The number of Nigerians living abroad has reached approximately 2.1 million, while remittances from the diaspora stood at $21bn, according to the 2024 annual report of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nigeria.
The report shows that Nigeria remains a major migration hub, serving as a country of origin, transit, and return.
At the regional level, the country is also the epicentre of displacement in the Lake Chad Basin, with over six million people affected — including 4.4 million internally displaced persons within Nigeria’s borders.
Nigerian emigration has surged by over 244 per cent, from 610,200 in 2000 to about 2.1 million in 2024.
The diaspora population, estimated at 17 million — including second- and third-generation Nigerians — contributes significantly to national development, sending an estimated $20.9bn in remittances in 2022, the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
These inflows are critical to household incomes, social welfare, and national investments, underscoring the diaspora’s importance as a national asset.
“By the end of 2024, IOM recorded a total of 3,575,144 internally displaced persons across Nigeria, primarily due to insecurity in the North-East and North-West regions, as well as climate-induced displacement caused by flooding and environmental degradation,” the report stated.
It added that internal displacement continues to pose major humanitarian and development challenges, restricting access to livelihoods, education, and durable solutions.
The IOM noted that migration patterns are shaped by economic hardship, insecurity, and climate change impacts, with irregular migration, human trafficking, and forced displacement remaining persistent concerns.
“In 2024, the number of Nigerian emigrants abroad reached approximately 2.1 million while remittances hit $21bn, underscoring the economic and developmental significance of the Nigerian diaspora,” it said.
