Economic hardship pushing more Africans to consider leaving their countries – Afrobarometer report

A recent Afrobarometer report highlights that economic hardship is driving more Africans to contemplate leaving their countries in search of better opportunities. Across 38 African nations, 45% of respondents have contemplated migration, with 25% expressing strong interest. This marks a significant increase from 2016/2018, when only 18% of citizens considered leaving their home countries.

The survey pinpointed West African nations as having the highest levels of emigration interest, particularly The Gambia, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Ghana.

Economic concerns top the list of reasons for considering migration, with 50% of those who have thought about moving citing job prospects as their primary motivation. Poverty and economic difficulties were identified as the main deterrents to staying, with only a small percentage of respondents pointing to education, politics, or travel as factors.

Younger and more educated Africans are also more likely to entertain the idea of emigration; those aged 18-35 are three times more likely than older citizens to seriously consider moving, with 55% of young Ghanians expressing such interest.

The report also observed a change in preferred destinations, with fewer respondents opting for other African countries (26%) and a rise in interest in North America (28%). Europe remains a popular choice, with its appeal increasing slightly from 27% to 29%. Despite the desire among many Africans to relocate, most of those who do move stay within Africa.

The report points out that governments must address the underlying issues driving citizens to seek opportunities abroad, emphasizing the creation of sustainable jobs and improvements in living conditions to encourage citizens to build their futures within their home countries.