Kenyan President William Ruto exchanges greetings with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at a previous event. Photo |Courtesy
In Summary:
- Uganda ranks among the top three African destinations for immigrants, surpassing Kenya, according to the UN’s World Migration Report 2024.
- South Africa leads as the most preferred destination in the continent, with Egypt topping the list for emigrants from Africa.
Uganda has emerged as one of the leading African countries attracting immigrants, securing a prominent position among the continent’s top destinations, as revealed by the latest findings in the UN’s World Migration Report 2024. This significant shift places Uganda ahead of its regional counterpart, Kenya.
The report meticulously tracked migration trends worldwide over the past year, placing Uganda in the third position among preferred African destinations for immigrants, while Kenya trailed behind in seventh place.
South Africa claimed the top spot, with a slightly higher influx of male immigrants compared to females.
Other African countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Nigeria, and Ethiopia were also identified as favorable destinations for immigrants, with gender proportions among migrants remaining relatively balanced across these nations, except for Libya, where male immigrants significantly outnumbered females.
“In Africa, the proportion of female and male migrants in the top destination countries is similar, with only slight differences between countries.The most visible exception is Libya, where the share of male immigrants is significantly higher than that of female immigrants.” the report read in part.
Conversely, the report outlined contrasting findings for emigrants, with Egypt ranking at the forefront as the top country of origin for migrants leaving the African continent.
Notably, there was a significant gender disparity in emigration patterns, particularly in Egypt, where male emigrants dominated the demographic.
Visual representation displaying the top 10 African destinations for immigrants within the continent. Photo: IOM World Migration Report
The report shed light on the primary drivers behind the surge in migration, citing factors such as extreme environmental events, food insecurity, and epidemics as key motivators prompting individuals to relocate across borders.
Globally, the report highlighted that approximately 1.5 million people migrated to Africa since 2020, while nearly 20 million individuals migrated from Africa during the same period, underscoring the dynamic nature of migration flows and their impact on regional demographics and socio-economic landscapes.