 30 countries surveyed consistently over the past decade,  participation levels are declining for attending community meetings, raising issues, and  identifying with a political party, but they are increasing for contacting leaders. 

The new flagship report is accompanied by country scorecards on citizen engagement that  provide an at-a-glance snapshot of the key indicators of citizen participation at the national  level for each of the surveyed countries.