In Fiscal Year 2024, African countries accounted for just 1.5% of H-1B issuances, with Nigeria leading at 880 visas, followed by Ghana (499), Egypt (364), and Kenya (320). By comparison, India alone received over 150,000 visas (68.6% of the total), while China secured more than 31,700 (14.4%), dwarfing Africa’s entire contribution.
While Africa’s small share shields most applicants from the policy’s direct effects, it also highlights the continent’s underrepresentation in the global skilled labour market and the structural barriers facing its highly skilled professionals. Despite growing interest in international mobility, Africa remains largely on the margins of the U.S.'s skilled worker landscape.
