Black and Borderless: 7 Safest Countries for Black People Moving Abroad in 2025

More Black Americans are seeking new horizons. Discover the safest countries for black people to live, work, and thrive. 

With so much political and racial division in the United States of America, it’s time for Black Americans to look elsewhere for quality of life. 

The good news? Great options exist on all continents, from Portugal’s growing expat enclaves to Ghana’s homecoming initiatives, and from Canada’s multicultural metropolises to New Zealand’s progressive policies. 

Finding the safest countries for Black people to live and work goes beyond your typical expat concerns. Whereas most expats simply look for exotic travel destinations with low crime statistics and a reasonable cost of living, Black expats face a tapestry of sociocultural factors – like how a country’s colonial history shape today’s society, whether visible Black communities exist, and how locals react to Black travelers.

Let’s look at the cultural context and statistics of the most popular destinations for expats to find the safest countries for Black people who want to escape the racial trap.

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What Makes Countries Safe and Welcoming for Black Expats?

Recent years have seen an outflow of African Americans to safe countries for Black people in search of a better life – one in which racial identity doesn’t determine daily experiences of safety and belonging. 

While racism and xenophobia exist everywhere, America’s society seems particularly divided. 34% of Americans now express a desire to live abroad, according to a Monmouth University Poll, up from just 10% five decades ago. And while it’s hard to measure exactly how many Black Americans have already left, it’s obvious that many in the Black community feel the US is not for them.

In 2023, 75% of Black Americans reported experiencing discrimination occasionally if not regularly, according to a Pew Research survey. And 67% of Black adults said the U.S. political system was designed to hold Black people back. Those numbers are likely even higher with Trump’s pushback on inclusivity policies.

That’s why the Blaxit movement is more than digital nomadism or a flight from inflation, and that’s also why Black expats have to look beyond the cost of living and visa requirements to include inclusivity and equity. So what makes countries safe for Black people? Besides basic safety levels and cost of living, we’ll look at things like: 

• Strong anti-discrimination laws that are actually enforced, not just on paper
• Visible Black communities where newcomers can find support and belonging
• Positive cultural attitudes toward Black people beyond just tolerance
• Colonial history awareness and how a country has addressed its past
• Access to healthcare without racial disparities in treatment

With these criteria in mind, let’s look at some of the safest countries in the world for black people. Below are 7 black-friendly countries to live in and that offer a fresh beginning. 

Africa: Homecoming in Ghana

For Black Americans seeking to reconnect with their ancestral roots, going to Ghana is like a homecoming. “Once I returned to America [from Africa] after my first birthright [experience], I had caught ‘the bug,’ ” Ashley Milton said. Milton moved to Ghana in 2019, shortly after the country’s Year of Return policy was introduced.  “I knew from that moment that I always wanted to make sure that this connection remained prominent in my life.”

Just last November, another 524 African diaspora members moved to Ghana under the Year of Return policy, mostly African Americans.  For them, countries that welcome African Americans offer something priceless – freedom of expression of Blackness and from racial discrimination. 

Safety and Belonging in Ghana as a Black Expat

Ghana is one of the safest African countries to visit. In fact, Ghana is a safe and stable country by any means, ranking 51st in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI). For reference, the United States of America ranks 132nd. Ghana has made big strides in healthcare access, the Oxford Business Group reports, with the National Health Insurance Scheme covering 55% of its 32.9 million citizens as of mid-2023.

In the country where Pan-Africanism originated, being a black man or woman in Ghana is like being a fish in the water. Everyone is welcome. In fact, the Ghanaian government encourages Black people from around Africa and the world to come to Ghana. 

But while Ghana scores high on racial inclusiveness on the Othering & Belonging Institute’s Inclusiveness Index, the country scores less high on other forms of discrimination. The World Justice Project ranks Ghana 58th out of 142 countries on equal treatment and absence of discrimination, showing that the African nation isn’t free from social strife – an important distinction to make for any Black American hoping to find paradise.

Moving to Ghana

Interested in relocating to Ghana? Start with applying for a visa online and take it from there. And where to go? Touchdown in Ghana is in Accra, where you’ll find much of the growing Black American community as well as most amenities.

And while Ghana’s rich culture and black heritage are what attract the African diaspora to relocate, it’s worth noting that adjusting to Ghanaian culture can be challenging for Americans of any skin color. Similarly, the language barrier can be bigger than expected. English might be the main language in Ghana, but the Ghanaian dialect and local languages make for a different flavor of English than Americans are used to. 

Africa: Peace Found in Mauritius

Ghana and South Africa are countries that accept black people for their roots and welcome them with homecoming policies. Don’t expect the same in Mauritius – the island nation has a different pull on African American expats altogether. 

This island in the Indian Ocean is consistently ranked as Africa’s most peaceful nation in the GPI, and is ahead of many popular travel destinations across the globe. Neighboring nothing but the Indian Ocean’s warm waters, Mauritius doesn’t even need a standing army. 

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And while Mauritius is technically African. Black expats can expect more than African culture here. With a large population of Indian descent, creole Africans, as well as European and Chinese minorities, diversity is the norm instead of the exception. 

Safety and Belonging in Mauritius as a Black Expat

Shaped by colonization and slavery, Mauritius stands out for its diverse population. Yet that doesn’t mean racism doesn’t exist at all on the island. Mauritius ranks 87th on the Inclusiveness Index – in large part because the different ethnicities in Mauritius don’t always see eye to eye.  

Societal racism lingers in this country, but for Black expats, Mauritius is exceptionally safe. Plus, Black people being everywhere means you can freely move around without being Othered. 

But while Mauritius isn’t the continental African homecoming experience, there’s something to say about the paradise island’s economic success. Since gaining independence in 1968, Mauritius has gone from a low-income agrarian economy to an economy built on financial services, tourism, and technology sectors. 

The island’s free healthcare for residents is another strong point. The country scores 50% higher than the African average on the Universal Health Coverage Index, which means that medical care is always nearby on the island. 

Moving to Mauritius

Mauritius offers several easy pathways to residency, including the Premium Visa for remote workers and the Occupation Permit for investors and professionals. The minimum investment for business owners seeking residency is $50,000, which is a lot lower than European investment visas.

Port Louis, the capital, is the island’s most bustling but priciest city. Look at coastal areas like Flic en Flac and Tamarin for affordable living without foregoing the expat communities.

Europe: Portugal has a Black and Buzzing Expat Hub

Africa might offer Black Americans a chance to reconnect with their roots, but Portugal presents a new chapter. Lisbon is hot and happening with a growing community of Black expats who find both European quality of life and an American community. 

Kam from travel blog Cultured Kam and founder of Afro Flavors Lisbon made the leap in 2020 when “My sister mentioned Portugal to me. She told me I’d love Lisbon because of the diversity, the closeness to other countries, and the affordability.” Safety was a big reason for Kam’s move. “Knowing what I wanted and what Portugal could provide – safety, access to quality healthcare, it only made sense to me to consider moving there.” 

Indeed, Portugal should be high on the list for expats looking for countries that accept Black people. Disclaimer: Don’t expect to find complete racial equity in a country with a colonial past as long and rich as Portugal. But the Portuguese are tolerant and people of different hues have lived together for hundreds of years. Nowadays, most Portuguese won’t judge anyone based on their skin color. 

Safety and Belonging in Portugal as a Black Expat

As the colonial power that pioneered the transatlantic slave trade, Portugal’s history with Africa runs deep. Yet today, this historical connection has created space for a growing Black community. Lisbon has become a top destination for Black Americans looking to escape racism back home, according to National Geographic.  

Kam also agrees. “Being Black in Portugal has been a great experience for me honestly. I understand that there is racism anywhere in the world, but as far as safety goes I feel a level of ease that I did not have in the US.”

This is especially true in multiethnic Lisbon with strong Black communities from Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Brazil, and other former colonies. African Americans have an easier time fitting in in this urban melting pot where African music, food and cultural events create familiar touchpoints. Kam shares that “I also love that I’m able to connect with people across the diaspora. We have a growing community of people from the US, the UK, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cape Verde, Angola, and more!”

But this experience doesn’t hold across the country. Rural areas and towns aren’t nearly as diverse and locals might look at Black newcomers with suspicion. 

Nonetheless, Black travelers can expect good things from Portugal. In short, it’s welcoming and exceptionally safe, ranking second globally on the Inclusiveness Index and seventh on the Global Peace Index – sixteen spots higher than neighboring Spain. Add free public healthcare and a flat tax rate for newcomers and you’ve got one of the best European countries for Black expats. 

Moving to Portugal

One of the best countries for earning European residency, Portugal offers accessible visas for Black Americans. Can you demonstrate a stable passive income? Then the D7 visa allows holders to live, work, and eventually apply for permanent residency. Digital nomads with employment outside of Portugal can apply for a B7 visa. And then there’s the Golden Visa for Portuguese citizenship by investment. 

Lisbon hosts the largest Black expat community, with groups like Black in Portugal helping out newcomers and hosting regular events. Bureaucracy is perhaps the biggest challenge fresh expats face. “It’s been stressful at times navigating their bureaucracy, securing an apartment, setting up things such as my NIF, social security number, and other tasks,” Kam admits.

“I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to set up my life in a new country while getting residency. I just assumed that I would have a level of ease that I didn’t have in the US,” the Michigan-born admits. “But honestly, in the US we expect things to happen instantly, and that’s not the way it works in the majority of the world.”

Europe: Norway Offers a Clean Slate in the Nordics

Compared to multicultural Lisbon with its colonial ties to Africa, Norway might seem like a lot more homogeneous to Black travelers. It’s true that Norway is predominantly white, but it’s also built on progressive values and trademark Scandinavian social equality. Most importantly, Norway was not built on transatlantic slavery.

“I’m definitely not saying there isn’t racism,” explains Robert Gillan, a Black expat living in Norway.” But my experience here versus the United States is different. Norway doesn’t have hundreds of years of Black slavery, Jim Crow, or mass incarceration in its history.” 

This absence of deeply entrenched racism creates a different context for Black expats compared to countries with colonial pasts. “Being a Black man here is less stressful, and people don’t assume I’m a criminal threat when I go outside. I never realized just how heavy being a Black man in America was until I was able to get away,” Gillan shares.

Safety and Belonging in Norway as a Black Expat

Norway’s relationship with racial diversity is evolving. The country has strong anti-discrimination laws, but the reality for Black residents can be mixed. 

The Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act explicitly prohibits discrimination based on skin color, national or ethnic origin, and even recognizes that people may face discrimination on multiple grounds simultaneously. Yet in practice, people of color can still face racial profiling in Norway, as was noted by UN experts.

On top of that, the Black community in Norway is smaller than in countries like Portugal or the Netherlands. “In Scandinavia, especially Norway, we definitely have less Africans and even fewer African-Americans than other parts of Europe,” Robert Gillan said. “But still, there are more of us than you might think.”

But despite some UN concerns and a small African American community, Black expats can fully expect to be safe in Norway. The Scandinavian country ranks 28th in the 2024 Global Peace Index – below Denmark and Finland but above countries like Italy and the UK, as well as neighboring Sweden. Norway ranks third globally on the Inclusiveness Index. 

The country’s comprehensive social welfare system provides residents with universal healthcare, free education, and robust worker protections that create a strong safety net for all residents, including Black people.

Moving to Norway

Getting residency in Norway is easy as a digital nomad when applying for the Independent Contractor Visa, which allows you to live in Norway while working remotely for clients, one of which should be Norwegian. Other pathways to residency include work permits that come with job offers, and skilled worker visas for certain professionals.

Oslo offers the most diverse environment and largest international community, though eastern neighborhoods have higher crime rates. Bergen and Trondheim provide alternatives with strong job markets and university connections, as well as instant access to Norway’s amazing nature.

The biggest challenges for first-time visitors are the higher cost of living (among Europe’s most expensive), the language barrier (though English is widely spoken), and the famous Norwegian reserve that can make social integration slow. 

North America: Canada, the Progressive Neighbor

Compared to the United States of the 21st century, Canada is a North American nation that is more actively working to address its racial history while building more inclusive communities. For Black Americans looking for a safer home without crossing oceans, Canada’s proximity and cultural familiarity make it an interesting option.

White and Black Americans are moving to Canada in search of less polarized politics and gun violence. Historically, Black people have been escaping to Canada from US oppression for over two centuries. 

Safety and Belonging in Canada as a Black Expat

Canada’s Black population – Caribbean, African, and African American – has grown significantly over the last two decades and now accounts for 4.3% of the Canadian population, according to the Toronto Metropolitan University. Notably, 60% of Black Canadians were born outside the country. 

To say that, for these Black immigrants, Canada is a colorblind haven overlooking the glaring issues of institutional racism that exist everywhere, Canada included. But the country’s institutions show a willingness to change. In 2024, the government launched “Changing Systems, Transforming Lives: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024–2028,” aimed at addressing systemic barriers in employment, justice, housing, healthcare, and immigration.

The country has also established its first-ever Black Justice Strategy to address anti-Black racism in the justice system. These initiatives acknowledge ongoing challenges while at the same time showing commitment to change.

Yet the lived experience of Black Canadians reveals persistent tensions. “Black Canadian is an oxymoron to me,” one Toronto resident told the BBC. “Because the project of Canada does not include blackness, it erases blackness from its cultural landscape, from its political landscape, from its social landscape.”

This disconnect between policy and street-level experience is evident in Toronto police’ “carding” practice, where police stop people without suspicion of a crime. Though Ontario placed restrictions on this practice in 2017, a report from data between 2008-2013 shows that Black people were stopped three times as much as white people.

Is Canada the best place for African Americans to live outside the US and feel safe? If you want to stay relatively near family, then perhaps. Canada is a much more peaceful country than the US, ranking 11th worldwide on the GPI and 14th on the Inclusiveness Index. It’s safer than the US’ other neighbor, Mexico, too. There’s less crime, gun violence, and better healthcare access. On the other hand, housing and cost of living are high, while skilled jobs generally pay less than in the United States. 

Moving to Canada

For Black Americans, migrating to Canada is relatively easy compared to many other countries. Skilled workers can obtain residency through the Express Entry System. Other pathways are work permits, student or startup visas, and provincial nominee programs.

Toronto offers the most diverse environment with established Black communities in neighborhoods like Scarborough and North York. Montreal and Halifax also have significant Black populations with rich cultural histories.

What would be the greatest challenge of moving to Canada? Winter weather aside, navigating the subtle forms of discrimination that persist despite progressive policies. Moving to Canada is by no means escaping the racial trap. But here Black people will be better heard in their fight for racial equity.

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Central America: Costa Rica promises Pura Vida

Many Black Americans move to nearby Mexico in search of a better life, but have you thought of Costa Rica? Costa Rica presents Black expats with its laid-back “Pura Vida” lifestyle, natural beauty, and peaceful reputation. Is Costa Rica a safe country for Black people? Blackness is a vibrant part of the nation’s cultural heritage, and Black Americans will feel very welcome here.

Costa Rica might seem like a dream destination in Latin America, even more so than Panama or Colombia – but it’s important to remember that expat Black Americans have a privilege that Afro-Costa Ricans don’t have. While Black Americans are not completely exempt from experiencing racism, Pamela Cunningham-Chacón argues that “In Costa Rica, they will have the privilege of speaking in English, being labeled expats and not immigrants.” 

Cunningham-Chacón, who is an Afro-rights activist and founder of Costa Rica Afro, points out that “[African Americans] come with U.S. currency and live in the nicer areas of Costa Rica.” 

Safety and Belonging in Costa Rica as a Black Expat

Today, about 8% of Costa Ricans are African, according to the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación. A large portion of these Afro-Costa Ricans live on the Caribbean side. “What I did not know was that the Caribbean side of the country is where most of the Black Ticos (native Costa Ricans) live,” Houston-born Rebbecca Bakre confesses. “I was often assumed to be a Tico visiting from Límon, a major city on the Caribbean side.” 

It all made sense when Bakre, who relocated to Costa Rica and works as a life coach, traveled to Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. “There is a much more dense population of melanated people there, which allowed me to blend in more. Standing out on the Pacific side was not that challenging, though, because Costa Ricans are such kind and compassionate people, so I did not feel any less at home with them.”

For African Americans moving to Costa Rica and looking for a Black community, the Caribbean coast is the obvious place to relocate to. 

And is Costa Rica safe for Black expats? Crime rates might have increased in recent years and inequality is rising but Costa Rica ranks among Central and South America’s most peaceful countries, according to the Global Peace Index. Universal healthcare is another strong argument, with the country’s CAJA system providing good coverage. 

Moving to Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers several accessible visa options for expats. The most common options include the Digital Nomad Visa, the Pensionado for retirees, the Rentista for expats with passive income, and the Inversionista for those investing at least $150,000 in business or real estate.

Does Costa Rica come with social challenges? Despite its national narrative of Pura Vida and peaceful coexistence, rising inequality and crime affect Ticos disproportionately. There might be growing awareness among Costa Ricans to confront racial inequality and include more Afro representation in the national story, but it’s an ongoing fight. 

Asia: Thailand is All Smiles

Asia is a beautiful and exotic part of the world but one that Black Americans can’t always fully enjoy due to a high degree of Othering (and occasional racism) in countries like South Korea and Japan. Perhaps a little less so in Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles”. Thailand is both exotic and international, with a growing Black expat scene. And it’s exceptionally safe.

“Speaking from my own experience, Thailand, Chiang Mai specifically, as well as Istanbul, Turkey, have been the countries where I have felt the safest and most comfortable as a black American living abroad,” shares Kimberly Mabon, a Content Strategist and Website Optimization Specialist who chose to settle in northern Thailand. “Chiang Mai is by far the safest place I have ever lived. I am able to live an exceptionally high quality of life working what would be considered part-time hours back in the US.”

Safety and Belonging in Thailand as a Black Expat

Thailand might get a lot of visitors but Black travelers stand out on the streets of Bangkok or Changmai, let alone in rural Thailand. What’s more, Thailand’s relationship with Blackness is multifaceted. While the country doesn’t have historical connections to Africa through colonization, cultural attitudes toward darker skin tones create a complex environment for Black visitors and residents.

“I’ve been denied jobs because I’m black and there was no shame in telling me so. People stare at me, sometimes it’s unapologetic. I’m still kind of getting used to it,” EzraZonia O’Neal Morris, a teacher from Mississippi now living in Bangkok, told Travel Noire.

Yet like Kimberly Mabon, many Black expats report feeling safer and even embraced in Thailand than back home in the United States of America. The stares Black people receive are often described as curiosity rather than hostility – a big distinction coming from an environment with more overt racism.

Chiang Mai is a particularly welcoming hub for Black expats. In 2020, the city saw the formation of the Chiang Mai Anti-Racism Coalition, showing community support for racial equality.

Moving to Thailand

For Black Americans considering Thailand, visa options have improved. As of July 2024, US citizens receive a 60-day visa upon entry for tourism purposes, which can be extended for an additional 30 days by paying a ฿1,900 fee at a Thai Immigration Bureau office.

Chiang Mai offers the most frequently cited positive experiences for Black expats, with lower costs and a strong international community. Bangkok provides more urban amenities but at higher prices, while coastal areas like Phuket offer beach living and tourist vibes.

How We Ranked the Safest Countries for Black People

To identify the safest countries for Black people, we took objective safety metrics like the 2024 Global Peace Index, which measures peacefulness across 163 countries using indicators like ongoing conflict, societal safety, and militarization.

We combined these statistics with statistics on racial equity, like Berkeley’s Inclusiveness Index, and the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index (particularly Factor 4.1 on equal treatment and absence of discrimination).

But for all that data can and can not tell, it’s the lived experiences of Black expats that count most. That’s why our guide includes first-hand accounts from Black Americans who have made the big move – so that you can be confident when the time comes for you to trade the US for new soil.

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