High Social Tolerance Clashes with Strict Immigration Views
The African continent is defined by robust community ties and broad acceptance of diversity, yet a new comprehensive analysis reveals a stark boundary when it comes to foreign arrivals. According to the latest Afrobarometer social tolerance report (Pan-Africa Profile), citizens across the continent are highly accepting of neighbours from different backgrounds but hold increasingly restrictive attitudes toward immigration.
Based on 50,961 interviews conducted across 38 African countries in 2024 and 2025 by Afrobarometer, the findings paint a complex picture of modern African society.
Africans express broad social tolerance for different ethnicities and religions. Source: hadynyah / Getty Images
High Tolerance vs. Low Trust
The Afrobarometer social tolerance report indicates that Africans are generally more tolerant than they are trusting. While an overwhelming 81% of citizens say they trust relatives “somewhat” or “a lot,” only around half extend that trust to people of different ethnicities (49%) or religions (48%).
Despite this weaker trust, social acceptance remains remarkably high. Large majorities would welcome living next door to individuals of a different ethnicity (87%), religion (84%), political party (81%), or nationality (77%). However, tolerance drops noticeably regarding refugees (69%), and only 22% would accept homosexual neighbours.
The Immigration Boundary
For readers tracking regional Politics on the Afrikeye homepage, the survey’s data on immigration policy is particularly striking. The Afrobarometer social tolerance report highlights that immigration marks a firm boundary of inclusion.
Most Africans believe their governments should admit fewer or no foreign job seekers (64%) and refugees (70%). The continent is evenly split on the economic impact of migrants, with 45% viewing their contribution positively and 44% negatively. Notably, South Africa expressed some of the most restrictive views on the continent regarding the admission of foreign job seekers.
National Identity and Institutional Fairness
The survey also explored how citizens view themselves and their institutions. Almost nine out of 10 Africans (85%) value their national identity at least as highly as their ethnic identity, with a plurality (46%) feeling equally attached to both. However, perceptions of institutional unfairness persist; while a majority say the government “never” treats their ethnic group unfairly, four in 10 report experiencing discrimination “sometimes,” “often,” or “always.”
As regional mobility continues to evolve—a factor often monitored by platforms like Afrikeye Travel—policymakers must navigate these complex public sentiments. The insights from the 2024/2025 Afrobarometer social tolerance report suggest that while community cohesion remains a defining African strength, governments face growing pressure to manage borders and address domestic anxieties regarding foreign labor.
