Sub-Saharan African nations feel more optimistic about the future than many others around the world, a survey released on Wednesday found.
The study, published by the Washington-based Pew Research Center, says that "relatively high rates of economic growth" are giving African nations more reason to believe in their short term futures and in the prospects of the next generation.
"Having experienced relatively high rates of economic growth in recent years, African publics are more likely than citizens of many wealthier nations to believe their economies will improve," the report says.
According to the World Bank, sub-Saharan Africa's growth is projected at an average of 4.2% in 2015, down from 4.6% in 2014.
The growth will be driven by domestic demand, supported by continuing infrastructure investment and private consumption fueled by lower oil prices, the bank says.
The report examines public opinion in nine African countries, including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
It says that despite the optimism, sub-Saharan Africa still recognise that their countries face "tremendous challenges".
Across the nine nations in the study, a median of 68% feel that their country needs more foreign aid than it gets today. The exception is South Africa, where a mere 26% hold this view.
The report, based on 9 062 face-to-face interviews with adults 18 and older, was conducted from March 25 to May 21.