Net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Net migration was 114,862 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 114,862.
That represents a change of up 117.1% on the previous year and down 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 609,149 in 1978 and was at its lowest, -989,975, in 2023.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 11th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -102,704 | — |
| 1961 | -38,646 | -62.4% |
| 1962 | -56,414 | +46.0% |
| 1963 | -42,809 | -24.1% |
| 1964 | 22,280 | -152.0% |
| 1965 | 7,627 | -65.8% |
| 1966 | 5,881 | -22.9% |
| 1967 | 28,506 | +384.7% |
| 1968 | 37,258 | +30.7% |
| 1969 | -18,615 | -150.0% |
| 1970 | -12,781 | -31.3% |
| 1971 | -91,106 | +612.8% |
| 1972 | -120,416 | +32.2% |
| 1973 | 208,461 | -273.1% |
| 1974 | 54,059 | -74.1% |
| 1975 | 33,607 | -37.8% |
| 1976 | -60,672 | -280.5% |
| 1977 | -432,016 | +612.1% |
| 1978 | 609,149 | -241.0% |
| 1979 | 109,460 | -82.0% |
| 1980 | -72,573 | -166.3% |
| 1981 | 514,791 | -809.3% |
| 1982 | 514,670 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 468,187 | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 400,951 | -14.4% |
| 1985 | 344,728 | -14.0% |
| 1986 | 187,193 | -45.7% |
| 1987 | 208,800 | +11.5% |
| 1988 | -230,030 | -210.2% |
| 1989 | -143,960 | -37.4% |
| 1990 | 47,976 | -133.3% |
| 1991 | -539,801 | -1225.1% |
| 1992 | -208,254 | -61.4% |
| 1993 | 250,990 | -220.5% |
| 1994 | -153,050 | -161.0% |
| 1995 | -283,365 | +85.1% |
| 1996 | -719,150 | +153.8% |
| 1997 | -760,003 | +5.7% |
| 1998 | -225,429 | -70.3% |
| 1999 | -471,938 | +109.4% |
| 2000 | -688,533 | +45.9% |
| 2001 | -592,931 | -13.9% |
| 2002 | -531,528 | -10.4% |
| 2003 | -517,323 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | -472,255 | -8.7% |
| 2005 | -568,306 | +20.3% |
| 2006 | -581,942 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | -530,023 | -8.9% |
| 2008 | -438,568 | -17.3% |
| 2009 | -479,929 | +9.4% |
| 2010 | -413,050 | -13.9% |
| 2011 | -712,363 | +72.5% |
| 2012 | -174,216 | -75.5% |
| 2013 | -91,530 | -47.5% |
| 2014 | -414,158 | +352.5% |
| 2015 | 151,528 | -136.6% |
| 2016 | -799,850 | -627.9% |
| 2017 | 340,934 | -142.6% |
| 2018 | 327,087 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 100,706 | -69.2% |
| 2020 | 340,127 | +237.7% |
| 2021 | 187,508 | -44.9% |
| 2022 | -220,428 | -217.6% |
| 2023 | -989,975 | +349.1% |
| 2024 | -670,014 | -32.3% |
| 2025 | 114,862 | -117.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -1225.1% | 47,976 | -539,801 |
| 1981 | +809.3% | -72,573 | 514,791 |
| 2016 | -627.9% | 151,528 | -799,850 |
| 1971 | -612.8% | -12,781 | -91,106 |
| 1977 | -612.1% | -60,672 | -432,016 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -15,764 | -102,704 | 37,258 | 10 |
| 1970s | 29,774 | -432,016 | 609,149 | 10 |
| 1980s | 219,276 | -230,030 | 514,791 | 10 |
| 1990s | -306,202 | -760,003 | 250,990 | 10 |
| 2000s | -540,134 | -688,533 | -438,568 | 10 |
| 2010s | -168,491 | -799,850 | 340,934 | 10 |
| 2020s | -206,320 | -989,975 | 340,127 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 8 United Arab Emirates 158,634 compare
- 9 South Africa 146,370 compare
- 10 Japan 140,579 compare
- 11 Australia 137,109 compare
- 12 Colombia 129,139 compare
- 13 Saudi Arabia 119,738 compare
- 14 Iran 116,786 compare
More financial sector data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Domestic credit to private sector 50.7% (2024)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 34.4% (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 33.3% (2023)
- Broad money 50.7% (2024)
- Claims on central government, etc. 19.1% (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 21.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 6.09 (2025)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 117.14 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Net migration in Africa Eastern and Southern was 114,862 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 609,149 in 1978.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was -989,975 in 2023.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for net migration?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.