Africa has a growing range of destinations for Europeans and Americans relocating for employment, business, retirement, education and family life. The continent offers different living environments, housing markets and residency arrangements.
The experience of living in Africa varies considerably between countries. Some destinations have established international schools, private healthcare networks and large expatriate communities. Others offer relatively affordable accommodation, growing business sectors or residence permits designed for foreign professionals and investors.
The 2025 InterNations Expat Insider survey ranked South Africa 37th and Kenya 44th among 46 destinations surveyed worldwide.
The following 22 countries are selected for their established expatriate communities, residential infrastructure, employment opportunities, international connections and recognized long-term relocation options.
1. Mauritius
Popular locations: Grand Baie, Tamarin, Black River, Moka
Mauritius is an Indian Ocean island country with an established expatriate community and an economy involving financial services, tourism, manufacturing and information technology.
English is used in government and business, while French and Mauritian Creole are widely spoken.
The country offers several residence arrangements for eligible foreign nationals, including occupation permits and certain property-linked residence programmes.
Private healthcare facilities, international schools and coastal residential developments are concentrated around major urban and tourism areas.
2. South Africa
Popular locations: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
South Africa has one of the continent's most developed private healthcare sectors and a substantial network of international and private schools.
Cape Town is known for its coastal residential neighbourhoods, technology businesses and tourism economy. Johannesburg is the country's principal commercial and financial centre.
English is widely used, and the country has established foreign professional communities.
However, crime, electricity infrastructure, unemployment and differences in public service quality remain significant considerations.
3. Morocco
Popular locations: Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier
Morocco has strong geographical and commercial connections with Europe, particularly France and Spain.
Casablanca is the country's major commercial centre, while Rabat hosts diplomatic missions and government institutions.
French is widely used in business, alongside Arabic and Amazigh languages. English is increasingly used in tourism and some professional sectors.
The country has international schools, private medical facilities and established foreign residential communities.
4. Kenya
Popular locations: Nairobi, Mombasa, Naivasha, Nanyuki
Kenya hosts international organisations, multinational companies and diplomatic missions, particularly in Nairobi.
The United Nations maintains major operations in Nairobi, which is also a regional centre for technology, finance and humanitarian organisations.
English and Swahili are official languages.
Nairobi has international schools, private hospitals and residential neighbourhoods popular with foreign professionals, including Karen, Runda and Westlands.
5. Rwanda
Popular locations: Kigali, Musanze, Rubavu
Rwanda has developed Kigali as a regional business, conference and diplomatic destination.
English, French, Kinyarwanda and Swahili are official languages.
The country has introduced digital government services and investment-related reforms, while Kigali has expanded its hospitality and residential infrastructure.
Rwanda's relatively small domestic market and differences in specialised healthcare availability remain relevant features of its expatriate environment.
6. Seychelles
Popular locations: Mahé, Praslin, La Digue
Seychelles is an Indian Ocean archipelago with an economy strongly connected to tourism and fisheries.
English, French and Seychellois Creole are official languages.
Mahé contains the capital, Victoria, along with the country's principal international airport and major healthcare facilities.
The country has established tourism businesses and foreign residents, although imported goods, housing and transport can be expensive.
7. Botswana
Popular locations: Gaborone, Maun, Francistown
Botswana has an established mining industry, particularly diamond production, alongside tourism and financial services.
English is an official language, while Setswana is widely spoken.
Gaborone provides access to government institutions, private schools, hospitals and commercial services.
Maun is an important base for tourism businesses operating in the Okavango Delta.
8. Namibia
Popular locations: Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay
Namibia has established communities of foreign residents, including Europeans connected to tourism, agriculture and business.
English is the official language, while German and Afrikaans are also used in parts of the country.
Windhoek is the principal commercial and administrative centre.
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer coastal residential environments, although Namibia's population is relatively small and distances between towns can be substantial.
9. Ghana
Popular locations: Accra, Tema, Kumasi
Ghana is an English-speaking West African country with established international business and diplomatic communities.
Accra contains private hospitals, international schools, commercial developments and multinational company offices.
The country has also attracted members of the African diaspora through heritage tourism and residence-related initiatives.
Housing costs in some parts of Accra are relatively high, particularly in neighbourhoods popular with international residents.
10. Tanzania
Popular locations: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar
Tanzania offers several distinct expatriate environments.
Dar es Salaam is the country's largest commercial city, Arusha is associated with international organisations and safari tourism, and Zanzibar has a substantial hospitality sector.
Swahili is the national language, while English is used in many business and tourism settings.
Residence and employment authorisations are regulated, and Zanzibar has additional administrative arrangements affecting certain activities.
11. Egypt
Popular locations: Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, El Gouna
Egypt has large urban centres, established tourism destinations and extensive international transport connections.
Cairo contains diplomatic missions, international schools and private healthcare facilities.
Red Sea communities such as Hurghada and El Gouna have attracted foreign residents involved in tourism, hospitality and retirement.
Arabic is the official language, while English is widely used in international business and tourism.
12. Tunisia
Popular locations: Tunis, La Marsa, Sousse, Hammamet
Tunisia has longstanding commercial and cultural connections with Europe.
French is widely used alongside Arabic, particularly in business, education and professional services.
Tunis and its coastal suburbs contain international schools, medical facilities and foreign residential communities.
The country's Mediterranean coastline includes established tourism and residential developments.
13. Senegal
Popular locations: Dakar, Saly, Saint-Louis
Senegal is a major Francophone business and diplomatic destination in West Africa.
Dakar hosts regional organisations, international companies and diplomatic missions.
French is the official language, while Wolof is widely spoken.
The coastal town of Saly has tourism and residential properties used by both local and international residents.
14. Cabo Verde
Popular locations: Praia, Mindelo, Sal, Boa Vista
Cabo Verde is an Atlantic island country with established tourism connections to Europe.
Portuguese is the official language, while Cape Verdean Creole is widely spoken.
The islands of Sal and Boa Vista have substantial resort developments, while Praia is the administrative and commercial capital.
Employment opportunities outside tourism, public administration and selected service industries can be limited.
15. Zambia
Popular locations: Lusaka, Livingstone, Kitwe
Zambia has foreign professional communities associated with mining, agriculture, tourism and international development.
English is the official language.
Lusaka contains international schools, private hospitals and major commercial facilities.
Livingstone is a tourism centre near Victoria Falls, while Kitwe is associated with the Copperbelt mining industry.
16. Uganda
Popular locations: Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja
Uganda hosts international development organisations, diplomatic missions and businesses operating across East Africa.
English and Swahili are official languages.
Kampala has international schools, private healthcare facilities and established foreign residential neighbourhoods.
Entebbe is home to the country's principal international airport, while Jinja is associated with tourism and outdoor recreation.
17. Côte d'Ivoire
Popular locations: Abidjan, Grand-Bassam, Yamoussoukro
Côte d'Ivoire is an important commercial centre in Francophone West Africa.
Abidjan contains regional corporate offices, banks, diplomatic missions and international schools.
French is the official language.
The country's economy includes cocoa production, manufacturing, financial services and transport.
Grand-Bassam is a coastal town with historic architecture and tourism facilities.
18. Nigeria
Popular locations: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt
Nigeria has Africa's largest population and substantial markets in finance, telecommunications, technology, energy and entertainment.
Lagos hosts multinational businesses and an established international professional community.
Abuja is the federal capital and contains diplomatic missions and government institutions.
English is the official language.
Security conditions, traffic congestion and infrastructure quality differ considerably between cities and neighbourhoods.
19. Gabon
Popular locations: Libreville, Port-Gentil
Gabon has foreign professional communities associated with petroleum, mining, forestry and related services.
French is the official language.
Libreville is the principal administrative and commercial centre, while Port-Gentil is strongly associated with the energy industry.
The country's relatively small population and dependence on imported goods affect its consumer market and cost of living.
20. The Gambia
Popular locations: Banjul, Kololi, Brufut, Bakau
The Gambia is a small English-speaking country in West Africa.
Its Atlantic coastline has established tourism developments and residential communities involving European nationals.
The Greater Banjul Area contains the country's principal commercial services, healthcare facilities and international transport connections.
Tourism, agriculture and services are important parts of the economy.
21. São Tomé and Príncipe
Popular locations: São Tomé, Santana
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea.
Portuguese is the official language, and the economy includes agriculture, tourism and services.
The country has attracted international interest in eco-tourism and conservation.
São Tomé city contains the principal government institutions and commercial facilities, although specialised services are more limited than in larger African capitals.
22. Eswatini
Popular locations: Mbabane, Ezulwini, Manzini
Eswatini is a small landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.
English and siSwati are official languages.
Mbabane is the administrative capital, while Manzini is an important commercial centre.
The Ezulwini Valley contains hotels, residential developments and tourism facilities.
Eswatini's proximity to South Africa provides regional commercial connections, although its domestic employment market is relatively small.
Methodology Used to Select Africa's Expat Destinations
The 22 countries were selected using established expatriate presence, language accessibility, international schools, healthcare infrastructure, economic activity, transport connections and recognised residence arrangements.
The list is an editorial selection, not a statistical ranking of the safest, cheapest or highest-rated countries. Living conditions vary within each country, and the 2026 InterNations Expat Insider survey covers only a subset of African destinations.
Residence rights also differ according to nationality, employment status and the applicable immigration category. Tourist entry permission does not automatically provide the right to work or reside permanently.
