Migration has been a fundamental aspect of human history, with people constantly on the move in search of better opportunities, safety, or a fresh start. In 2020, Africa was home to an estimated 25.1 million international migrants, accounting for 9% of the global migrant population. However, it’s not just the influx of people into African countries that shapes the narrative; there is also a significant outflow of individuals seeking opportunities elsewhere.
As of 2020, approximately 40.4 million Africans had left their countries, predominantly moving to other continents in pursuit of better prospects. This represents about 3% of Africa’s total population, resulting in a negative migrant stock balance as more individuals leave Africa than arrive. Emigrants outnumber immigrants by 15.2 million, making up 1.1% of Africa’s population. North Africa stands out with the highest proportion of emigrants (4.9% of the population) and the lowest proportion of immigrants (1.3%), leading to a significant negative migrant stock balance of -3.6%.
On the other hand, other regions of Africa exhibit relatively balanced and smaller numbers of both immigrants and emigrants. African migration to other continents is influenced by a combination of economic factors, historical ties, and cultural connections. Established social bonds, whether due to a shared language or political history, facilitate and support migration flows.
Despite the outward movement of people from Africa, the continent itself attracts relatively little immigration from other continents. According to the second edition of the Africa Migration Report (AMRII), the only notable corridor is from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Libya.
Below are the top 10 largest migrant corridors from Africa to other continents:
1. Algeria to France: 1,637,211 migrants
2. Morocco to France: 1,059,918 migrants
3. Egypt to Saudi Arabia: 962,432 migrants
4. Egypt to United Arab Emirates: 899,612 migrants
5. Morocco to Spain: 785,884 migrants
6. Sudan to Saudi Arabia: 481,215 migrants
7. Morocco to Italy: 451,960 migrants
8. Tunisia to France: 444,572 migrants
9. Egypt to Kuwait: 421,025 migrants
10. Nigeria to the United States of America: 402,186 migrants
These migrant corridors highlight the diverse destinations that African migrants seek in their pursuit of better opportunities and a brighter future. Migration continues to shape the social, economic, and cultural landscape of Africa and the world at large.
