Based on UNDESA statistics, we know that there are more than 7.5 million migrants living in West and Central Africa, and most are coming from within the region. Côte d'Ivoire ranks first with 2.2 million migrants living in the country, followed by Nigeria (1.2 m) and Burkina Faso (709k).

Migrant population in West and Central Africa according to UNDESA.

Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs)

In order to understand the dynamics of migration in the region, DTM started to monitor migration flows in 2016. As of 2018, there are about 35 flow monitoring points in the region.

Flow monitoring points (FMPs) in West and Central Africa.

Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) allow DTM to quantify and qualify migration flows, trends, and routes, at entry, exit, and transit points (such as border crossing posts, bus stations, rest areas, police checkpoints and reception centres).

Migration Flows

Based on data collected by DTM enumerators, over 95 per cent of those flows captured since the start of 2017 are intra-regional or within the same country. For instance, around 50 per cent of migrants monitored in Senegal reported continuing movements within the country.
Niger, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria were reported to be the main destinations for migrants interviewed at the Flow Monitoring Points.

Destinations

The map below shows a sample of origin-destination data collected at the flow monitoring points between January 2017 and September 2018. The lines show significant patterns of movement within the region (WCA), but also at country level.

Drivers

According to a sample of over 24,000 respondents taken between January and September 2018, employment-seeking migration accounts for the biggest share of intra-regional mobility as youth migrate from one country to another looking for better job opportunities. While economic conditions are important drivers of migration in West and Central Africa, people often migrate for a combination of reasons.

MAIN REASON OF TRAVEL WITHIN WCA

MAIN REASON OF TRAVEL OUTSIDE WCA

Data Exploration