We all wonder if the grass is greener on the other side, and South Africans can sometimes seem more keen to find out than others.

Research Network Afrobarometer looked at immigration and emigration across the African continent, with some interesting results.

The findings are based on recent public opinion surveys in 34 African countries, with the report showing that the most popular destination among potential emigrants isn’t overseas, but right here in South Africa.

Conversely, many South Africans want out, reports BusinessTech.

The report found that Southern Africans are most likely to want to stay within the region (51%) or on the continent (7%), although there is wide variation across individual countries.

More than eight in 10 potential migrants in Lesotho (84%) and eSwatini (83%), and more than two-thirds in Malawi (71%) and Zimbabwe (67%), prefer to remain within the Southern Africa region.

In contrast, for residents of South Africa – the primary destination country within the region – who are considering migration, they are far more likely to be looking outside the continent (69% say Europe, North America, or some other non-African destination), as are potential emigrants in Mauritius (87%) and Madagascar (76%).

The top five reasons that South Africans want out might surprise you, and your older relative who keeps threatening to move to New Zealand because of the crime:

• Finding work – 40%
• Poverty/hardship – 17%
• Peace/security – 8%
• Travel/tourism – 7%
• Business prospects – 6%

Yep, jobs are the driving force behind a great deal of overseas emigration. You can see a breakdown of the reasons for considering emigration across the continent below.

Click on the table below for the full-sized image:

Whatever your reasons, just don’t be a dick about it.

Nobody likes a smug expat.

[source:businesstech]