Nigerians in the diaspora continue to play a vital role in the country’s economy, contributing an impressive $23 billion in total remittances in 2023.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
This figure underscores the importance of the Nigerian diaspora, with remittances almost matching the combined GDP of Africa’s ten smallest economies.
These countries include Togo, Burundi, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Lesotho, South Sudan, Djibouti, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Gambia.
Such significant contributions highlight the Nigerian diaspora’s economic impact, often serving as a financial lifeline for families and the economy at large.
The remittances from these expatriates have become a critical source of foreign exchange, helping to stabilize the nation’s economy amid challenging circumstances.
Top 10 Countries with the Largest Nigerians Diaspora Population
According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, the following ten countries host the largest Nigerian diaspora populations, contributing to this enormous inflow of remittances.
Country Population
United States 353885
United Kingdom 215000
Italy 119400
United Arab Emirates 100000
Brazil 90000
Germany 83000
Canada 70000
Spain 70000
South Africa 31000
France 30000
Nigeria Ranks Fourth in Africa for Number of Citizens Living Abroad
Nigeria is currently ranked as the fourth African country with the largest number of citizens living outside the continent, according to Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice-President of Economic Governance and Knowledge Management at the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Urama also shared that about 70,000 skilled professionals leave Africa every year, based on data from the African Union (AU).
A large number of these emigrants are Nigerians. Around 58% of Nigerians living abroad are outside of Africa, while 42% live within the continent.
To keep track of Nigerians living overseas, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) launched the Data Mapping and Registry Portal in 2021.
The goal is to create a complete database of Nigerians abroad. So far, Nigerians in 28 countries have signed up on the portal, but NiDCOM has not yet provided the total number of registered diaspora members.
However, data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that around 17 million Nigerians live abroad as of 2024.
