Nearly half of Africans have considered leaving their countries, with economic hardship and the search for employment emerging as the main factors driving the growing interest in migration, a new Afrobarometer report has revealed.

The 2026 African Insights flagship report, titled “Beyond Borders: Citizen Perspectives on a Shifting Global Order,” found that 45% of respondents across 38 African countries have thought about moving to another country, including 25% who said they have considered it “a lot.”

The report represents a sharp rise in migration aspirations compared to nearly a decade ago. In 31 countries where the same question was asked between 2016 and 2018, the proportion of citizens who seriously considered leaving increased from 18% to 25%.

West Africans recorded the highest levels of interest in emigration, with 34% saying they had thought “a lot” about leaving their countries.

The report identified The Gambia, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana among countries with some of the highest levels of citizens seriously considering migration.

More than half of Gambians (53%) and Liberians (51%) said they had seriously considered leaving, followed by Bissau-Guineans (49%) and Ghanaians (44%).

According to Afrobarometer, economic concerns are the dominant motivation behind the trend.

Among respondents who had considered emigrating, 50% said they would leave in search of work, while 29% cited poverty or economic difficulties as their main reason.

Only a small proportion identified other motivations, including education (4%), political factors (3%) and travel opportunities (3%).

The report also found that younger and more educated Africans are more likely to consider leaving their countries.

Citizens aged between 18 and 35 years were three times more likely than those above 55 years to seriously consider migration, with 32% of young respondents expressing such interest compared to 11% among older citizens.

In Ghana, the report indicated that 55% of young people have seriously considered leaving the country.

The most educated respondents were also more likely to contemplate migration, with 31% expressing interest compared to 18% among those with the least education.

The study further revealed a shift in preferred destinations among potential migrants.

The proportion of respondents who preferred moving to another African country declined from 36% in 2016/2018 to 26%, while interest in North America increased from 21% to 28%.

Europe remained one of the most preferred destinations, rising slightly from 27% to 29%.

“These findings confirm the familiar story that it is the youngest and most educated who are most likely to depart,” the report stated.

It added that while many Africans express a desire to leave the continent, official migration patterns show that most people who eventually move remain within Africa.

The report also examined attitudes towards immigration, finding that Africans have mixed views about accepting foreigners into their own countries.

While 77% of respondents said they would welcome or not mind having immigrants as neighbours, many expressed reservations about admitting foreign job seekers and refugees.

About 64% preferred fewer or no job seekers from other countries, while 70% wanted fewer or no refugees admitted.

Afrobarometer said the findings highlight the need for governments to address the conditions driving citizens to seek opportunities elsewhere.

“Citizens leave when institutions fail them,” the report stated, arguing that migration trends reflect broader questions about economic opportunities, governance and state performance.

The organisation said creating sustainable jobs and improving living conditions will be critical if African countries are to become places where citizens choose to build their futures rather than seek opportunities abroad.