MigrantoImmigrants in Nigeria
1.3M foreign-born residents — the #51 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 67% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Benin | 404468 |
| Ghana | 255531 |
| Mali | 184965 |
| Togo | 169717 |
| Niger | 129540 |
| Cameroon | 56288 |
| Chad | 33524 |
| Liberia | 23602 |
| Sierra Leone | 4679 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 100%
1.3M
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a primary destination for emigrants from Benin
Nigeria attracts 56% of all emigrants from Benin, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Benin is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Benin accounts for 32% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 20%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 299556 |
| 1995 | 361537 |
| 2000 | 437977 |
| 2005 | 870507 |
| 2010 | 889165 |
| 2015 | 1076442 |
| 2020 | 1177115 |
| 2024 | 1262314 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Benin | Ghana | Mali | Togo | Niger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 96599 | 75322 | 14578 | 46886 | 35442 |
| 1995 | 117556 | 81276 | 39251 | 52442 | 39858 |
| 2000 | 143212 | 90479 | 65493 | 60095 | 45868 |
| 2005 | 284647 | 179834 | 130172 | 119442 | 91166 |
| 2010 | 290747 | 183688 | 132962 | 122002 | 93120 |
| 2015 | 351985 | 222377 | 160967 | 147698 | 112733 |
| 2020 | 377169 | 238284 | 172481 | 158262 | 120797 |
| 2024 | 404468 | 255531 | 184965 | 169717 | 129540 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Nigeria as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Nigeria
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Nigeria?
Around 1.3M foreign-born residents live in Nigeria, making it the #51-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Nigeria come from?
Most immigrants in Nigeria come from Benin, Ghana and Mali — these three countries account for about 67% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Nigeria are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Nigeria — that's 1.3M out of a total population of 232.7M.
How has immigration to Nigeria changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Nigeria has grown from 1.1M to 1.3M people, a growth of about 17%.
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