Lisbon's Foreign Population Soars: 2 in 5 Residents Are Now Immigrants

Lisbon Leads Immigration in Portugal

Lisbon is at the forefront of immigration trends in Portugal, with a total population of 575,000 residents. At the end of last year, the city recorded 202,000 foreign citizens, representing a significant 35% of its inhabitants.

National Immigration Figures

Across the entire national territory, there were 1,543,697 immigrants living in Portugal. This number has seen a dramatic increase, nearly quadrupling from the 421,802 foreign citizens registered at the end of 2017, according to data released by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA).

Rapid Growth in Immigration

In just one year, immigration grew by 18%, adding 238,864 people to the foreign population. This surge highlights the accelerating pace of migration into the country.

Demographic Breakdown of Immigrants

• Gender Distribution: The majority of immigrants are men, accounting for 56.1% of the foreign population.
• Age Group: Almost half of the immigrants, 42%, are between 18 and 34 years old, indicating a young and potentially economically active demographic.
• Nationality: The largest community is Brazilian, making up nearly one in three immigrants (31.4%).

Challenges with Irregular Immigration

Despite these official figures, the actual scale of immigration is believed to be higher. João Ribeiro, the deputy national director of the PSP and head of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF), stated, "I would say we have several tens of thousands of people who are in an irregular situation."

He suggested that many of these cases might be straightforward, possibly due to inexperience, inaction, or failure to submit necessary documents. However, he also acknowledged more severe issues, including signs that Portugal is a destination for human trafficking for labor exploitation, sexual exploitation, and even cases involving the importation of children for adoption.