Immigration in Africa - statistics & facts
African immigration is mostly characterized by movements within the continent itself. More than half of African migrants migrate across African countries, while around one in every four migrants has Europe as a destination region. Among the macro-regions, Eastern and Western Africa host the largest number of migrants, together accounting for almost 60 percent of all international migrants in Africa. However, as of 2020, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire were hosting the highest number of immigrants among all African countries. In Africa, only 12 nations have a positive migration rate, indicating that the number of international migrants coming to these 12 countries is higher than that of people leaving.
Poverty, political instability, wars, and terrorism are some of the causes that push people to seek shelter and asylum in another country. The majority of refugees in Africa are found in the Horn of Africa and the East region, with Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia hosting the largest number of refugees. In contrast, the majority of asylum seekers live in South Africa, Zambia, and Egypt. Refugees have their protection status recognized due to human rights violations and persecution in their country of origin, and they have a right to international protection. An asylum seeker, on the other hand, is seeking protection but has not yet been legally recognized as a refugee.
Population of concern
About 40 percent of the global population of concern lives in Africa. In 2019, this amounted to over 33 million people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returned refugees, and stateless people. Refugees and internally displaced persons represent the largest part of the population of concern. Africa has the highest number of IDPs in the world. These are forced to leave their homes but remain within their country's borders.Poverty, political instability, wars, and terrorism are some of the causes that push people to seek shelter and asylum in another country. The majority of refugees in Africa are found in the Horn of Africa and the East region, with Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia hosting the largest number of refugees. In contrast, the majority of asylum seekers live in South Africa, Zambia, and Egypt. Refugees have their protection status recognized due to human rights violations and persecution in their country of origin, and they have a right to international protection. An asylum seeker, on the other hand, is seeking protection but has not yet been legally recognized as a refugee.
