Nearly half of Africans consider emigrating as jobs, poverty drive migration — Afrobarometer

Policy implications The report suggests that Africa's growing migration ambitions reflect persistent concerns about youth unemployment, limited economic opportunities and poverty, even as governments pursue deeper regional integration through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Nearly one out of every two Africans has considered leaving their country in search of better opportunities, with unemployment and poverty emerging as the biggest factors driving migration across the continent, according to the latest Afrobarometer African Insights 2026 report.

The study found that migration aspirations are strongest among young people and those with higher levels of education, reflecting concerns over limited employment opportunities despite increasing educational attainment across many African countries.