A new report by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network, has revealed that more than half of Nigerians are considering emigration, with the number of citizens who have given “a lot” of thought to leaving the country tripling since 2017. The report, released on International Migration Day, attributes the surge to economic hardship and the search for better work opportunities.
According to the findings, 56 percent of Nigerians have contemplated emigrating, a 20-percentage-point increase from the figure recorded in 2017. Among these, 33 percent have seriously considered the idea, compared to 11 percent seven years ago. The report highlights that thoughts of emigration are most prevalent among urban residents, the highly educated, the unemployed, and younger citizens.
The report further discloses that 71 percent of Nigerians with post-secondary education have considered leaving, alongside 63 percent of urban dwellers and 60 percent of citizens aged 18 to 35. The most preferred destinations for potential emigrants include North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
The research, conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,600 Nigerians between June 19 and July 17, provides results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Afrobarometer noted that the intention to emigrate has grown more rapidly in Nigeria than in most other African countries. Over the past six to eight years, the number of Nigerians considering emigration increased by 21 percentage points, more than double the continental average of 9 percentage points.
Across 24 African countries surveyed, 47 percent of respondents indicated that they have thought about emigrating, with 27 percent giving it “a lot” of consideration. Liberia recorded the highest emigration intentions, with 78 percent of citizens contemplating leaving, followed by The Gambia (68 percent), Cabo Verde (64 percent), and Ghana (61 percent). Conversely, Tanzania reported the lowest emigration interest, with only 9 percent of citizens considering relocation.
Afrobarometer’s report also underscores the significance of economic factors driving emigration. Nearly half of potential emigrants cited the need to find work as their primary motivation, while others sought to escape poverty and economic hardship. The data also revealed a growing inclination toward regional mobility, with a quarter of respondents expressing a preference to relocate within Africa.
The findings reflect the mounting challenges faced by Nigerians and other Africans amid persistent economic difficulties, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of migration pressures on the continent.
