Talented Africans rushing to leave the continent

Despite substantial economic growth on the continent in recent times, a growing number of Africans are leaving to find better lives elsewhere. File photo.
Image: Thinkstock

Young and educated Africans are the most likely population group to consider emigration, says Afrobarometer.

This is despite significant economic growth in many African countries over the past two decades.

“A substantial number of Africans still see leaving their country to seek out a better future as their best option,” the survey states.

Although only 14% of the 258 million international migrants worldwide in 2017 were born in Africa, Afrobarometer said sub-Saharan African countries account for eight of the 10 fastest-growing international migrant populations since 2010.

The number of emigrants from each of these sub-Saharan countries grew by 50% or more between 2010 and 2017.

“At the country level, only Syria had a higher rate of growth in the number of citizens living in other countries,” the survey found.

In the third of its Pan-Africa Profiles based on recent public-opinion surveys in 34 African countries, Afrobarometer said that more than one third of Africans have considered emigrating, including about half of young adults and highly educated citizens.

The most popular destination among potential emigrants is another African country, and potential emigrants are overwhelmingly motivated by a hunger for jobs and economic opportunity.

“But contrary to the notion that migrants are simply a country’s most impoverished citizens, youth and education are far more strongly correlated with interest in emigration than poverty,” the report states.

The preference for staying on the continent is especially strong in southern Africa (58%) and weakest in North Africa (8%).

Europe (27%) and North America (22%) are the most popular destinations outside Africa.

In almost all countries, by far the most frequently cited reasons for emigrating are to look for work (44% on average) and to escape poverty and economic hardship (29%).

Countries most at risk of losing their young talent hail from five countries. A majority of citizens say they have thought at least “a little bit” about leaving Cabo Verde (57%), Sierra Leone (57%), the Gambia (56%), Togo (54%) and São Tomé and Príncipe (54%).