A significant portion of Ghanaians, about 61%, have seriously considered leaving the country in search of better opportunities, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. This represents a dramatic increase in emigration considerations since 2017, with the rate jumping by 20 percentage points.
The survey attributes this growing interest in emigration primarily to economic hardships, with many citing employment opportunities as the key driving factor. The Afrobarometer report reveals that educated youth and the unemployed are the most likely groups to consider leaving. The top destinations for potential emigrants are North America, with 55% of respondents, and Europe, with 24%.
The report also shows a marked rise in the number of people who have given serious thought to emigration, from 20% in 2017 to 44% in 2024. Among the highly educated (78%) and young people (72%), the desire to migrate is particularly strong, with over two-thirds (68%) of the unemployed also considering leaving for better prospects.
