MigrantoMigration trends in Ethiopia
Africa
Ethiopia loses more people than it takes in: 1.2M emigrants against 1.1M immigrants. Net balance −103.7K — 0% of the country's population
132.1M
Population
1.1M
Immigrants
1.2M
Emigrants
−103.7K
Outflow
1 in 116 residents of Ethiopia was born abroad — and 1 in 107 people born in Ethiopia lives abroad
#61 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Ethiopia
Where people come from
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
869.6K immigrants · 1.6M emigrants
1995
- The exodus eased — the diaspora shrank by 55%
- Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 46%
- Slipped out of the 3 biggest countries by emigrants in Africa
- Emigration to Somalia declined sharply — 442K fewer migrants there
2000
- Emigration to Sudan declined sharply — 373.3K fewer migrants there
2005
- South Sudan overtook Somalia as the largest source of new arrivals
- USA replaced Sudan as the main destination for those leaving
- Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 47%
- Immigration from Somalia declined sharply — 139.7K fewer migrants from there
2010
- The diaspora passed 500K people
2015
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 280%
- South Sudan overtook Somalia as the largest source of new arrivals
- Surge of immigrants from South Sudan — 247.5K new arrivals
- Surge of immigrants from Somalia — 176.3K new arrivals
2020
- The diaspora passed 1M people
Today
- The foreign-born population passed 1M residents
- The gap between arrivals and departures was cut in half
- Since 1990: 267.3K more foreign-born residents and 390.2K fewer emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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