Japa – The Mass Exodus of African Young People

Akua Nsiah | Africa Fellow

Image sourced from Random Institute via Unsplash.

Many African young people are currently fleeing the region in search of better career, living and political opportunities and freedoms. This mass exodus of African youth is driving severe skilled worker shortages and distrust between young people and their respective governments. Consequently, African governments need to invest more in their youth by creating more demographically suitable jobs, fighting against corruption and working to improve basic infrastructure such as electricity and water.

What is Japa?

African nations, particularly Nigeria, are currently experiencing a trend called “Japa” which is a Yoruba word that means “to run, flee or escape.” The word encapsulates the desire of African youth to permanently leave their home countries in search of better opportunities. Some reasons listed by Nigerian youth for wanting to “Japa” include poor healthcare and education, and a lack of reliable basic infrastructure. Furthermore, security concerns, corruption and poor governance throughout the region makes daily life difficult for young people. 

Corruption and Unemployment

As of June 2024, 60 per cent of African youth were considering leaving their home countries within the next 5 years due to corruption. Such concerns were echoed in the 2024 African Youth Survey, which consulted over 5, 600 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from nations including Ethiopia, Gabon, Ivory Coast and South Africa. African youth want to see tougher sanctions implemented against corrupt politicians such as restricting corrupt politicians from standing in office.

The severe lack of employment opportunities for African youth is another driver of their mass migration. 10 to 12 million African youth enter the workforce each year, yet only 3 million formal jobs are created annually. Furthermore, African youth often do not possess the skills required by employers when applying for jobs, which leads to difficulties in obtaining employment.  African governments must therefore listen to and actively work to address the concerns of their youth. Creating new, suitable jobs for young people and implementing greater checks and balances for politicians to mitigate corruption in government are two vital means by which this need can be achieved.

Implications of Japa

Economic Benefits

There are many benefits of Japa including economic growth through remittances and the return of skilled African youth from developing countries. Migrants often send money to their home countries in the form of remittances. In 2023, Africa received USD$100 billion in remittances which totals nearly 6 per cent of the continent's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These remittances encourage economic growth, reduce inequalities and are seen as a vital source of foreign income by some African governments. African youth that previously left the continent for reasons such as work or education can return to their home countries with newfound knowledge and resources contributing to advancing the economy of Africa on a local level. Nevertheless, Japa’s economic advancement of African countries is outweighed by its negative implications, which must be addressed by governments.

Loss of Skilled Workers

One of the greatest implications of “Japa” is the multi-sectoral loss of skilled young people in African countries. For example, due to issues such as low remuneration, bad roads and unemployment, nearly 1 in 8 (12 per cent) of doctors in Nigeria have left their home country to work in developed nations. As a result, Nigeria’s healthcare system is struggling - a trend also witnessed in many other African countries. To address this, stronger incentives must be put in place for African youth to stay in Africa and work - including but not limited to increased pay and educational advancement. 

Cultural Implications

A cultural implication of Japa is a loss of traditional practices and values as African youth move to different cultural environments abroad. Cultural practices and values are central to the identity of many Africans and foster societal cohesion, meaning any loss of traditional practice can undermine cultural continuity. It is common for diasporic African youth to experience loneliness, distance from their family units and mental illness. Therefore, in addition to its domestically improving living conditions and opportunities for youth, African governments should promote cultural ties to its young diaspora through initiatives such as language schools, diaspora festivals and cultural centres. 

Ageing Population Crisis

African societies tend to adopt a collectivist approach to family, wherein youth are expected to care for their parents and extended family as they age. However, the rise of Japa challenges these norms and, similar to the experiences of diasporic youth, heightens rates of loneliness, isolation and diminished care among the elderly. This is particularly concerning in Eastern Africa, which is home to a growing number of elderly people. The continual relocation of young people further unbalances African demographics and could foster increased individualism and neglect of the elderly population. In response, African governments need to jointly invest in their youth and elderly through increased social security programs, improved healthcare and supportive community services.

Conclusion

Japa presents many opportunities for both African youth and their respective governments. For African young people, leaving the continent provides them with opportunities for career advancement, improved living conditions and insights into different cultures. However, African governments have a responsibility to provide greater domestic opportunities for their youth in terms of jobs, infrastructure, political freedoms and healthcare. Improvements in these areas will allow Africa to retain more skilled professionals and experience growth economically, socially and culturally.

Akua Nsiah is the Africa Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs. Akua is a final-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Global Studies student at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney. She is Ghanaian Australian and her name means "born on Wednesday," in Akan. She has spent extensive time in Ghana and Morocco and looks forward to contributing to dynamic discussions on African affairs in her fellow role.

Our 2025 Africa Fellow is sponsored by the Centre for Africa-Australia Relations. For more information, visit their website here.