Objective: To study the influence of Maghrebian ethnicity on lupus nephritis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the files of a cohort of 194 patients with proliferative lupus nephritis followed in seven lupus centres belonging to three groups: Europeans living in Belgium/France (E; n = 111); Maghrebians living in Europe, in casu Belgium/France (ME; n = 43); and Maghrebians living in Morocco (MM; n = 40). Baseline presentation was compared between these three groups but complete long-term outcome data were available only for E and ME patients. Results: At presentation, the clinical and pathological characteristics of lupus nephritis did not differ between E, ME and MM patients. Renal relapses were more common in ME patients (54%) than in E patients (29%) (P < 0.01). Time to renal flare and to end-stage renal disease was shorter in ME patients compared to E patients (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). While proteinuria measured at month 12 accurately predicted a serum creatinine value of less than 1 mg/dl at 7 years in E patients, this was not the case in the ME group, in whom serum creatinine at month 12 performed better. Conclusion: Despite a similar disease profile at onset, the prognosis of lupus nephritis is more severe in Maghrebians living in Europe compared to native Europeans, with a higher relapse rate.