Africa secured just 1.5% of the US Skilled Worker (H-1B) Visas in 2024 — Nigeria tops the list

Key Takeaways

  • Nigeria ranked first in Africa, with 880 H-1B visas issued in FY 2024, far ahead of Ghana (499) and Egypt (364).
  • East and Southern Africa featured prominently, with Kenya (320), South Africa (208), and Zimbabwe (132) among the top 10.
  • North African representation was modest, with Morocco (78) and Egypt (364) being the only countries in the region on the list.
  • Despite these numbers, Africa’s collective total is marginal globally, especially compared to India’s ~150,000 issuances and China’s large volumes.
  • President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee for new U.S. H-1B skilled worker visas will have limited impact on Africa, which has historically received only a small fraction of these visas.

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.

Source:

US Department of State

Period:

Fiscal year 2024
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