Yet many young people, particularly women, remain excluded from economic opportunities. Over 121 million African youth are unemployed or not in education, employment, or training. Afrobarometer data highlight citizens’ deep concerns about economic hardship and the urgent need for inclusive growth. Data from the 2024/2025 surveys conducted in 38 countries reveal that while health and unemployment are the most pressing concerns that Africans want their governments to address, young adults and urbanites are particularly likely to rank unemployment as the top policy priority compared to older citizens and those living in rural areas.
A majority of Africans rate their country’s economic condition as bad, while significant proportions also describe their personal living conditions in similarly negative terms. Although these bleak assessments have eased slightly since their peak in 2021–2023, about half of citizens still say their country’s economy has worsened over the past year. Yet, amid the challenges, half of Africans remain hopeful that things will improve in the coming 12 months.
The survey also highlights persistent deprivation: A majority of Africans experienced moderate or high levels of lived poverty in the past year. In response to these economic hardships, significant proportions of Africans (especially the youth and well-educated) report having considered emigrating — largely in search for better job opportunities or to escape poverty.
While migration can provide opportunities, it also exposes young Africans — especially women — to exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence (OCHA, 2025). These findings underscore the urgent need for inclusive, evidence-based policies that expand economic opportunities, foster innovation, and empower youth and women to lead Africa’s transformation.
It is against this backdrop that Afrobarometer and the World Bank’s Economists for Transformation (E4T) Programme are hosting a webinar to explore how to improve economic conditions for young people in Africa. The session will bring together researchers, policy makers, and young economists to discuss the data, share experiences, and identify practical actions and policy pathways for inclusive growth across the continent.