Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe that considers immigration, including the entry of foreign workers into the country, as something positive. This is the opinion of 39% of Portuguese people, according to the most recent global survey by the Gallup International Association (GIA), carried out by Intercampus at a national level.
The global perception is increasingly less favourable towards immigration, with a global average of 35% of the total sample carried out in 43 countries on various continents: in Portugal, the study highlighted, around 30% of respondents have a negative opinion about the migration phenomenon and 30% assume a neutral position in relation to it.
Military and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have contributed to the increase in migration flows and consequent pressure from migrants in several developed countries, both in Europe and the United States.
Countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, which welcome a significant number of immigrants who contribute to economic development, stand out for having a more positive feeling about immigration, with a rate of 45 and 52%, respectively, of affirmative responses. Iraq and Peru, on the other hand, have the most unfavorable view of the migration phenomenon, reflecting the context of geopolitical instability in each country.
“The survey highlights a growing duality of opinions regarding the migration phenomenon, reflecting a scenario of geopolitical instability and socioeconomic challenges on a global scale,” said António Salvador, CEO of Intercampus. “The results also highlight the importance of establishing an ongoing dialogue and creating local strategies that address the challenges that immigration poses to contemporary societies.”
Regarding the level of ethnic tolerance, the results of the study revealed that a large proportion of Portuguese people (52%) trust people belonging to their ethnic group more than people belonging to other ethnic groups present in their country. These responses are in line with the global perception, in which 54% of the total sample said that they trust their ethnic group more than people from other ethnicities.