Most Africans support women’s right to make their own choices about marriage and childbearing, and back equal job opportunities, yet many want stronger action from police and courts to protect women and girls from harassment, a new Afrobarometer report shows.
The Pan-Africa Profile, based on 50,961 face-to-face interviews across 38 countries in 2024/2025, found broad support for women’s autonomy.
On average, 75% of respondents said women should decide whether and when to marry, while 62% backed women’s right to choose the timing and number of children. Support for economic equality was weaker.
While 57% endorsed equal rights to jobs, 38% said men should get priority when jobs are scarce.
Nearly one in four respondents, 23%, reported that women are “often” or “always” prevented from taking jobs by husbands or family members.
Household finances also remain uneven. Women were less likely than men to say they make financial decisions themselves – 36% vs. 44%.
Concerns about safety and dignity were widespread. More than one in four citizens said schoolgirls frequently face discrimination, harassment, or requests for sexual favours from teachers.
About 28% said women often face sexual harassment in public spaces like markets, streets, and public transport.
Most respondents, 65%, believe women and girls are likely to be believed if they report discrimination or harassment. Still, 78% said police and courts should do more to protect women and girls.
Access to health care is another gap. Two-thirds of women, 66%, said they or a family member went without needed medicines or medical treatment at least once in the past year. Rural women were hit harder than those in urban areas.
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network. It has completed 10 survey rounds in up to 45 countries since 1999.
Round 10 covered 38 countries in 2024/2025. Interviews are conducted face-to-face in the respondent’s language with nationally representative samples. Results have margins of error of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
A Daily Guide Report