Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Afrobarometer?


What is the relationship between Afrobarometer and Eurobarometer?

Both Afrobarometer and Eurobarometer are cross-national comparative survey projects focusing on population sample surveys. Other related projects are the Arabbarometer (Arab region), Asianbarometer (Asia) and Latinobarometer (Latin America). Each of the barometers is implemented independently although in each country, a national research team administers a country-wide face-to-face survey using standardized survey instruments to compile the required micro-level data under a common research framework and research methodology.

Can I get access to the data?

Because Afrobarometer is funded from public resources, its data are a public good. All data are released via this website and other outlets, along with relevant codebooks. To allow initial in-house analysis and publication, we release full data sets for free public use one year after the completion of fieldwork in the relevant country.

Data are also made available for public use on our free online data analysis tool.

Early access to data sets (prior to general release) can be granted to graduates or research students based at African institutions and to African students based at overseas institutions.


Please see our Data Usage and Access Policy.

What methodology is used in data collection?

All Afrobarometer interviews are face-to-face. Visit our survey methods page for more information.

What is the sample size in every country?

Samples usually include either 1200 or 2400 cases. Samples are designed to generate a sample that is a representative cross-section of all citizens of voting age in a given country.  The goal is to give every adult citizen an equal and known chance of being selected for an interview. Go to sampling principles

Can I use Afrobarometer data to write publications?

Yes. Afrobarometer data is free and available online. If you use our data in your publication, please acknowledge Afrobarometer. Read our data usage policy for more information. 

Who is the intended target audience for Afrobarometer’s findings?

Afrobarometer wants to make its findings available to everyone who has an interest in the perceptions, attitudes, and preferences of ordinary Africans. We think our findings are especially valuable for people involved or interested in policy making that affects citizens in African countries, such as government officials, civil-society activists and advocates, the news media, international donors and development partners, researchers, and students.

Why is the Afrobarometer survey not done in my country?

Among criteria that Afrobarometer uses to determine whether to implement a survey in a particular country are the availability of funding, security conditions in the country, and the ability of citizens in that country to speak freely.

How can I partner with Afrobarometer to carry out a survey in my country?

Afrobarometer advertises on this website and other platforms for reputable and experienced organisations/firms to carry out surveys and disseminate findings in their respective countries. Successful applicants become Afrobarometer’s national partners. For more information, please contact us.

How can I access Afrobarometer publications?

Afrobarometer dispatches/briefing papers, policy papers, working papers, and summaries of results are available free of charge in our Publications section.

Press releases can be found here.

Media briefings (PowerPoint presentations) can be found here.

Information on Afrobarometer books can be found here.

On each page, you can use our search tool to search by country, type of publication, language, country, or author.