By Buba Gagigo
A recent Afrobarometer survey reveals that 68% of Gambians have contemplated leaving the country, marking a significant 12-point increase from 56% in 2018.
Economic struggles and the pursuit of better job opportunities are the primary motivations behind these considerations, the survey found. Young adults, part-time workers, unemployed individuals, and those with higher education are the demographics most inclined toward emigration.
“More than two-thirds (68%) of Gambians say they have considered leaving their country, a 12-percentage-point increase compared to 2018 (56%) (Figure 1),”the survey detailed. “The share of citizens who say they have given “a lot” of thought to emigration has almost doubled, from 29% to 53%. Thoughts of emigrating are most common among part-time workers (83%), unemployed citizens (80%), and those with post-secondary education (81%) (Figure 2). Young adults (75% of those aged 18-35) are more likely than older cohorts (37%-70%) to consider emigrating.” the survey revealed.
Among those considering emigration, 30% cite escaping economic hardship or poverty as their main reason, while 28% aim to find work opportunities. The most preferred destinations are North America (30%) and Europe (28%).
“The most popular destinations for potential emigrants are North America (30%) and Europe (28%),” it stated.
Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan survey network, has been providing reliable data on democracy, governance, and quality of life across Africa since 1999. Its Gambia-based team, led by the Center for Research and Policy Development, conducted face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adults between April and May 2024.
With a margin of error of +/-3% at a 95% confidence level, the results reflect nationwide sentiments. Previous surveys in the Gambia were conducted in 2018, 2021, and 2022. The ongoing 10th survey round commenced in January 2024.