The weight of the immigrant population has been increasing in the total population of Portugal. Since 2003, the percentage of immigrants with legal status of resident of ancepified, from 2% to 10% of the total population.
Two decades ago, Portugal had 10.5 million inhabitants, of which 98% were Portuguese citizens and only 2% were immigrants (almost 250,000 people). In 2013, among the 10.4 million inhabitants, 96% were Portuguese and 4% were immigrants. Already in 2023, the total population rose to 10.6 million and the distribution again changed: the Portuguese represented 90% of the population (9.6 million), while immigrants grew to 10% (1 million). In addition, in 2023 there were about 300,000 foreigners in the process of regularization, which could further raise this percentage.
The percentage of foreigners is even greater among the working population. 13% of workers in Portugal are foreigners, exceeding 40% in agriculture and fishing and 31% in the accommodation sector and the like.
In the context of a country with low birth and aging population, the increase in the immigrant population has been important to compensate for this reality. In 2023, there were 188 elderly people over 65 for every 100 young people under 15, in Portugal, while among the immigrant population there were 109 elderly for every hundred young people.
Despite the obvious benefits of immigration to the sustainability of the demographic pyramid and the economy, this growing migratory vacancy inevitably puts greater pressure on some public services and challenges in its integration in the country, which have been the target of public discussion.
Also read:
- The facts seen to the magnifying glass by André Pinção Lucas e Juliano Ventura – A partnership of the postcard with the Institute
