News release
A majority of Nigerians have considered leaving the country, usually in search of better economic opportunities, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey.
The proportion of citizens who have given emigration “a lot” of thought has tripled since 2017. The most common reasons among potential emigrants are the search for work opportunities and the wish to overcome economic hardship.
Highly educated, unemployed, urban, and young citizens are most likely to consider emigration. Their most popular destinations are North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
As the world observes International Migrants Day, Nigeria and other African countries contend with “brain drain,” high-risk irregular migration, and other emigration-related challenges.
Key findings
More than half (56%) of Nigerians say they have considered leaving Nigeria, a 20- percentage-point increase compared to 2017 (36%) (Figure 1). The share who say they have given “a lot” of thought to the idea has tripled, from 11% to 33%.
Thoughts of emigrating are particularly common among the most educated citizens (71% of those with post-secondary qualifications), urban residents (63%), and youth (60% of 18- to 35-year-olds) (Figure 2).
Two-thirds (66%) of citizens who are unemployed and looking for work say they have thought about leaving Nigeria, while many full-time (58%) and part-time workers (56%) have also considered emigration.
The most common reasons cited for potential emigration are finding work opportunities (42%) and escaping economic hardship or poverty (39%) (Figure 3).
The most popular destinations among potential emigrants are North America (38%) and Europe (28%) (Figure 4).
Afrobarometer surveys
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 were launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.
The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed a nationally representative, random, stratified probability sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians between 19 June and 17 July 2024. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous standard surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022.
Charts
Figure 1: Considered emigrating | Nigeria | 2017-2024
Respondents were asked: How much, if at all, have you considered moving to another country to live?
Figure 2: Considered emigrating | by demographic group | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents were asked: How much, if at all, have you considered moving to another country to live? (% who say “a little bit,” “somewhat,” or “a lot”)
Due to rounding, percentages for combined categories reported in the text may differ slightly from the sum of sub-categories shown in figures (e.g. 33% “a lot,” 10% “somewhat,” and 12% “a little bit” sum to 56%).
Figure 3: Main reason to consider emigration | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents who say they have considered emigrating were asked: What is the most important reason why you would consider moving from Nigeria? (Respondents who say they have not considered emigrating are excluded.)
Figure 4: Preferred destination for emigration | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents who say they have considered emigrating were asked: If you were to move to another country, where would you be most likely to go? (Respondents who say they have not considered emigrating are excluded.)
For more information, please contact:
NOIPolls
Raphael Mbaegbu
Telephone: +234 63292096
Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com
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