Afrobarometer Report Found Negative Views on Immigration
A 2024-2025 survey across 38 nations revealed broad public skepticism toward foreign job seekers and refugees.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Immigration
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Should governments prioritize admitting fewer foreign job seekers and refugees to address local economic concerns?
An Afrobarometer report released on September 19, 2026, found that 64 percent of Africans surveyed favor admitting fewer or no foreign job seekers. Additionally, 70 percent of respondents across 38 countries support limiting the intake of refugees.
Why it matters
Economic insecurity and migration pressures significantly influence public sentiment toward foreign nationals. Respondents facing high levels of poverty are more likely to express negative views regarding the impact of immigrants on their local economies.
The report includes nearly 51,000 interviews conducted across 38 African countries between 2024 and 2025. While 45 percent of Africans believe immigrants contribute positively to their economies, 44 percent believe they have a negative impact.
The players
Afrobarometer
This is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, and society.
The details
Researchers observed that tolerance toward diverse social groups has declined by two to three percentage points since the 2021/23 baseline period. Despite these findings, 87 percent of participants stated they would welcome living next door to someone of a different ethnicity.
Timeline
2021/23 served as the baseline period for comparative tolerance data.
2022/23 was the financial year for migration household income statistics.
2024/25 marked the period of Afrobarometer interview collection.
September 19, 2026, was the official publication date of the report findings.
Political Context
The current findings show a decline in social group tolerance relative to the 2021/23 Afrobarometer tolerance baseline. This marks a notable shift in public sentiment, with the study documenting a two to three percentage point decrease compared to that established period.
The widespread preference for restricted immigration may lead to increased pressure on policymakers to implement stricter border and labor regulations. This shift potentially affects the ease of regional mobility and cross-border employment opportunities for citizens.
The takeaway
The data suggests that economic anxiety remains a primary driver of public opinion regarding immigration across the continent. Future policy discussions may need to address these perceptions of economic impact to balance social cohesion with migration goals.
Further reading
Explore deeper insights into global trends at Immigration.
Live Poll
Should governments prioritize admitting fewer foreign job seekers and refugees to address local economic concerns?
