- Download our Moving to Angola Guide (PDF)
Despite being an unconventional expat destination, Angola boasts a cool tropical climate and warm and friendly locals with wonderful beaches to boot. Angola is still a developing country that is recovering from a decades-long civil war that impacted all aspects of its society.
largest oil producers and exporters, and, as such, most expats move to the country on an assignment from one of its many energy companies. This has greatly contributed to Angola’s melting pot of cultures and ethnicities.
Below is some useful information about diversity and inclusion in Angola.
Accessibility in Angola
Owing to years of civil war, Angola’s community of people living with disabilities has grown significantly. The country became a signatory to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013 and enacted the Accessibility Law in 2016. The legislation criminalises discrimination against people with disabilities and mandates the implementation of quotas to encourage the private and public sectors to employ them.
The country has also worked towards improving its accessibility infrastructure over the past decade. Recently constructed public buildings in Angola have been designed with accessibility in mind. This involves creating wheelchair-specific areas, adapted changing rooms, ramps, elevators, and adapted toilets. That said, older buildings and rural areas severely lack accessibility resources.
Still, more work is needed to ensure accessible public transport and to involve people with disabilities in decision-making, particularly on accessibility issues.
LGBTQ+ in Angola
In 2021, the Angolan government decriminalised homosexuality, making Angola one of only 22 African countries to do so. The country also made it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation when hiring. While this is a leap for LGBTQ+ rights in Angola, same-sex marriage is still unrecognised, and conversion therapy remains legal.
Beyond official legal protections, LGBTQ+ individuals in Angola still face harassment in society. The first Pride event in Angola was only held in 2016, highlighting the fact that LGBTQ+ individuals in the country must often remain hidden to avoid persecution. There are few venues for community members to gather, even in major cities such as Luanda. It is advised that LGBTQ+ expats avoid public displays of affection, as locals may view this with contempt.
Gender equality in Angola
Women and men have equal rights before the law, as stated in Angola’s constitution. The country set out a national gender equality policy in 2013 and has since made strides in women's representation, particularly in politics. Women hold just under 39 percent of the seats in parliament.
The World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Gender Gap Report ranks Angola 87th out of 145 countries for gender parity. This is up 30 places from its 2025 ranking. There is still room for improvement, though, especially in the areas of gender-based violence and child marriage.
Although the position of women in Angola’s society continues to improve, the country is still decades away from achieving gender equality.
Useful resources
Women in leadership in Angola
The representation of women in leadership in Angola is lacking. According to 2025 data by the World Bank, women hold only 16 percent of middle and senior management positions in Angola. Though better than previous years, this is an overall low percentage and well below worldwide aims. More encouragingly, in 2025's Angolan parliament, women held 39 percent of seats. This shows that progress towards equal representation in leadership is being made, though not equally in all areas.
Useful resources
Mental health awareness in Angola
Access to general healthcare in Angola is lacking, and similarly, mental health services in the country are limited. Angola has no policies or legislation to guide the implementation of mental healthcare, but basic mental healthcare is provided through general practitioners. Moreover, there are few mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, available in the country.
Angola has high levels of mental health issues among its population, and care is largely limited to urban areas. Over and above the lack of accessibility to mental health resources in Angola, its society still holds largely conservative and traditional views on mental illness and seeking help. This further exacerbates mental health issues in the country, as it prevents timely treatment, which has better outcomes.
Expats moving to the country are also at risk of loneliness and developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. It is essential for expats moving to Angola to secure comprehensive health insurance to access private mental health services in the country.
Unconscious bias training in Angola
Unconscious bias is a tacit set of social stereotypes an individual carries about groups of people different to themselves. These stereotypes are not deliberately adopted but develop subtly over time. People tend to hold unconscious biases about groups they rarely or never come into contact with. As a result, they’re frequently inaccurate and based on assumptions.
Unconscious bias can significantly shape workplace dynamics and limit opportunities for certain groups, which can in turn affect a company’s talent acquisition and turnover rates.
Some companies, especially multinational corporations, have started offering unconscious bias training to help their employees recognise and ultimately overcome their biases. There are also online resources that can improve one’s recognition of unconscious bias in themselves and others.
Useful resources
Diversification in the workplace in Angola
Thanks to a booming and lucrative oil and natural gas industry, Angola attracts many foreigners. There are currently more than 650,000 expats calling Angola home.
The workplace and society in Angola are quite diverse. Most multinational corporations employ individuals of several nationalities and many languages. While Angolans are generally friendly and welcoming, there can be some resentment towards foreigners in the country. This is largely because expats often earn lucrative salaries, while locals are paid less for doing the same work.
That said, discrimination against foreigners is rare, so you're likely to find yourself in a pleasant and productive working environment. Companies, particularly international corporations, are beginning to prioritise diversity and recognise its value in the modern workplace.
Safety in Angola
Safety is a concern for expats moving to Angola. Owing to years of civil war, Angola has a high level of inequality, and this has led to high crime rates. The 2026 Global Peace Index ranks Angola 78th out of 163 countries evaluated, up 11 places from the previous year. While conditions are improving, there are still some areas of concern.
Most expats in Angola will stay in secure compounds with 24-hour security, but robberies and muggings are common in the capital city, Luanda. It would be best to follow standard safety precautions, such as keeping your valuables out of sight and avoiding walking alone at night. You should be especially vigilant when withdrawing cash from ATMs, as robberies frequently occur at cash points.
Additionally, poor road infrastructure and landmines in rural Angola remain a safety concern. Civil unrest and protests in the diamond-mining areas of Cabinda, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul can occur, and foreigners who travel outside Cabinda City are at risk of attack.
Useful resources
Calendar initiatives in Angola
4 February – World Cancer Day
8 March – International Women’s Day
March – TB Awareness Month
25 April – World Malaria Day
19 May – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
June – Pride Month
10 September – World Suicide Prevention Day
October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
8 October – World Mental Health Day
14 November – World Diabetes Day
1 December – World AIDS Day