The number of foreigners living in Portugal has doubled over the past decade, reaching 800,000 in 2022, according to a new study by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, as reported by The Portugal News.
This influx of immigrants has transformed the country’s demographics and contributed to population growth amid declining birth rates.
Shifting Nationalities Reshape Portugal
The study found that 76% of foreigners in Portugal hail from non-EU countries, with Brazilians making up the largest group at 29.3%.
Other major foreign populations include Britons (6%), Cape Verdeans (4.9%), Italians (4.4%), Indians (4.3%) and Romanians (4.1%).
“In the last 15 years, Portuguese nationality has been granted to around half a million foreigners, most of whom were not resident in Portugal,” the study stated.
This included many descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Portugal in the 15th century.
Compared to native Portuguese, the foreign-born population skews younger and more male.
The median age of immigrants is just 37, versus 44 for Portuguese citizens.
Immigrants Under Economic Strain
While immigration has risen, so too has unemployment among new residents.
The jobless rate for foreigners is more than double the national average, and immigrants earn a median of €94 less per month than Portuguese workers.
Over a third of immigrant workers have temporary contracts, compared to just 16% of Portuguese.
Portugal has the fourth highest rate of job insecurity for foreigners in the European Union (EU).
Nearly one-third of immigrants live in poverty or social exclusion.
The situation is worse for those from outside Europe, 34% of whom face economic hardship.
Immigration Reshapes Schools
The surge in immigration is also changing Portugal’s education system.
The number of foreign-born students has doubled in just five years, reaching nearly 106,000 in the 2021-22 academic year.
In the first cycle of basic education, one in 10 pupils is now foreign-born.
At the doctoral level, a full third of students come from abroad.
Emigration Continues Among Native Portuguese
While immigration has risen steeply, emigration by native Portuguese remains significant.
Last year 31,000 citizens left the country, though this represents a substantial drop from peak levels in 2013.
Most emigrants are men (66%), and nearly half (47.6%) have higher education degrees.
The preferred destinations are other EU states.
Among recent emigrants with higher education, most left despite having university degrees.
Impacts on EU Visitors and Immigrants
The influx of immigrants to Portugal will likely attract more EU visitors and potential immigrants to the country.
Portugal’s large Brazilian population could draw medical tourists and families seeking dual citizenship.
Digital nomads and remote workers may also be lured by Portugal’s low cost of living and Mediterranean climate.
When the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) visa waiver program launches in May 2025, EU citizens will need to apply online prior to traveling to Portugal.
For long-term EU residents, Portugal’s Golden Visa program offers residency and a path to citizenship through property investment.
The country is also popular for English-speaking students studying abroad.
Effects on EU Immigration Policy
Portugal’s mass immigration could influence EU policy on the ETIAS and Schengen Area.
With immigration straining Portugal’s housing and jobs, the EU may tweak visa rules to better control inflows.
Spain just passed a Digital Nomad visa requiring proof of remote work and minimum income.
More EU states may follow suit if immigration surges post-pandemic.
Portugal Transformed
The influx of nearly 800,000 immigrants over the past decade has fundamentally reshaped Portuguese demographics, society, and economy.
While contributing vitality and diversity, mass immigration has also strained public services and increased economic inequality.
Policymakers face the challenge of integrating new residents while ensuring opportunities for native Portuguese.