African youth are participating less in politics and civic life than their elders — except when it comes to protest — according to Afrobarometer’s latest flagship report. Drawing on a decade’s worth of nationally representative surveys across 39 countries, the study reveals striking generational gaps in engagement, with the sharpest divide in voting, where those aged 18 to 35 trail older citizens by 18 percentage points. Younger Africans are also less likely to feel close to a political party, attend community meetings, join collective action to raise issues, or contact traditional leaders and local government representatives.

Based on 53,444 face-to-face interviews representing over three-quarters of Africa’s population, the report analyses 10 key indicators of citizen engagement, accompanied by country-by-country scorecards. The findings highlight a critical challenge for the world’s youngest continent: without more inclusive and meaningful opportunities for political involvement, governments risk alienating a generation that is proving more willing to take grievances to the streets than to the ballot box.

Below is the report in full: