It is popular knowledge that Nigerians are everywhere. No matter which country you go to or which region in the world, you will always find Nigerians there. In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 5 countries with the most Nigerians in the world.
A lot of these countries have already become household names to Nigerians. Countries like USA, UK, CANADA, and so on are popular destinations for Nigerians to live in.
In fact, these countries have almost become the hub of Nigerians, like Lagos or Abuja. You have every chance of coming across other Nigerian like you’re taking a walk around Ikeja or Maitama.
However, what you have heard over the years might not be what the statistics and data prove to you. Therefore, you might be surprised at some of the countries that will make it to the list.
Or your assumptions and thoughts might be right. Why don’t you take a moment and go through this article to find out where Nigerians have made a home away from home?
Top Five Countries with the Most Nigerians
Today, millions of traditional Nigerians have made a living abroad a priority. The gist in town now Is the ‘JAPA’ syndrome. Everybody wants to have a piece of life outside Nigeria even though it Is not to our liking.
Unfortunately, due to the hardship facing the country, it has become almost unquestionable to seek greener pastures outside the country. Here is a list of the top 5 countries with the most Nigerians:
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United Kingdom
In today’s world, thousands, if not millions, have turned the United Kingdom into a mini Lagos. From London, down to Peckham, and all the way to Manchester. The number of Nigerians in the UK has gone up massively in the last decade. Nowadays, the person you had a laugh with today might just be on his/her way to the UK tomorrow.
Due to its friendly environments, Job opportunities, and a better atmosphere for students to get to learn, Nigerians have been trooping into the United Kingdom in numbers. The largest group of Nigerians can be found in the United Kingdom.
With a whooping number of (500,000–3,000,000). However, if the situation in the country does not improve, that number is sure to skyrocket in years to come.
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United States of America
As we all know, the USA is a popular country for not just Nigerians but Africans in General. Even though it is very difficult to get into the country, Nigerians try very hard to have a foothold in the country. America is believed to be a country of opportunity, and if you can bring your Naija hustle spirit there, you are sure to make your way in life.
The United States of America houses some of the largest numbers of Nigerians in the world. And they made it to number two on the list of the top 5 countries with the most Nigerians living there. The United States has about (600,000–1,000,000 Nigerians) living in the country at the moment, but this can change anytime soon.
Canada
Nigerian Canadians that have turned out to become Canadian citizens and are also residents of Nigerian origin. Today, we have a total of (51,835) Nigerian Canadian citizens. Due to its very lovely environment and the massive search for labour, especially in their healthcare sector, Nigerians have made the country a destination.
Nigerians started trooping into Canada during the Nigerian civil war in 1967- 1970. Nigerians were not shattered differently when it came to statistics on immigration until 1973. About (3,919) Nigerians got to Canada as immigrants of Nigerian nationality from 1973- 1991.
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Brazil
A Nigerian Brazilian is a Brazilian individual of full, half, or mostly Nigerian ancestry. It might also be a Nigerian-born individual living in Brazil. Over 90,000 Nigerians residing in Brazil do not have the correct documentation. In Portuguese, Nigerians in Brazil are also called ‘Nigerian-Brasileiro’.
All of these were before the 1st of February of 2019 when they benefited from the that was given by the Brazilian Government. In 2008, the Nigerian government established the ‘Casa da Nigeria’, or what you can call it the Nigerian culture house.
South Africa
Nigerians first trooped to South Africa after 1994, and this was due to the living conditions in the country and overpopulation. Afterwards, there was more incursion of movement to south Africa.
Many Nigerians that came to South Africa originally went there with tourist visas. After this, they decided to remain there and live in South Africa illegally.
The number of Nigerians in South Africa was projected to be around 24,000 in 2011. But a more appropriate projection of a number about 30,314 was released according to the 2016 community survey. Nigerians in South Africa are people presently living in South Africa. They were either born or have ancestors in Nigeria.
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The Gambia
At 30,000 strongholds, Nigeria is by quite a mile the largest number of people of foreign descent that live in The Gambia. After the top 5 countries with the most Nigerians, Everywhere you turn, you have an undisputable attendance of Nigerians. Six (6) of the twelve (12) banks in the Gambia are Nigerian.
While banks that are owned by Gambians get along with not many branches, the rate of expansion of Nigerian banks is very rapid. We have a parish of winner’s chapel church located just across the road from IGI, a Nigerian-owned insurance company. Banks like access bank and GTB also have different branches there.
Other Countries of Nigerian Nationals
There are also huge numbers of nationals in Ireland, Portugal, and a lot of other countries. The motivation for emigration is based highly on socio-economical problems such as conflict, insecurity, economic instability, and civil unrest.
What else? The existence of gold mines and rail lines near the Gold Coast, present-day Ghana, fascinated a projected 6,500 Nigerian citizens to achieve financial reward and opportunity.
The population of Nigerians in Ghana ascended to roughly 149,000 before the 1969 alien eviction order would dislodge almost the entire population to surrounding countries.
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About Nigerian Americans
- The first set of individuals of origin from what is now contemporary Nigeria to go to what is now the contemporary United States were brought against their will as slaves.
- Most of the slaves of the Gulf of Biafra – a lot of whom come from the Igbo hinterland – were smuggled to Virginia.
- Most of the people kidnapped from Nigeria were likely to have been Igbo or Yoruba. The Igbo were transferred majorly to Maryland and Virginia. They consist of the majority of all confined Africans in Virginia during the 18th century: of the 37,000 Africans smuggled to Virginia from Calabar during the eighteenth century, 30,000 were Igbo.
FAQs for Top 5 Countries with highest Nigerians
The higher class of Nigerians like to go to countries like Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, and Western European countries. In contrast, the lower class of Nigerians prefer to migrate to countries like Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Visa-free, visa-on-arrival and eVisa destinations for Nigerian citizens in Asia include Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, and Timor-Leste. For North and South America, Nigerians can visit Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Fiji, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname with visa-free, visa on arrival and eVisas.
India. New data from the World Poverty Clock revealed that India had surpassed Nigeria as the nation with the highest number of extremely poor people. According to the new data, India now has 83 million people living below the U.N.
Many surveys show that Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, and Poland are the easiest Schengen visa to get
Distribution. The UK’s largest Nigerian concentration is in the capital city, London. Peckham is now home to the largest overseas Nigerian community in the UK, with 7% of the population of the Peckham census tract at the time of the 2001 UK Census, having been born in Nigeria.
Many Nigerians are leaving because of few employment opportunities and rising insecurity in the hopes of more viable prospects abroad.
The list of the top 5 countries with the most Nigerians above shows that Nigerians are everywhere. But as sad as it looks to see so many Nigerian leaving for greener pastures, it is not their fault that they seek a better life for themselves.
