Net migration (World Population) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Net migration (World Population) was -223,909 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded -223,909 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of up 67.1% on the previous year and down 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 558,272 in 1982 and was at its lowest, -952,932, in 2011.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 19th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration (World Population) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -103,463 | — |
| 1961 | -75,637 | -26.9% |
| 1962 | -88,089 | +16.5% |
| 1963 | -75,119 | -14.7% |
| 1964 | -26,175 | -65.2% |
| 1965 | -23,452 | -10.4% |
| 1966 | -43,295 | +84.6% |
| 1967 | 1,824 | -104.2% |
| 1968 | -1,616 | -188.6% |
| 1969 | 29,509 | -1926.1% |
| 1970 | -6,501 | -122.0% |
| 1971 | -177,968 | +2637.5% |
| 1972 | -176,511 | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 156,878 | -188.9% |
| 1974 | 52,938 | -66.3% |
| 1975 | 31,555 | -40.4% |
| 1976 | -202,513 | -741.8% |
| 1977 | -497,338 | +145.6% |
| 1978 | 552,690 | -211.1% |
| 1979 | 68,819 | -87.5% |
| 1980 | -166,916 | -342.5% |
| 1981 | 495,965 | -397.1% |
| 1982 | 558,272 | +12.6% |
| 1983 | -189,527 | -133.9% |
| 1984 | 119,712 | -163.2% |
| 1985 | 163,828 | +36.9% |
| 1986 | 43,534 | -73.4% |
| 1987 | 83,742 | +92.4% |
| 1988 | -298,582 | -456.5% |
| 1989 | -172,430 | -42.3% |
| 1990 | -434,242 | +151.8% |
| 1991 | -583,683 | +34.4% |
| 1992 | -168,904 | -71.1% |
| 1993 | -41,297 | -75.6% |
| 1994 | -227,253 | +450.3% |
| 1995 | -171,101 | -24.7% |
| 1996 | -790,578 | +362.1% |
| 1997 | -626,809 | -20.7% |
| 1998 | -96,538 | -84.6% |
| 1999 | -590,368 | +511.5% |
| 2000 | -667,424 | +13.1% |
| 2001 | -594,968 | -10.9% |
| 2002 | -527,322 | -11.4% |
| 2003 | -591,625 | +12.2% |
| 2004 | -499,023 | -15.7% |
| 2005 | -695,332 | +39.3% |
| 2006 | -794,157 | +14.2% |
| 2007 | -726,996 | -8.5% |
| 2008 | -678,251 | -6.7% |
| 2009 | -696,903 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | -705,340 | +1.2% |
| 2011 | -952,932 | +35.1% |
| 2012 | -708,692 | -25.6% |
| 2013 | -498,891 | -29.6% |
| 2014 | -637,187 | +27.7% |
| 2015 | -145,609 | -77.1% |
| 2016 | -806,882 | +454.1% |
| 2017 | 200,462 | -124.8% |
| 2018 | 107,286 | -46.5% |
| 2019 | -185,433 | -272.8% |
| 2020 | 269,247 | -245.2% |
| 2021 | -18,082 | -106.7% |
| 2022 | -366,066 | +1924.5% |
| 2023 | -675,711 | +84.6% |
| 2024 | -680,868 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | -223,909 | -67.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration (World Population) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -2637.5% | -6,501 | -177,968 |
| 1969 | +1926.1% | -1,616 | 29,509 |
| 2022 | -1924.5% | -18,082 | -366,066 |
| 1976 | -741.8% | 31,555 | -202,513 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -40,551 | -103,463 | 29,509 | 10 |
| 1970s | -19,795 | -497,338 | 552,690 | 10 |
| 1980s | 63,760 | -298,582 | 558,272 | 10 |
| 1990s | -373,077 | -790,578 | -41,297 | 10 |
| 2000s | -647,200 | -794,157 | -499,023 | 10 |
| 2010s | -433,322 | -952,932 | 200,462 | 10 |
| 2020s | -282,565 | -680,868 | 269,247 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More financial sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Domestic credit to private sector 31.7% (2023)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 24.7% (2023)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 24.8% (2023)
- Broad money 42.6% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 12.9% (2023)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 20.18 % 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 6.12 (2025)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 67.11 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was -223,909 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 558,272 in 1982.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -952,932 in 2011.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for net migration?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
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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.