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A new survey by Pew Research Center, a Washington-DC based nonpartisan fact tank, has found that citizens of three major African countries – Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya – are increasingly concerned about key development issues. The findings of the survey, which was published today, show that economic sentiments in two of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economies – Nigeria and South Africa – have turned sharply negative since 2015. The same sentiment was expressed by half of the survey respondents in Kenya.

Lack of employment opportunities is a major problem in the region, according to Pew Research. Political corruption is also a major public concern as broad majorities in all three countries named government corruption as a big problem. The survey polled 3,330 respondents in the three countries from March 29 to July 9, 2016, looking at issues around achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cut across ending poverty, economic growth, building accountable institutions and reducing inequality, among other targets.

The survey shows that most Nigerians (79%) are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today. Similarly, a majority of Nigerians (71%) described the country’s current economic situation as bad, compared to less than half (42%) who felt the economic situation was bad in 2015.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, but it has been hit hard by falling oil prices, oil output decline, spiraling inflation – culminating in the first economic recession in more than two decades.

Among top five development issues, Nigerians said poverty is the topmost, with 93% saying it is a very big problem; followed by energy shortages, crime, government corruption, and lack of employment. Security, employment and corruption top South Africans’ list of development concerns. At least eight-in-ten South Africans said that crime, lack of employment opportunities, government corruption and poverty are very big problems in their country.

At least eight-in-ten Kenyans said government corruption (91%), lack of employment opportunities (87%), poverty (86%), and crime (82%) are top on their list of development issues in the country.   

While 79% of Nigerians are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today, 74% of South Africans said they are unhappy with the way things are in their country, with only 24% saying they are satisfied. Meanwhile, as Kenya prepares for next year's election, 56% of the citizens are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country.

When asked to pick among six possible development priorities – health care, education, agriculture and food supply, supply of energy, infrastructure and government effectiveness – Nigerians said food supply is most important, followed by energy supply and education. For South Africa, education is the nation's top priority, followed by government effectiveness and health care. Meanwhile, Kenyans said education is the most important, followed by health care and government effectiveness.

On employment, 69% of South Africans said having connections is a key factor in getting a job. In Nigeria, 63% of respondents said lack of connections is the top reason many people do not have jobs, compared to 64% in Kenya.

Despite the negative sentiments expressed about the economy, majorities in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya expressed considerable optimism saying their countries’ economies will improve in the next 12 months. Nigerians are also very optimistic about their personal economic future. More than nine-in-ten (93%) expect their personal finances to improve over the next year.  

The survey also shows Nigerians are more optimistic there will be less corruption in the future – as 60% expect things to improve. Conversely, only a third of South Africans and Kenyans said government corruption will be better in their countries when today’s children grow up.

Public opinion in Nigeria is frequently divided along religious lines. According to Pew, Muslims are much more upbeat about the economy, and more likely to believe that the national economy will improve in the next 12 months. 65% of Christians said government is run for the benefit of a few groups, while 45% of Muslims express this view. These figures are up from 58% for Christians in 2015 and down from 64% for Muslims. Perhaps this indicates the transition of power from Goodluck Jonathan (a Christian) to Muhammadu Buhari (a Muslim), according to the polling organization.

Public opinion in South Africa is divided along racial lines as South African blacks are more optimistic than the Whites and mixed-race about the future of the country. Whites (86%) and mixed-race people, also called “coloured” in South Africa (83%), are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than blacks (71%). Ethnic divisions are prominent on many issues in Kenya, with the Kikuyu and Kalenjin people expressing a much more positive outlook about the nation than the Luhya and Luo.

While public opinion is divided along racial, ethnic or religious lines, Pew Research said majorities in the three countries believe that ordinary citizens can make a difference.

On migration, the survey – which was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – shows that about three-in-four Nigerians, Kenyans and South Africans believe that young people should stay in their countries rather than move abroad.