Nigerians studying in the US have increased by 3,200, reaching a record high of 17,600 students

Since 2001, the 2022/23 academic year has recorded the highest number of Nigerians studying in US' higher institutions, adding 3,202 students to the previous academic year to reach 17,640. This represents the biggest addition in the time period.

Source:

Institute of International Education

Period:

2001-2023
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
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.
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved