According to the immigration barometer, a broad survey by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, 63% of those interviewed want a reduction in immigrants from the Indian subcontinent.

The same study concludes that 68% of those interviewed consider that the “immigration policy in force in Portugal is very permissive in relation to the entry of immigrants”, 67.4% say that it contributes to more crime and 68.9% consider that it helps keep wages low.

At the same time, 68% agree that immigrants “are fundamental to the national economy”.

In the same survey in which 42% of respondents overestimate the number of immigrants in Portugal, the majority is in favour of granting rights, such as the right to vote (58.8%), facilitating naturalisation (51.8%) or processes of family reunification (77.4%).

This barometer assessed, for the first time, the feelings of the Portuguese towards those coming from India, Nepal and Bangladesh (which represent only 9% of the total number of immigrants), finding that 63% want a reduction.

According to the authors, “fewer responses were recorded to reduce immigration than in the past” when similar studies were carried out (2004 and 2010).

Regarding those coming from Eastern Europe, only 48% of those interviewed consider that it should decrease, compared to 57% in 2010.

Author: PORTUGAL DECODED ;

Regarding Western countries, the sentiment is the most positive, with just 26% of respondents calling for a decrease, compared to 46% in 2010.

In the case of African countries (47%), Brazil (52%) and China (52%), there is a reduction in the number of respondents who want fewer immigrants compared to 2010 (54%, 57% and 57%, respectively).

The majority of those interviewed (around 68%) “consider that the immigration policy currently in force allows an excessively easy entry, arguing that a policy that guarantees a more regulated entry would be more beneficial for the country” (75.8%).

Antagonistic

According to the authors, “respondents appear to have antagonistic feelings towards immigration: a large proportion consider it more as a threat than an opportunity, while more than two thirds of respondents (68%) agree that these are fundamental for the economic life of the country”.

This value is eight percentage points higher than that found in a similar study from 2010.

Regarding the relationship with the State, 52% of those interviewed consider that immigrants “receive more than they contribute to Social Security”, which does not correspond to real data.

The community that contributes the most to social security is Brazilian (1,033 million euros, 38.6% of the total), followed by Indian (8168.4), Nepalese (102.9), Spanish (102.8) and Cape - verdiana (88.8).

It is in agriculture and fishing (30%) that the highest percentage of foreign workers is found, followed by construction (15%), administrative activities (23%) and accommodation and food (22%).

Overestimation

The research also concludes that “Portuguese society overestimates the number of foreigners in Portugal”, a country that has values ​​far below the European average.

The percentage of foreigners in the population in Portugal (9.8%) is below 17 countries in the European Union, with Luxembourg (almost 50%) and Malta (25%) having the highest proportion of cases.

With regard to demography, Portugal had a negative natural balance from 2009 onwards, but since 2019 the population balance (includes both births and deaths, as well as emigrants and immigrants) has been positive.

An example of this are births: “22% of babies born in Portugal, in 2023, were to foreign mothers, despite foreigners making up around 10% of the population residing in Portugal”, says the study.

This situation changed the profile of students, with a 160% increase in the number of foreign students.

In the educational system as a whole, in the 2023/2024 academic year there were 140,000 (around 14% of the total number of students enrolled), with 39,500 entering the educational system in 2022/2023 and 33,500 in 2023/2024.