16.3% of African-born immigrants living in the US in 2022 were Nigerians

In 2022, the US hosted a diverse African immigrant community, totaling over 2.75 million. ​​ ​Nigerians make up the largest group at 448,405 (16.3%), followed by Ethiopians (10.6%), Egyptians (8.3%), and Ghanaians (7.8%).

Source:

Migration Policy Institute

Period:

2022
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Nigerians have spent an estimated $193 million on U.S. visitor visa application fees since 2018
  • Estimated visitor visa fee spending reached $193 million between FY 2018 and FY 2025.
  • Applicants paid the fee whether their visas were approved or refused.
  • Estimated spending peaked at $49.8 million in FY 2018.
  • Spending recovered to $25.1 million in FY 2024 before falling to $23.2 million in FY 2025.
  • The estimates exclude transport, documents, agents, accommodation and other related costs.
The U.S. issued Africans 820 more agricultural worker visas in Fiscal Year 2025
  • U.S. nonimmigrant visa issuances to Africans fell by 23.6% to 413,259.
  • Twenty-five visa categories still recorded increases despite the overall decline.
  • C3 visas posted the largest numerical increase, rising by 949.
  • H2A agricultural worker visas increased by 820 to 15,623.
  • B1/B2 visitor visas recorded the biggest decline, falling by 109,653.
Southern Africa houses 6 of the top 10 African countries with the strongest passports
  • Seychelles has Africa’s strongest passport.
  • Mauritius is the only other African country with a passport close to Seychelles'.
  • South Africa leads the mainland pack, but still trails the island leaders by a wide margin.
  • No country outside the top three crosses a mobility score of 100.
  • Visa-required destinations still dominate for every passport in the top ten, except Seychelles and Mauritius.
Nigerians can enter 33% of African countries visa-free, while 43% still require a visa
  • Nigeria faces visa requirements in nearly half of Africa.
  • West Africa is Nigeria’s easiest mobility zone.
  • Beyond its West African neighbors, the Nigerian passport unlocks visa-free entry to only four other African nations
  • ECOWAS is the biggest reason for Nigeria’s visa-free access to its neighbours.
  • Visa openness drops sharply outside West Africa.
  • Africa’s free-movement agenda is still uneven in practice.
  • Business mobility remains constrained by visa friction.
14 African nations affected as the US expands temporary visa restrictions to include Nigeria
  • Africa is the hardest-hit region, with 14 countries under partial visa restrictions, including Nigeria, limiting travel for business, tourism, and study.
  • Temporary bans target B‑1/B‑2 visas for business and tourism, and may also affect F‑1 student, M‑1 vocational, and J exchange visitor visas, impacting students, trainees, and cultural exchange participants.
  • Other affected regions include the Caribbean, Asia, and South America, showing the temporary restrictions span multiple continents.
  • Exemptions exist for lawful permanent residents, diplomats, and travellers with valid pre-existing visas, so not all citizens from these countries are blocked from entering the US.
 
Nearly 2.8 million African-born immigrants live in the US as of 2023, led by Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt
  • In 2023, the total number of African-born immigrants in the US was about 2.79 million.
  • Western Africa is the largest source region, contributing 1.08 million immigrants (39%), led by Nigeria (476k).
  • Eastern Africa is the second-largest source (28%), dominated by Ethiopia (278.2k).
  • Northern Africa accounts for 17%, mainly from Egypt (225.7k).
  • Central Africa contributes 8%, with Cameroon (90.7k) as the top country.
  • Southern Africa is smaller at 5%, almost entirely from South Africa (133.4k).
  • Five countries—Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, and South Africa—together make up nearly half of all African-born immigrants in the US.
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