Nigerians in the diaspora have taken to social media to share candid reasons why they have no regrets about leaving the country for overseas opportunities.

Aside from being the most populous country on the African continent, with over 235 million people, Nigeria also holds the record for having the largest diaspora population of any African country.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in 2024, approximately 17 million Nigerians reside outside the country.

This figure places Nigeria among the top nations globally in terms of diaspora size. The Nigerian diaspora is notably prominent in regions such as North America, Europe, parts of Asia, and the Middle East.

According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, the top five countries with the largest estimated Nigerian diaspora populations are: United States (353,885), United Kingdom (215,000) Italy (119,400) and United Arab Emirates (100,000).

An X user with handle @seanpepisky wrote: "With everything I’ve seen, experienced, and survived abroad, staying back in Naija wouldn’t have been better, just harder.

"Yes, I miss home. I miss the food, the people, the raw energy. But let’s be honest: the system back home is set up to frustrate your destiny. You can be smart, skilled, and ready to work, but one nonsense policy, one bad leader, or one opportunity blocked by tribalism or corruption can scatter everything.

"Here, I may be hustling from scratch, but at least the hustle has structure. I’m not begging NEPA to give me light, or praying every day that I don’t land in hospital with no doctor on duty. Abroad isn’t paradise, but at least effort gives you results.

"So no, I don’t regret leaving. I just wish we didn’t have to leave in the first place."

Another user @Solomon_Buchi said: "No. If I stayed back in Nigeria, I would have experienced more police brutality. My son would be born into that dysfunctional society and my anxiety levels would be wild. With everything I know now, I actually wish I left Nigeria in my teens."

@bayo_roi tweeted: "Never. It gets worse on every visit we make. Things were better the last time I visited than they are now and my Paris mum has been saying that since 1990. It gets worse on every visit"

@kingSolomon76 also wrote: "I think staying here is better for predictability. I can easily predict a coin toss outcome, but in Nigeria, it’s uncertain if a Dangote truck might hit you, kidnappers in Edo might take you, or anyone could swindle you without recourse. If you're poor, you can’t report issues to the police; you might even be locked up or killed. Life in Nigeria is generally unpredictable."

@Oludaily_ added: "No, I just realize everything Eko hotel and Nixon sell as luxury living to us in Nigeria is a basic living here which every human should have access to. I was able to dress nice without the fear of police, I was able to drive without the fear of trailer coming to kill me because everyone maintained their driving lane, I was able to sleep with electricity without worrying they will take it off, I was able to see system that cares about my life, as an average worker i am able to walk into any shopping and afford basic things. You need to leave Nigeria and understand how much we have been denied of basic living. We don’t even ask much from Nigeria gov yet they still deny us this basic life."

Check out more reactions in the tweet below:

Nigerians abroad, with everything you now know, do you honestly think staying in Naija would’ve been better?

— Michael Taiwo (@AskMichaelTaiwo) June 11, 2025