- Six in 10 respondents (61%) say they have considered leaving Ghana, a 20- percentage-point increase compared to 2017 (41%) (Figure 1). The share who say they have given “a lot” of thought to the idea has more than doubled, from 20% to 44%. o Thoughts of emigrating are most common among the most educated citizens (78% of those with post-secondary education) and the youth (72% of 18- to 35- year-olds) (Figure 2). o More than two-thirds (68%) of people who are currently unemployed have thought about leaving Ghana, while nearly as many part-time workers (65%) and full-time workers (63%) have considered emigration.
- The most common reasons cited for potential emigration are finding work opportunities (55%) and escaping economic hardship (33%) (Figure 3).
- The most popular destinations among potential emigrants are North America (55%) and Europe (24%) (Figure 4).
A majority of Ghanaians have considered leaving the country, in most cases to improve their economic lot, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey.
The proportion of citizens who have given “a lot” of thought to emigrating has more than doubled since 2017. The most common reasons are the search for work opportunities and the desire to escape economic hardship.
The highly educated, young people, and unemployed citizens are most likely to consider emigration. North America is the most popular destination, followed by Europe.
According to recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Ghana ranks sixth among ECOWAS countries in terms of emigration rates. While migration within Africa is often dominated by lower-skilled labour, highly educated and skilled individuals are more likely to migrate to OECD countries.