Six in 10 Africans Experience Moderate or High Levels of Lived Poverty – Afrobarometer

At least six in 10 citizens across Africa experience moderate or high levels of lived poverty, with many struggling to meet basic needs including food, clean water, medical care and cooking fuel, the latest Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile has revealed.

The findings are based on nationally representative surveys conducted across 38 African countries and show that lived poverty remains persistently high across the continent.

According to the report, an average of 60% of citizens experience moderate or high levels of lived poverty, with the situation most severe in Chad and Gabon, where more than eight in 10 citizens are affected.

The report also indicates that the situation has not improved in the latest survey round. Across 30 countries surveyed in both 2014/2015 and 2024/2025, moderate or high lived poverty increased by 13 percentage points, from 47% to 60%.

Basic necessities remain out of reach

The survey found widespread shortages of basic necessities among African households.

About 79% of respondents said they or a member of their family went without a cash income at least once during the previous year, with 43% saying this happened many times or always.

Similarly, 65% reported going without needed medicines or medical care, while 57% experienced shortages of clean water.

Food shortages affected 58% of respondents, while 52% reported going without enough cooking fuel.

Families and communities provide support

As households struggle to make ends meet, many are increasingly turning to informal support networks.

The report found that 47% of respondents sought assistance from family members during the previous year. Another 33% turned to friends or neighbours, while 12% sought help from religious organisations, community groups or charitable organisations.

The findings suggest that informal social networks remain an important source of support for households facing economic hardship.

Poverty affects access to public services

Afrobarometer also found a strong relationship between lived poverty and difficulties accessing essential public services.

People experiencing higher levels of poverty were significantly more likely to report difficulties obtaining medical care, official government documents and police assistance.

The poorest citizens were roughly twice as likely as the better-off to report difficulty accessing some of these essential services.

Bank accounts remain less accessible to poorer citizens

Financial inclusion also varies significantly according to levels of lived poverty.

Only 40% of citizens experiencing high levels of lived poverty reported owning or having access to a bank account, compared with 83% among those experiencing no lived poverty.

However, mobile money appears to be much more accessible across income groups.

Mobile-money account ownership stood at 69% among the poorest respondents and 71% among the wealthiest, suggesting that mobile financial services have a much narrower access gap than traditional banking.

Country differences

The level of lived poverty varies considerably across the 38 countries surveyed.

The proportion of citizens experiencing moderate or high lived poverty ranged from just 7% in Seychelles to 86% in Chad.

Afrobarometer says its findings are based on face-to-face interviews conducted in respondents’ preferred languages. The Round 10 surveys, conducted in 2024/2025, cover 38 countries.

The organisation is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides data on African citizens’ experiences and assessments of democracy, governance and quality of life.

The latest findings highlight the continued economic pressures facing households across the continent and the need for greater attention to access to basic necessities and essential public services.

story by : Mark Acheampong