perceptions of opportunity and empowerment in sub-saharan ... · perceptions of opportunity and...

Perceptions of Opportunity and Empowerment in Sub-Saharan AfricaJanuary 2011

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Key Points

Feelings of disempowerment are an important consequence of

social and economic exclusion in sub-Saharan Africa

Africans’ economic optimism and perceptions of job availability

are strongly related to their current income level

In some countries with poor human rights records, residents’

satisfaction with personal freedom and belief in the value of hard

work rise with income

Satisfaction with local education systems also tends to rise with

income; strong relationships are seen in several countries,

including Zimbabwe and Mali

3Copyright © 2010 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gallup World Poll Methodology

Data presented here were gathered in 2008, 2009 and 2010

from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa

All surveys are conducted in person after being translated into

the major languages spoken in each country

All surveys use randomly selected, nationally representative

samples. Sample sizes are1,000 in every country except

Cameroon, where it is 1,200

The Gallup World Poll continually surveys residents in more than

150 countries, representing more than 98% of the world’s adult

population


Right now, do you feel your standard of living is getting better or getting worse?Results divided by respondents’ RELATIVE INCOME LEVEL within their own countries

5Copyright © 2010 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 5

Standard of Living Perceptions Suggest Growing DivergenceData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

34%

40%

45%

49%

57%

26% 27% 26% 25%22%

39%

33%

29%26%

21%

Poorest 20% Second 20% Middle 20% Fourth 20% Richest 20%

Getting better Staying the same (vol.) Getting worse

Right now, do you feel your standard of living is getting better or getting worse?Results divided by respondents’ LEVEL OF COMFORT ON THEIR PRESENT INCOME


Standard of Living Perceptions Suggest Growing DivergenceData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

31%

42%

54%

66%

25%28%

25%

18%

43%

30%

21%

16%

Finding it very difficult on present income

Finding it difficult on present income

Getting by on present income

Living comfortably on present income


Right now, do you feel your standard of living is getting better or getting worse?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Standard of Living Perceptions Suggest Growing DivergenceDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, November 2009

14%

28%

37%

44%

53%

22%

26%

38%

31%

19%

63%

46%

25% 24%27%





Standard of Living Perceptions Suggest Growing DivergenceMALAWI, September 2009

37%

50%

58%

64%

82%

25% 26%23% 24%

12%

38%

24%

19%

12%

7%





Standard of Living Perceptions Suggest Growing DivergenceBOTSWANA, July 2008

18%

36%

42%

56%

62%

36%

31%

13%16% 17%

44%

34%

45%

28%

21%



Thinking about the job situation in the city or area where you live today, would you

say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job?Results divided by respondents’ RELATIVE INCOME LEVEL within their own countries


Perceptions of Job Availability Rise with Income LevelsData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

28%32%

34%38%

42%

66%64%

62%

58%

53%


Good time Bad time


say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job?Results divided by respondents’ LEVEL OF COMFORT ON THEIR PRESENT INCOME


Perceptions of Job Availability Rise with Income LevelsData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

27%

33%

40%

52%

68%

62%

54%

44%

Finding it very difficult on present income

Finding it difficult on present income

Getting by on present income

Living comfortably on present income

Good time Bad time


say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Perceptions of Job Availability Rise with Income Levels CHAD, December 2009

32%

49%

62%

74%70%

56%

46%

34%

22%

28%


Good time Bad time


say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Perceptions of Job Availability Rise with Income Levels RWANDA, August 2009

27%

35%38%

57%59%

65%

58% 57%

40%

29%


Good time Bad time

In [country], are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you

do with your life?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Satisfaction with Personal Freedom Shows Little Variation at Aggregate LevelData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

63%67% 67% 68% 68%

36%32% 32% 31% 32%


Satisfied Dissatisfied




Satisfaction with Personal Freedom Rises with Income in Some CountriesDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, November 2009

43%39%

60%

69%66%

51%

61%

39%

32%34%






Satisfaction with Personal Freedom Rises with Income in Some Countries ZIMBABWE, March 2010

45%

64%

73%70%

80%

55%

36%

27%30%

20%



Can people in this country get ahead by working hard, or not?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Belief that Hard Work Pays Off Shows Little Variation at Aggregate LevelData aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

82% 82% 84% 85%88%

16% 16% 15% 14% 12%


Yes, can get ahead No, cannot get ahead



Belief that Hard Work Pays Off Rises with Income in Some CountriesCHAD, December 2009

59%

43%

62%

71%

82%

41%

57%

38%

27%

18%





Belief that Hard Work Pays Off Rises with Income in Some CountriesSENEGAL, June 2009

57%

67%

75% 77%

85%

42%

32%

25% 23%

15%




Belief that Hard Work Pays Off Related to Literacy RatesData from 28 sub-Saharan African countries, r = 0.53

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Literacy rate (UNESCO 2007)

Percent saying "Yes, people can get ahead by working hard"

In the city or area where you live, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the

educational system or the schools?Results divided by respondents’ relative income level within their own countries


Modest Relationship Overall Between Income and Education Satisfaction Data aggregated from 31 sub-Saharan African countries, 2008-2010

47%49%

51%53%

57%

53%50%

48%46%

43%






Income and Education Perceptions Strongly Related in Some CountriesZIMBABWE, March 2010

26%30%

34%

40%

52%

74%70%

66%

60%

48%






Income and Education Perceptions Strongly Related in Some CountriesMALI, October 2009

20% 21% 23%

33%

43%

80% 79%76%

67%

57%



Conclusion

Though the relationships between income level and perceptions

of empowerment are modest at the aggregate level, they are

much stronger in some African countries than others

Countries where perceptions of empowerment are most strongly

related to income include those where political patronage and

human rights violations are most severe

Economic inclusion and empowerment are just two concepts that

fall under the larger bracket of social mobility which in turn is

simply one element fed into a broader concept of social cohesion

– consistent perceptual measures can also be used to address

the other elements


Thank you


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