State capacity gap grows in Africa and Latin America

A growing gap is emerging between citizen expectations and government performance across much of Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This disconnect is particularly pronounced among younger generations, who express increasing frustration with unemployment, corruption, insecurity, and inadequate public services, leading to a decline in trust toward political elites.

In Africa, Afrobarometer data indicates that 59% of citizens view their country's economic conditions as poor, while 58% believe their nations are heading in the wrong direction. Economic management and unemployment remain top priorities. Similarly, in the LAC region, Latinobarómetro reports that only 45% of young people are satisfied with the functioning of democracy, with nearly 40% expressing distrust in their governments.

Despite relatively solid economic growth in many countries within these regions, the performance is viewed as insufficient given their demographic and economic potential. This growth has largely failed to trigger structural transformations, as economies struggle to diversify beyond raw materials, develop industrial capacity, and create productive employment.