More than 190,000 foreign nationals were living in Prague in the summer 2017, making up almost 15% of the total population of the city. This represents more than 3 times the national average. A questionnaire-based study conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences is analysing various aspects of their life in Prague. The questionnaire focused on children’s educations, language courses and skills, knowledge of rights and obligations, services for foreigners (e.g. counselling, translation), as well as interaction with the Czech majority society.

Main findings

Immigrants living in Prague are a diverse group of people, in terms of countries of origin, economic status and level of proficiency in Czech. The study shows that, when it comes to migrants from outside the EU, Prague primarily attracts well-educated and economically active migrants who often move with their families to the Czech Republic where they stay for long period (8 years on average) and are integrated. Prague however also attracts migrants who are hired for precarious positions. Approximately, every fifth employed migrant in Prague performs an unskilled or ancillary labour. This group may be in danger of destitution and marginalisation, due to low incomes, uncertain residency status and limited knowledge of Czech.

Overall, the study shows that respondents are happy with their life in Prague. They claim that they have enough information about their rights and responsibilities, face few problems and rarely encounter serious communication barriers. More than a third speak Czech well, another third has average proficiency while about a fifth has low proficiency in Czech or do not speak it at all. Migrants with the highest level of language skills are the best integrated, socially and professionally. They also have a good understanding of the possibilities available to them. Those with the lowest language proficiency more often face problems, are less informed and use less the services meant for foreigners.

Most migrants whose children attend or attended Czech schools had positive experiences there. Yet, about a fifth experienced communication problems with schools because of language. Since foreigners living in Prague, for the most part, work and have little free time, their children very often attend after-school clubs and activities, which significantly improves their integration. 

The survey included 1,149 respondents from 54 countries, including 40 respondents from EU countries. Almost 3/4 want to remain in the Czech Republic and plan their futures here.

Read the study