Several African countries stood out in the 2026 program cycle by securing some of the highest total selection tallies globally. Egypt led the entire continent with 5,527 selected applicants, followed closely by Algeria with 5,457 prospective candidates.
Sudan recorded 5,226 selectees despite ongoing internal challenges, while Kenya scored 3,949 selected entries. Morocco recorded 3,670 entries, while Cameroon saw 3,533 prospective applicants selected.
Full List of Selected African Nations and Candidate Counts
Below is the complete official listing of all eligible African states and territorial jurisdictions included in the DV-2026 program, accompanied by their respective number of selected prospective applicants.
- Algeria: 5,457
- Angola: 763
- Benin: 1,064
- Botswana: 7
- Burkina Faso: 252
- Burundi: 1,616
- Cabo Verde: 35
- Cameroon: 3,533
- Central African Republic: 19
- Chad: 482
- Comoros: 12
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2,210
- Republic of the Congo: 448
- Côte d'Ivoire: 926
- Djibouti: 204
- Egypt: 5,527
- Equatorial Guinea: 12
- Eritrea: 206
- Eswatini: 3
- Ethiopia: 3,287
- Gabon: 62
- The Gambia: 198
- Ghana: 1,642
- Guinea: 1,051
- Guinea-Bissau: 10
- Kenya: 3,949
- Lesotho: 6
- Liberia: 1,593
- Libya: 276
- Madagascar: 48
- Malawi: 159
- Mali: 268
- Mauritania: 261
- Mauritius: 2
- Morocco: 3,670
- Mozambique: 4
- Namibia: 3
- Niger: 109
- Rwanda: 1,252
- Senegal: 478
- Sierra Leone: 639
- Somalia: 1,554
- South Africa: 187
- South Sudan: 72
- Sudan: 5,226
- Tanzania: 404
- Togo: 2,473
- Tunisia: 202
- Uganda: 1,513
- Western Sahara: 2
- Zambia: 236
- Zimbabwe: 327
The Ineligibility Exception on the Continent
While nearly all African nations qualify for participation, Nigeria remained the sole African country excluded from the DV-2026 program cycle. United States immigration rules automatically exclude countries that have sent more than 50,000 native immigrants to the US over the preceding five-year period through family-sponsored or employment-based channels.
Because Nigerian immigration rates to America consistently exceed this threshold, natives born in Nigeria were barred from entering the lottery program directly. This statutory policy aims to keep the visa lottery focused exclusively on regions with lower historical migration rates to the US.
Understanding the Allocation Rules and Regional Quotas
To maintain global diversity across all participating continents, strict statutory caps govern how green cards are distributed every fiscal year. No single nation can receive more than seven percent of the total available diversity visas in any single year.
Because the US Department of State selects more applicants than the total number of available visas accounting for candidates who may drop out, fail document checks, or prove ineligible getting chosen is only the first step. The overall pool of selected candidates across Africa must act swiftly to complete their documentation before regional quotas are fully met.
Essential Next Steps for Selected Applicants
Selection in the lottery does not guarantee an immediate visa. Every selected applicant must undergo rigorous background checks, document verification, financial review, and medical examinations before attending an interview at an American embassy or consulate.
- Check Official Status: Applicants must check their selection confirmation exclusively through the official US Department of State Electronic Diversity Visa portal using their unique confirmation numbers.
- Submit Form DS-260: Selectees need to complete and submit the online DS-260 immigrant visa electronic application form accurately and promptly.
- Gather Civil Documents: Applicants must assemble original copies of birth certificates, academic credentials, police clearance certificates, military records, and passport documentation.
- Schedule Medical Screenings: Prior to the visa interview, candidates must complete medical examinations with designated panel physicians authorized by the US embassy.
- Beat the Deadline: All DV-2026 visa issuances and status adjustments must be fully processed and completed by September 30, 2026. Unissued visa allocations expire permanently after that date.
