According to Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Nigerian population in the diaspora in 2024 hit 17 million. This places Nigeria as the African country with the biggest presence in the diaspora.
Regarding remittances, Nigerians in the diaspora are the top contributors. In 2023, their remittances totalled a staggering $23 billion, a figure almost equivalent to the combined GDP of Africa’s bottom ten countries: Togo, Burundi, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Lesotho, South Sudan, Djibouti, Central African Republic (CAR), and Gambia. This financial impact is a testament to their Economic significance.
According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, here are the top 10 countries with the largest Nigerian diaspora populations (estimated):
According to the Chief Economist and Vice-President of the Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Kevin Urama, the country with the largest number of black people globally ranks fourth among African countries with the number of diasporans outside the continent.
He also revealed that, according to data from the African Union, an estimated 70,000 skilled professionals emigrate from Africa annually, with about 58% of Nigeria’s diasporans living outside Africa while 42% live in Africa.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) launched a Data Mapping and Registry Portal in 2021 to gather accurate data on Nigerians living outside the country.
So far, Nigerians in 28 countries have registered on the portal.