A new Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile says moderate or high lived poverty affects an average of six in 10 citizens across 38 African countries. The report found levels above eight in 10 in Chad and Gabon.

Based on nationally representative surveys, the analysis says lived poverty worsened between 2014 and 2023 and showed no sign of improving in the latest survey round. Many respondents reported turning to family, friends or community organisations for help making ends meet.

The profile also links lived poverty with difficulty accessing essential services such as health care, police assistance and government documentation. People experiencing high lived poverty were less likely to have bank accounts, while mobile money was relatively accessible across poverty levels.

Afrobarometer says the findings highlight continued economic and public-service pressures for households across the continent.