World Immigration News

Portugal: Immigration Barometer

Release Date: 2025-01-30
Media: European Website on Integration
Summary: The Immigration Barometer survey, sponsored by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, explored public perceptions of migrants and immigration in Portugal. The findings show that a majority of Portuguese people view immigration policy as too permissive, with 68% believing that immigration is contributing to lower wages and 67.4% feeling that migrants commit more crimes than the general population. Despite these concerns, 68% recognize the economic contributions of migrants, particularly in sectors like construction, agriculture, and services, which are crucial for Portugal's economic growth.

However, there are also significant fears about the impact of immigration on Portuguese culture and public security, with 51% of respondents believing that immigration could threaten these aspects. These fears are partly driven by a perception that the number of migrants is much higher than it actually is—immigrants make up 9.8% of the Portuguese population, which is lower than in 17 other EU countries.

The survey also found that regions with active inclusion policies and better social interaction between residents and migrants have more favorable views towards migrants. Additionally, the survey revealed that those with right-wing beliefs or distrust of others are more likely to hold unfavorable views on immigration, while those satisfied with democratic processes and egalitarian values tend to view immigration positively.

The survey was conducted between July 13 and August 30, 2024, with 1,072 respondents across various demographics in mainland Portugal.
Tags: Portugal

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