Emigrating from Africa to Europe can bring you many benefits, such as:
- Life expectancy: According to Eurostat, the life expectancy at birth in Africa was 62.8 years in 2016, compared to 81.0 years in the European Union (source). This means that on average, people in Europe live longer and healthier lives than people in Africa.
- Education: The European Union has some of the best educational systems in the world, offering high-quality and accessible education to its citizens. According to UNESCO, the literacy rate among adults (15 years and older) in the European Union was 98.6% in 2018, compared to 65.4% in Africahttps://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-work-week-by-country. This means that more people in Europe have the skills and knowledge to pursue their personal and professional goals than people in Africa.
- Workweek: The average workweek in the European Union is shorter than in most African countries, allowing more time for leisure and family activities. According to World Population Review, the average workweek in the European Union was 37.1 hours in 2020, compared to 42.6 hours in Africa (source). This means that people in Europe have more balance between their work and personal lives than people in Africa.
- Democracy: The European Union is a union of democratic states that respect human rights, the rule of law and the principles of freedom and equality. According to Freedom House, the average score for political rights and civil liberties in the European Union was 89 out of 100 in 2020, compared to 34 out of 100 in Africa. This means that people in Europe have more political participation and protection than people in Africa.
- Economy: The European Union is one of the largest and most prosperous economies in the world, offering a wide range of opportunities for trade, investment and innovation. According to the World Bank, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (at current prices) in the European Union was 32,861 US dollars in 2019, compared to 1,631 US dollars in Africa. This means that people in Europe have more income and wealth than people in Africa.
- Environment: The European Union is committed to protecting the environment and fighting climate change, implementing policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy sources and conserve natural resources. According to the Environmental Performance Index, the average score for environmental health and ecosystem vitality in the European Union was 74.5 out of 100 in 2020, compared to 48.3 out of 100 in Africa. This means that people in Europe have a cleaner and safer environment than people in Africa.
- Culture: The European Union is a diverse and multicultural region, where different languages, religions, traditions and customs coexist peacefully and enrich each other. According to Eurostat, there were more than 200 languages spoken as mother tongues or foreign languages by EU citizens in 2019. According to Pew Research Center, there were more than 20 major religious groups represented by EU citizens in 2015. This means that people in Europe have more exposure and tolerance to different cultures than people in Africa.
- Travel: The European Union offers easy and affordable travel options for its citizens and visitors, thanks to its open borders, common currency and integrated transport networks. According to Eurostat, there were more than 1.4 billion trips made by EU residents within the EU-28 countries or outside the EU-28 countries (excluding same-day visits) in 2019. According to Schengen Visa Info, there were more than 14 million Schengen visas issued to non-EU nationals for short-term stays (up to 90 days) in the Schengen area (which includes most EU countries) in 2019. This means that people in Europe have more opportunities to explore new places and experiences than people in Africa.
- Security: The European Union is a peaceful and stable region, where conflicts and violence are rare and cooperation and solidarity are strong. According to Global Peace Index, the average score for peacefulness (based on indicators such as militarization, safety and security, and ongoing conflict) in the European Union was 1.86 out of 5 (lower scores indicate more peacefulness) in 2020, compared to 2.49 out of 5 in Africa. This means that people in Europe have more peace and security than people in Africa.
- Social protection: The European Union provides comprehensive and generous social protection systems for its citizens, covering areas such as health care, pensions, unemployment benefits, family support and social inclusion. According to Eurostat, the average social protection expenditure (as a percentage of GDP) in the European Union was 28.2% in 2018, compared to 4.5% in Africa. This means that people in Europe have more social safety nets and welfare than people in Africa.