Net migration in Nigeria
Nigeria: Net migration was -15,258 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded -15,258 for net migration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 56.7% on the previous year and up 86.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Nigeria peaked at 198,672 in 1980 and was at its lowest, -507,539, in 1983.
That places Nigeria 165th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12,131 | — |
| 1961 | 25,515 | +110.3% |
| 1962 | 27,906 | +9.4% |
| 1963 | 27,115 | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 26,411 | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 32,988 | +24.9% |
| 1966 | 12,513 | -62.1% |
| 1967 | 18,683 | +49.3% |
| 1968 | 9,615 | -48.5% |
| 1969 | 6,912 | -28.1% |
| 1970 | 7,953 | +15.1% |
| 1971 | -35,639 | -548.1% |
| 1972 | -12,962 | -63.6% |
| 1973 | -618 | -95.2% |
| 1974 | 44,281 | -7265.2% |
| 1975 | 75,603 | +70.7% |
| 1976 | 72,889 | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 129,075 | +77.1% |
| 1978 | 111,258 | -13.8% |
| 1979 | 137,721 | +23.8% |
| 1980 | 198,672 | +44.3% |
| 1981 | 106,723 | -46.3% |
| 1982 | 101,116 | -5.3% |
| 1983 | -507,539 | -601.9% |
| 1984 | 113,758 | -122.4% |
| 1985 | 61,514 | -45.9% |
| 1986 | 29,682 | -51.7% |
| 1987 | 64,418 | +117.0% |
| 1988 | 93,510 | +45.2% |
| 1989 | 99,588 | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 135,959 | +36.5% |
| 1991 | 42,760 | -68.5% |
| 1992 | 138,412 | +223.7% |
| 1993 | 90,200 | -34.8% |
| 1994 | 128,134 | +42.1% |
| 1995 | 73,243 | -42.8% |
| 1996 | 84,448 | +15.3% |
| 1997 | 96,885 | +14.7% |
| 1998 | 145,575 | +50.3% |
| 1999 | 97,195 | -33.2% |
| 2000 | 74,535 | -23.3% |
| 2001 | 64,163 | -13.9% |
| 2002 | 69,594 | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 33,857 | -51.4% |
| 2004 | 46,370 | +37.0% |
| 2005 | -17,146 | -137.0% |
| 2006 | -12,093 | -29.5% |
| 2007 | -9,162 | -24.2% |
| 2008 | -13,646 | +48.9% |
| 2009 | -18,422 | +35.0% |
| 2010 | 47,966 | -360.4% |
| 2011 | 67,808 | +41.4% |
| 2012 | 71,138 | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 40,201 | -43.5% |
| 2014 | -19,376 | -148.2% |
| 2015 | -116,162 | +499.5% |
| 2016 | 75,265 | -164.8% |
| 2017 | 78,685 | +4.5% |
| 2018 | -76,565 | -197.3% |
| 2019 | -99,722 | +30.2% |
| 2020 | -14,497 | -85.5% |
| 2021 | -86,115 | +494.0% |
| 2022 | -51,680 | -40.0% |
| 2023 | -57,936 | +12.1% |
| 2024 | -35,202 | -39.2% |
| 2025 | -15,258 | -56.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's -15,258 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's -15,258 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 2.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +7265.2% | -618 | 44,281 |
| 1983 | -601.9% | 101,116 | -507,539 |
| 1971 | -548.1% | 7,953 | -35,639 |
| 2015 | -499.5% | -19,376 | -116,162 |
| 2021 | -494.0% | -14,497 | -86,115 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19,979 | 6,912 | 32,988 | 10 |
| 1970s | 52,956 | -35,639 | 137,721 | 10 |
| 1980s | 36,144 | -507,539 | 198,672 | 10 |
| 1990s | 103,281 | 42,760 | 145,575 | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,805 | -18,422 | 74,535 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,924 | -116,162 | 78,685 | 10 |
| 2020s | -43,448 | -86,115 | -14,497 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More financial sector data for Nigeria
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.01 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.7387 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.01 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Nigeria?
- Net migration in Nigeria was -15,258 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 198,672 in 1980.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -507,539 in 1983.
- How does Nigeria rank for net migration?
- Nigeria ranks 165th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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
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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.