Just 13% of Africans are aware of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), despite growing public support for free trade across the continent, according to the latest Afrobarometer African Insights 2026 report.

The report highlights a widening disconnect between one of Africa’s most ambitious economic integration projects and the citizens it is intended to benefit. Even in Ghana, home to the AfCFTA Secretariat, awareness stands at only 17%.

Yet while knowledge of the agreement remains limited, support for its core objective continues to strengthen. The survey found that 62% of Africans believe governments should make it easier to trade with other countries to create economic opportunities, up from 51% recorded five years ago.

Support for freer trade is now the majority position in 32 of the 38 countries surveyed.

The findings also show that 66% of Africans want their governments to expand trade relationships globally, compared with 20% who favour prioritising trade within Africa and 8% who prefer focusing on their sub-region.

Researchers say this does not conflict with the AfCFTA, whose objective is to use stronger intra-African trade as a springboard for greater global competitiveness.

The report further found that Africans facing greater economic hardship are generally more supportive of open trade, contrary to trends in many other regions where difficult economic conditions often fuel protectionist policies.

Afrobarometer says governments will need sustained public education campaigns if the AfCFTA is to secure the broad public backing needed to achieve its long-term integration goals.

“Despite being one of the most ambitious economic integration initiatives in history, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is barely on the radar of the people it is designed to benefit: Only 13% of Africans have heard of the agreement. Awareness is heavily skewed toward the highly educated and informed, and reaches no higher than 27% in any single country,” the report said.