Top 10 largest migrant corridors from and to African countries

Migration is an integral part of human history, and in Africa, it plays a significant role in shaping the social, economic, and cultural landscapes of the continent. Intra-African migration—movement of people within the continent—is often characterized by short-distance mobility and is often driven by economic, social, and political factors.

While global migration from Africa often garners significant attention, the majority of African migrants remain within the continent, creating vibrant corridors of exchange and opportunity.

According to the second edition of the Africa Migration Report (AMRII), the largest intra-African migration corridor is from Burkina Faso to Côte d’Ivoire, with over 1.37 million migrants.

Another significant pathway is from South Sudan to Uganda, which hosts more than 1.02 million migrants. The third major migration route is from South Sudan to Sudan, with over 867,000 individuals moving along this corridor.

Notably, as of 2020, approximately 40.4 million Africans had left their home countries, primarily migrating to other continents in search of better opportunities. This figure represents about 3% of Africa’s total population. Consequently, the continent has faced a negative migrant stock balance, with more individuals leaving Africa than arriving.

The migration of Africans to other continents is influenced by a combination of economic factors and historical and cultural ties. Social connections, such as shared languages—like Egypt’s ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE—or historical political relationships, as seen with Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia’s links to France, play a significant role in facilitating and sustaining these migration flows.