Which hominid species is widely considered the first to leave Africa?

Homo erectus is widely considered the first hominid species to leave Africa. Its populations dispersed into parts of Asia and Europe roughly 1.8 million years ago, making it the earliest hominin associated with a major, sustained expansion beyond Africa.

Fossils commonly assigned to Homo erectus include remains from Dmanisi in Georgia, Java, and China. The species had a relatively modern body plan, long legs, and proportions suited to walking efficiently across open landscapes. Its wide geographic range and nearly two-million-year fossil history make it one of the most successful early human species.

The answer is widely accepted, but the evidence has a qualification. Stone tools found in Jordan and China may be older than the earliest securely identified Homo erectus dispersals, raising the possibility that an earlier hominin left Africa. Those tools do not establish which species made them, however, so Homo erectus remains the standard answer in general-audience quizzes. Homo habilis is generally associated with an earlier African stage, not the established first major dispersal.