MigrantoImmigrants in Nigeria
1.3M foreigners live in Nigeria — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in Nigeria by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
100% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Nigeria in numbers
56% of all emigrants from Benin live in Nigeria
No other country has more people born in Benin.
Beninese are the largest group by a wide margin
32% of all immigrants were born in Benin, while the next group accounts for just 20%.
Immigrant population in Nigeria over time
Foreigners living in Nigeria, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 299556 |
| 1995 | 361537 |
| 2000 | 437977 |
| 2005 | 870507 |
| 2010 | 889165 |
| 2015 | 1076442 |
| 2020 | 1177115 |
| 2024 | 1262314 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Nigeria, by year
| Year | Beninese | Ghanaians | Malians | Togolese | Nigeriens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Nigeria
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Nigeria
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Nigeria?
Around 1.3M immigrants live in Nigeria — the world's #51 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Beninese live in Nigeria?
Around 404.5K Beninese live in Nigeria — about 32% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Nigeria growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Nigeria has grown from 1.1M to 1.3M, about 17%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Nigeria come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Nigeria. Their children born in Nigeria are not included.
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Living in Nigeria
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