Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) constitute the largest single professional group among those registered on the diaspora data mapping portal by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) portal, highlighting the strong migration pool within the healthcare sector to the UK.

According to the latest data from NiDCOM, a total of 60,000 Nigerians living abroad registered on the portal as at June 2025.

Nurses make up 25 percent of all professional registrants, making it most represented occupation. In parallel, the United Kingdom accounts for the highest proportion of geographic registrations, with 30 percent of diaspora Nigerians recorded on the platform residing in the UK.

The figures reflect the scale of healthcare emigration and the prominence of the UK as a destination Nigerian professionals sought in recent times for career advancement abroad.

This unfortunately reflects the numbers contributing to the recent immigration crackdown by the UK government to reduce net migration , affecting nurses, care workers and others.

According to NiDCOM, the portal goes beyond basic data gathering; it plays a strategic role in shaping diaspora engagement, national policy, and investment direction.

It is designed to deepen Nigeria’s relationship with its citizens abroad and to foster collaboration for national development.#

Professional distribution

Nurses accounts for 25 percent of registrants, medical doctors account for 15 percent, while engineers and IT professionals each represent 10 percent. Other notable categories include academics (8 percent), entrepreneurs (7 percent), and legal professionals (5 percent), with the remaining 20 percent spread across various other professions.

Geographical distribution

Also, in terms of geographic distribution, the United Kingdom (UK) leads with 30 percent of registered diaspora Nigerians. United States (US) follows closely after the UK, at 25 percent and Canada at 15 percent. Germany accounts for 10 percent, while both the United Arab Emirates and South Africa represent 5 percent each. The remaining 10 percent fall under “Others,” covering a broad range of countries.

Additional breakdowns show that Nigerians are widely dispersed across regions beyond the traditional hubs.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia (4.58 percent), Egypt (3.19 percent), France (2.94 percent), India (2.90 percent), and China (2.51 percent) are among the notable locations where Nigerians have also registered, indicating a more global footprint.

Other African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Senegal, also feature, alongside Asian nations like Malaysia and Qatar. (BusinessDay)