Climate-induced migration in West Africa: a systematic review of the literature

This article presents a systematic review of academic literature on climate-induced migration in West Africa, a region often characterised as highly vulnerable yet comparatively underexamined in research. Using a PRISMA-based protocol, the review draws on searches conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and JSTOR, applying predefined inclusion criteria to identify 42 peer-reviewed studies published between 2004 and 2024. Through qualitative thematic synthesis, the analysis explores recurring themes, methodological approaches, and empirical insights. The findings suggest that migration associated with climatic and environmental stressors tends to be shaped by multiple interacting factors, including socio-economic inequalities, political instability, and institutional constraints. In the studies reviewed, mobility frequently appears as a coping mechanism or adaptation strategy. The review additionally notes growing attention to climate-induced immobility, affecting populations with limited capacity to relocate despite increasing environmental risks. By focusing specifically on West Africa, the review offers a regional perspective that points to the predominance of internal and relatively short-distance movements. Key limitations concern definitional ambiguities surrounding “climate migration,” uneven geographical coverage, and reliance on indexed academic sources. Overall, the review underscores the value of moving beyond strict forced–voluntary distinctions and of considering both mobility and immobility within climate adaptation debates, helping to inform future research and policy discussions.