While the desire to migrate has increased in many countries in Africa, Tanzania stands out as the only country where emigration intentions have declined among its people.
Less than 10 percent of the country’s population of 64 million want to get away from Tanzania and live elsewhere, according to a new study report.
On the other hand the craving to emigrate is rapidly increasing elsewhere on the continent.
The latest Afrobarometer findings indicate that almost half of Africans, that is 50 percent of the population, considered emigrating, a significant increase compared to the proportion recorded six years ago topping in 2018.
The study reveals that most Africans dream of moving to mostly Europe and North America.
Though Europe and the United States are the most preferred destinations, there are a significant proportion of potential migrants who would prefer to relocate within Africa.
The new Afrobarometer findings from 24 African countries show that the primary motivating factors for emigrating are to find jobs and escape economic hardship.
Key findings
On average across 24 African countries surveyed in 2024, almost half (47 percent) of respondents say they have considered moving to live in another country, including 27 percent who have given emigration “a lot” of thought.
Thoughts of emigrating are most common in Liberia at 78 Percent, the Gambia (68 percent), Cabo Verde (64 percent), and Ghana (61 percent).
In contrast, very few Tanzanians, accounting for only 9 percent of the country’s population, express an interest in leaving. The residents seem agoraphobic.
East, West, Home’s Best? Maybe
Some observers however believe that, it is very difficult for ordinary people to secure travel documents in Tanzania that is why most residents in the country have given up dreams to fly overseases.
There is also the issue of language barrier.
On average across 22 countries surveyed consistently since 2016/2018, the share of people who have thought at least ‘a little bit,’ about emigration has increased by 9 percentage points.
There are double-digit increases recorded in Liberia (28 percentage points), Mauritius (27 points), Nigeria (21 points), Ghana (20 points), Cameroon (15 points), Namibia (12 points), the Gambia (12 points), and Zimbabwe (11 points).
Tanzania is the only surveyed country where the proportion of citizens giving at least some thought to emigration has decreased by 5 points.
The most popular destinations for potential emigrants are North America (31 percent) and Europe (29 percent).
However, almost a quarter (22 percent) would move to another country within the region or elsewhere on the African continent.
Among those who have considered migrating, about half (49 percent) cite finding work as the most important reason, while 29 percent are motivated by a desire to escape economic hardship or poverty.
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 surveys were launched in January 2024.