The largest Coptic diaspora populations are in the United States, in Canada and in Australia, but Copts have a presence in many other countries.

In recent years, Copts fleeing war in Sudan and Libya have increased the Coptic population in Chad.

[21] According to one scholar: "Estimations of the actual number of Egyptian Copts (and their descendants) living abroad vary enormously, with those circulated by Coptic expatriate activists.

[24] There is also a Coptic presence (due to recent missionary work) in the sub-Saharan African countries of Zambia, Kenya, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.

[22][21][26][27] After Gamal Abdel Nasser rose to power, economic and social conditions deteriorated and many wealthier Egyptians, especially Copts, emigrated to Europe and the United States.

[27] Emigration of Egyptian Copts increased under Anwar al-Sadat (with many taking advantage of Sadat's "open door" policy to leave the country) and under Hosni Mubarak.