Ethiopia: 50,600 Ethiopians Left Country in First Quarter of 2026 Amid Economic Hardship, Migrant Exploitation
The International Organization for Migration reports that over 50,000 Ethiopians migrated via the Eastern Route in early 2026 due to economic hardship and insecurity. Migrants are increasingly facing exploitation and extortion by smuggling networks.
Why it matters
The data underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa and the dangers faced by migrants seeking better economic opportunities.
Addis Abeba - An estimated 50,600 people left Ethiopia through the Eastern Route during the first quarter of 2026, as migrants increasingly used alternative routes and faced exploitation by smugglers, according to a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The data was published against the backdrop of a string of similar reports tracking migration trends among Ethiopians in recent months.
This week, the IOM said Ethiopian nationals accounted for 91% of the 13,687 migrants who arrived in Yemen in July 2026, making them by far the largest group recorded entering the conflict-affected country during the month.
Earlier, similar tracking found that conflict, insecurity, limited access to protection, and worsening economic conditions continued to drive thousands of people from the Horn of Africa onto the Eastern Route toward Yemen and the Gulf.
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