Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Net migration was -223,909 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded -223,909 for net migration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 67.1% on the previous year and down 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 558,272 in 1982 and was at its lowest, -952,932, in 2011.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa 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
More financial sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.75 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.1205 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 1.28 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.75 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.1205 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Net migration in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- The highest recorded value was 558,272 in 1982.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -952,932 in 2011.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for net migration?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.