MigrantoBurkinabé Diaspora
2.1M Burkinabé live abroad — 9% of the population of Burkina Faso
Burkinabé diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 96% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Ivory Coast | 1820882 |
| Ghana | 75339 |
| Mali | 69919 |
| Niger | 31858 |
| Italy | 15279 |
| Togo | 13866 |
| Benin | 13704 |
| Gabon | 7582 |
| Guinea | 545 |
| Brazil | 396 |
| Liberia | 161 |
| Denmark | 140 |
| Luxembourg | 80 |
| Namibia | 77 |
| Australia | 68 |
| Greece | 37 |
| Norway | 36 |
| Finland | 34 |
| Bulgaria | 18 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Sierra Leone | 7 |
| Slovenia | 6 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Liechtenstein | 1 |
| Iceland | 0 |
By region
99% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Burkinabé diaspora in numbers
Most Burkinabé abroad live in Ivory Coast
89% of the diaspora lives in Ivory Coast, while the next country accounts for just 4%.
The community in Niger is growing fastest
The number of Burkinabé living in Niger has grown 65% since 2015, from 19.3K to 31.9K.
1 in 11 people born in Burkina Faso lives abroad
2.1M people born in Burkina Faso now live in other countries — 8.7% of a population of 23.5M.
Burkinabé diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1015890 |
| 1995 | 1152082 |
| 2000 | 1297567 |
| 2005 | 1443306 |
| 2010 | 1601296 |
| 2015 | 1759971 |
| 2020 | 1919400 |
| 2024 | 2050050 |
Largest communities over time
Burkinabé living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Ivory Coast | Ghana | Mali | Niger | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 927902 | 41668 | 23024 | 9596 | 823 |
| 1995 | 1059222 | 41526 | 20221 | 13956 | 1390 |
| 2000 | 1190543 | 46451 | 20155 | 18432 | 2250 |
| 2005 | 1321864 | 50321 | 22283 | 18771 | 5125 |
| 2010 | 1453184 | 48452 | 43132 | 19068 | 8812 |
| 2015 | 1584505 | 58704 | 53080 | 19323 | 11052 |
| 2020 | 1715826 | 67431 | 62291 | 24683 | 13898 |
| 2024 | 1820882 | 75339 | 69919 | 31858 | 15279 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Burkinabé in each country has changed since the selected year
Burkinabé among immigrants in other countries
Where Burkinabé make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Burkinabé live outside Burkina Faso?
Around 2.1M Burkinabé live abroad, the world's #38 largest diaspora.
Where do most Burkinabé abroad live?
Most Burkinabé live in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali — these three countries account for about 96% of all Burkinabé living abroad.
Which country has the largest Burkinabé population outside Burkina Faso?
Ivory Coast is home to the largest Burkinabé community abroad — 1.8M people, about 89% of all Burkinabé living abroad.
What share of the population of Burkina Faso lives abroad?
About 9% of the population of Burkina Faso lives abroad — that's 2.1M out of a total population of 23.5M.
Is the Burkinabé diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Burkinabé living abroad has grown from 1.8M to 2.1M, about 16%.
Where does the data on the Burkinabé diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Burkina Faso who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Burkina Faso
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