MigrantoCongolese Diaspora
231.1K Congolese live abroad — the #128 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 64% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 94890 |
| South Africa | 29093 |
| Tanzania | 24189 |
| Gabon | 17698 |
| Zambia | 13869 |
| Mali | 13793 |
| DR Congo | 7108 |
| Benin | 4318 |
| Belgium | 3982 |
| Cameroon | 3817 |
| Italy | 2836 |
| Australia | 2688 |
| Morocco | 2201 |
| Greece | 1531 |
| China | 1263 |
| Namibia | 1239 |
| Chad | 1113 |
| Angola | 1091 |
| Malawi | 1008 |
| Portugal | 610 |
| Libya | 453 |
| Luxembourg | 345 |
| Norway | 282 |
| Brazil | 282 |
| Togo | 260 |
| Egypt | 228 |
| Mexico | 206 |
| Denmark | 170 |
| Finland | 147 |
| Guinea | 112 |
| Hungary | 90 |
| Eswatini | 72 |
| Bulgaria | 36 |
| Slovakia | 25 |
| Costa Rica | 11 |
| Bolivia | 8 |
| Lithuania | 6 |
| Estonia | 5 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| Iceland | 2 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 53%
121.7K
105K
2.7K
1.3K
507
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from the Republic of Congo.
France is the primary destination for emigrants
France attracts 41% of all emigrants from the Republic of Congo, while the second-largest destination receives just 13%.
Top emigration destinations have shifted significantly since 1990
3 new countries have entered the top 20 destinations: Cameroon, Australia, Greece — Cameroon rose from outside the top 20 to rank #10.
Emigration has become more concentrated over time
The top destination's share rose from 33% to 41%, with France increasingly the primary choice.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 64367 |
| 1995 | 88142 |
| 2000 | 118262 |
| 2005 | 160242 |
| 2010 | 169150 |
| 2015 | 201319 |
| 2020 | 220301 |
| 2024 | 231080 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | France | South Africa | Tanzania | Gabon | Zambia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21122 | 2352 | 15007 | 5045 | 116 |
| 1995 | 31833 | 1774 | 22000 | 6747 | 456 |
| 2000 | 46017 | 6019 | 23123 | 8440 | 4330 |
| 2005 | 58914 | 15501 | 23777 | 9393 | 5632 |
| 2010 | 67995 | 24231 | 24354 | 10660 | 8481 |
| 2015 | 78314 | 32296 | 25017 | 14905 | 7471 |
| 2020 | 87925 | 36235 | 22287 | 16396 | 10460 |
| 2024 | 94890 | 29093 | 24189 | 17698 | 13869 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Republic of Congo as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from the Republic of Congo
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Congolese move to?
Most Congolese have moved to France, South Africa and Tanzania — these three countries account for about 64% of all Congolese living abroad.
How many Congolese live abroad?
Around 231.1K Congolese live abroad, making it the #128-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of the Republic of Congo lives abroad?
About 4% of the population of the Republic of Congo lives abroad — that's 231.1K out of a total population of 6.3M.
How has emigration from the Republic of Congo changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from the Republic of Congo has grown from 201.3K to 231.1K people, a growth of about 15%.
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