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Let the people have a say

South Africa

Capital

Pretoria, Cape Town & Bloemfontein

First surveyed in

2000

Population

59.31 million

South Africa has completed surveys with Afrobarometer in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2021. Surveys are conducted in Afrikaans, English, sePedi, seSotho, seTswana, xiTsonga, siSwati, isiXhosa and isiZulu. The national partner is the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

Key stats

Data from the Round 9 survey in South Africa

70 %

of South Africans are dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their country.

82 %

of citizens say corruption in the country increased "somewhat” or “a lot” during the year preceding the survey.

65 %

of South Africans support elections as the best way to choose their leaders.

Publications

AD1108: South Africans oppose immigration, express mixed attitudes toward foreigners

AD1102: South Africans embrace ethnic identity, distrust other ethnic groups

AD1098: South Africans lament government performance on improving basic health care

News releases

South African women more educated than men, but more likely to be unemployed and looking for work

South Africans support open trade, but awareness of the African Continental Free Trade Area is low

South Africans aware of the threat of climate change united in calling for urgent action from government, developed countries

Survey resources

South Africa Round 10 questionnaire (2025)

Merged Round 9 codebook (39 Countries) (2023)

South Africa Round 9 codebook (2022)

Partner

Core Partner

Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR)

South Africa