For many Africans—and increasingly for Zambians—Europe is imagined as a refuge of opportunity: good schools, fair job markets, decent housing, strong healthcare systems, and respect for human dignity.
This perception fuels thousands of migration decisions every year. Yet beneath the glossy image lies a harsher, less advertised reality.
Across Europe, black people face levels of racism that are not occasional or incidental, but systemic, pervasive, and deeply entrenched in everyday life.
A recent report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) offers a sobering warning to Africans considering relocation.
Drawing on the lived experiences of nearly 6,750 people of African descent across 13 European Union countries, the report exposes a continent where discrimination is not the exception but the norm.
Racism as a Daily Experience, Not an Isolated Incident
According to the FRA, almost half of black people living in the EU experienced racial discrimination within a single year—an increase compared to similar findings in 2018.
This discrimination cuts across all areas of life: education, employment, housing, policing, and even childhood experiences.
To make sense of what this means for a Zambian family dreaming of a future in Europe, consider this: you may send out dozens of job applications and never hear back, despite having strong qualifications.
You may search endlessly for housing, only to be repeatedly rejected without explanation. Your child may face racist insults at school. You may be stopped by the police not because you broke the law, but because of the colour of your skin.
This is not speculation. It is documented reality.
Which European Countries Are the Most Hostile?
While racism exists across the European Union, the report highlights significant differences between countries. Austria and Germany emerged as some of the most hostile environments for people of African descent.
In Austria, 67% of black respondents reported experiencing racial discrimination in the previous 12 months. In Germany, the figure was 65%. These are not marginal numbers—they represent a majority.
Notably, these countries are also experiencing a surge in far-right political movements, which often campaign on anti-immigrant and ethnonationalist platforms.
For African migrants, this political climate translates into social hostility, institutional bias, and everyday exclusion.
By contrast, Portugal and Poland recorded the lowest levels of reported discrimination, at 17% and 19% respectively.
However, “least racist” does not mean racism-free. Even in these countries, nearly one in five black residents experienced racial discrimination.
Racism Is Increasing, Not Declining
Perhaps most alarming for Africans considering Europe is the trend over time. Between 2016 and 2022, experiences of racism increased in most EU countries. Austria and Germany saw the sharpest rises. In Germany, reported racism almost doubled.
This challenges a common assumption held in Africa: that Europe is steadily becoming more tolerant and inclusive. The data suggests the opposite. For black people, Europe is becoming a harder place to live, not an easier one.
Housing, Schools, and the Burden on Children
Racism does not stop at the job market. Nearly one in four black respondents said they were prevented from renting a property because of their race or ethnicity.
For Africans arriving with families, this means overcrowded living conditions, inflated rents, or being pushed into segregated neighbourhoods.
Children bear a particularly heavy burden. A quarter of respondents said their children had faced offensive or threatening comments in person because of their background. In countries such as Ireland, Germany, Finland, and Austria, nearly four in ten parents reported such incidents.
For Zambian parents hoping to give their children a better education in Europe, this reality should give pause. Young people of African descent are three times more likely to leave school early compared to the general population—not because they lack ability, but because they are navigating hostile environments that undermine confidence and belonging.
Policing and Racial Profiling
Interactions with law enforcement are another flashpoint. Across the EU, one in four black people had been stopped by police in the past five years. About half believed the stop was due to racial profiling.
For Africans used to seeing Europe as a place of rule of law and equal treatment, this is a difficult truth. In practice, blackness often attracts suspicion, surveillance, and unequal treatment.
Overqualified, Underpaid, and Undervalued
Economically, the promise of Europe often falls short. Nearly a third of black respondents were working in low-skilled or “elementary” jobs, and 30% were on temporary contracts—three times the rate of the general population.
More than a third of university-educated black people were employed in roles far below their qualifications.
For Zambian graduates imagining professional growth abroad, this reality is crucial. Europe may offer jobs, but not necessarily dignity, recognition, or upward mobility.
The Silence Around Racism
The FRA warns that much racism remains invisible because incidents go unreported. Many victims fear retaliation, disbelief, or bureaucratic indifference. As a result, the true scale of racism is likely even worse than the statistics suggest.
A Reality Check for Africans
This is not an argument against migration. Africans have always moved in search of opportunity, and Europe remains economically powerful. But for Zambians and other Africans contemplating relocation, the decision should be grounded in realism, not illusion.
Europe is not colour-blind. It is not automatically fair. And it is not a guaranteed escape from discrimination. Racism there is often subtle, institutional, and relentless—wearing people down over years rather than exploding in a single moment.
Before packing bags and selling property back home, Africans must weigh not only wages and visas, but also dignity, mental health, and the long-term impact on their children. The promised land, it turns out, comes with conditions—many of them written on the skin.