Young Africans' Emigration Considerations
According to the African Youth Survey 2024 conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, nearly 60% of young Africans have expressed that they are either very or somewhat likely to consider leaving their home country within the next three years. This reflects a seven percentage point increase from the 2022 survey, possibly due to the increased freedom of movement in the post-pandemic world.
Temporary vs Permanent Moves
The survey revealed interesting differences in the permanency of the potential emigration. While 90% of young Rwandans considering emigration viewed it as a temporary move, a significant percentage of young people from Nigeria (45%), Ghana (44%), and Congo Brazzaville (41%) were more inclined towards permanent relocation. The 2024 survey included responses from 5,604 individuals aged between 18 and 24 from 16 different countries, including Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Reasons for Emigration
The primary motivations for contemplating a move abroad were economic reasons (43% of respondents), educational opportunities (38%), and corruption in their home countries. The latter reason saw a three percentage point increase from the 2022 survey. In South Africa, corruption was the top reason for young people considering emigration in 2024 (38%), followed closely by Gabon (32%).
Employment Barriers
When questioned about the major obstacles to finding employment, corruption was identified as the primary issue by 40% of the respondents. This was followed by a lack of well-paying jobs (29%) and insufficient government support (27%).
Bottom Line
The data from the African Youth Survey 2024 paints a concerning picture of young Africans' desire to emigrate due to economic reasons, educational opportunities, and corruption. These factors, coupled with the barriers to employment, highlight the challenges faced by the youth in these countries. What are your thoughts on these findings? Do you think there are viable solutions to these issues? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, available every day at 6pm.
