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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 33 Fotos
Highest concentration of immigrants - To begin, let's look at the countries with the highest immigrant populations as a percentage of the entire population.
© Shutterstock
1 / 33 Fotos
20. Ireland (18%) - Ireland accepts immigrants from places like Poland, the UK, and other nations. Additionally, the government generally has a positive stance towards foreign-born people.
© Shutterstock
2 / 33 Fotos
19. Gabon (19%)
- Gabon has a high percentage of immigrants due predominantly to its lucrative oil industry, which attracts large numbers of foreign workers seeking employment opportunities.
© Shutterstock
3 / 33 Fotos
18. Germany (19%) - Germany’s population is aging steadily alongside a declining birth rate, thereby leading lawmakers to accept immigrants as a solution to labor shortages.
© Shutterstock
4 / 33 Fotos
17. Austria (19%) - Austria has a mixed stance on immigration that greatly fluctuates with its political landscape.
© Shutterstock
5 / 33 Fotos
16. Sweden (20%) - Sweden has a very multicultural population. It was previously a safe haven to refugees, but lately there have been more restrictive policies around immigration.
© Shutterstock
6 / 33 Fotos
15. Kazakhstan (20%) - Kazakhstan’s geographic location, plus economic growth coupled with foreign investments, have made it a desirable country for immigrants.
© Shutterstock
7 / 33 Fotos
14. Canada (21%)
- Canada has impressive immigration policies and, in fact, approximately 300,000 new immigrants enter the country annually.
© Shutterstock
8 / 33 Fotos
13. Israel (23%) - Israel offers great options for individuals and families who are Jewish. Non-Jewish immigration, however, is very restricted.
© Shutterstock
9 / 33 Fotos
12. Lebanon (25%) - Lebanon hosts a large immigrant population primarily due to the influx of refugees from neighboring conflict zones, particularly Syria and Palestine.
© Shutterstock
10 / 33 Fotos
11. New Zealand (29%) - New Zealand is particularly attractive to skilled workers and has a high employment rate for immigrants, reiterating its welcoming stance to foreigners.
© Shutterstock
11 / 33 Fotos
10. Switzerland (29% ) - Immigrants in Switzerland are largely from EU/EFTA countries. They are drawn by Switzerland’s strong economy and skilled migrant policies.
© Shutterstock
12 / 33 Fotos
9. Australia (30%) - Australia has a multicultural ethos as well as skilled migrant policies. Its approach to asylum seekers, though, has faced international criticism, showing a complex attitude regarding immigration.
© Shutterstock
13 / 33 Fotos
8. Jordan (34%) - Jordan is surrounded by conflict-prone areas such as Palestine, Iraq, and so on. It can serve as an asylum or safe space to flee.
© Shutterstock
14 / 33 Fotos
7. Saudi Arabia (39%) - Saudi Arabia has millions of workers from South Asia and Africa, who heavily contribute to its economy. However, the country lacks a formal immigration system for non-Gulf Cooperation Council citizens to gain permanent residency.
© Shutterstock
15 / 33 Fotos
6. Singapore (43%) - Singapore’s government encourages immigration to fill workforce gaps and boost the economy, but also has historically enforced tight controls to maintain social harmony.
© Shutterstock
16 / 33 Fotos
5. Oman (46%) - Despite their significant presence, immigrants in Oman have faced challenges due to the fact that the sponsorship system, called “kafala,” ties migrant workers’ legal status to their employers and can lead to exploitation.
© Shutterstock
17 / 33 Fotos
4. Bahrain (55%)
- There are a lot of immigrants in Bahrain thanks to their oil boom and economic development.
© Shutterstock
18 / 33 Fotos
3. Kuwait (73%) - Kuwait is a wealthy nation that relies heavily on foreign workers. However, its own kafala sponsorship system makes it difficult for these workers.
© Shutterstock
19 / 33 Fotos
2. Qatar (77%) - Qatar reports that every three in four people are immigrants. Interestingly, approximately 75% of its population is male.
© Shutterstock
20 / 33 Fotos
1. United Arab Emirates (88%) - This small but mighty nation in the Middle East boasts an immigrant population of around 8.7 million people.
© Shutterstock
21 / 33 Fotos
Lowest concentration of immigrants - Now, let's explore the places that boast the lowest immigrant populations.
© Shutterstock
22 / 33 Fotos
10. Philippines (0.21%) - The Philippines has a low immigration rate due, in part, to limited economic opportunities.
© Shutterstock
23 / 33 Fotos
9. Sri Lanka (0.19%) - Sri Lanka has such a low immigration rate due to past civil conflict, economic challenges, and restrictive immigration policies.
© Shutterstock
24 / 33 Fotos
8. North Korea (0.19%)
- North Korea has very isolationist policies as well as strict government control and ultimately a lack of economic opportunity.
© Shutterstock
25 / 33 Fotos
7. Haiti (0.17%)
- Haiti's political instability and economic hardships, as well as the fact that it is prone to natural disasters, often deters immigrants, contributing to its minimal foreign-born population.
© Shutterstock
26 / 33 Fotos
6. Myanmar (0.14%) - Myanmar is considered an unattractive place for immigrants due to its political unrest, ethnic conflicts, and economic underdevelopment.
© Shutterstock
27 / 33 Fotos
5. Madagascar (0.13%)
- Madagascar's low immigration figures are a result of its economic struggles, geographic isolation, and lack of significant economic opportunities.
© Shutterstock
28 / 33 Fotos
4. Indonesia (0.13%) - Indonesia has a large population which suffers from economic disparity. Additionally, complex immigration laws often discourage foreign settlers.
© Shutterstock
29 / 33 Fotos
3. Vietnam (0.08%) - Vietnam’s strict immigration policies, relatively uniform population, and lacking economic conditions do not attract many foreign workers.
© Shutterstock
30 / 33 Fotos
2. China (0.07%) - China has approximately a million immigrants living there. This may seem like a lot, but less so when you consider their population is in the billions!
© Shutterstock
31 / 33 Fotos
1. Cuba (0.03%)
- Cuba has the absolute lowest percentage of foreign-born people due mainly to the fact that it’s very difficult for foreigners to obtain permanent residency. Sources: (Minority Rights Group) (Visual Capitalist) (Yahoo) See also: What are the differences between expats and immigrants?
© Shutterstock
32 / 33 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 33 Fotos
Highest concentration of immigrants - To begin, let's look at the countries with the highest immigrant populations as a percentage of the entire population.
© Shutterstock
1 / 33 Fotos
20. Ireland (18%) - Ireland accepts immigrants from places like Poland, the UK, and other nations. Additionally, the government generally has a positive stance towards foreign-born people.
© Shutterstock
2 / 33 Fotos
19. Gabon (19%)
- Gabon has a high percentage of immigrants due predominantly to its lucrative oil industry, which attracts large numbers of foreign workers seeking employment opportunities.
© Shutterstock
3 / 33 Fotos
18. Germany (19%) - Germany’s population is aging steadily alongside a declining birth rate, thereby leading lawmakers to accept immigrants as a solution to labor shortages.
© Shutterstock
4 / 33 Fotos
17. Austria (19%) - Austria has a mixed stance on immigration that greatly fluctuates with its political landscape.
© Shutterstock
5 / 33 Fotos
16. Sweden (20%) - Sweden has a very multicultural population. It was previously a safe haven to refugees, but lately there have been more restrictive policies around immigration.
© Shutterstock
6 / 33 Fotos
15. Kazakhstan (20%) - Kazakhstan’s geographic location, plus economic growth coupled with foreign investments, have made it a desirable country for immigrants.
© Shutterstock
7 / 33 Fotos
14. Canada (21%)
- Canada has impressive immigration policies and, in fact, approximately 300,000 new immigrants enter the country annually.
© Shutterstock
8 / 33 Fotos
13. Israel (23%) - Israel offers great options for individuals and families who are Jewish. Non-Jewish immigration, however, is very restricted.
© Shutterstock
9 / 33 Fotos
12. Lebanon (25%) - Lebanon hosts a large immigrant population primarily due to the influx of refugees from neighboring conflict zones, particularly Syria and Palestine.
© Shutterstock
10 / 33 Fotos
11. New Zealand (29%) - New Zealand is particularly attractive to skilled workers and has a high employment rate for immigrants, reiterating its welcoming stance to foreigners.
© Shutterstock
11 / 33 Fotos
10. Switzerland (29% ) - Immigrants in Switzerland are largely from EU/EFTA countries. They are drawn by Switzerland’s strong economy and skilled migrant policies.
© Shutterstock
12 / 33 Fotos
9. Australia (30%) - Australia has a multicultural ethos as well as skilled migrant policies. Its approach to asylum seekers, though, has faced international criticism, showing a complex attitude regarding immigration.
© Shutterstock
13 / 33 Fotos
8. Jordan (34%) - Jordan is surrounded by conflict-prone areas such as Palestine, Iraq, and so on. It can serve as an asylum or safe space to flee.
© Shutterstock
14 / 33 Fotos
7. Saudi Arabia (39%) - Saudi Arabia has millions of workers from South Asia and Africa, who heavily contribute to its economy. However, the country lacks a formal immigration system for non-Gulf Cooperation Council citizens to gain permanent residency.
© Shutterstock
15 / 33 Fotos
6. Singapore (43%) - Singapore’s government encourages immigration to fill workforce gaps and boost the economy, but also has historically enforced tight controls to maintain social harmony.
© Shutterstock
16 / 33 Fotos
5. Oman (46%) - Despite their significant presence, immigrants in Oman have faced challenges due to the fact that the sponsorship system, called “kafala,” ties migrant workers’ legal status to their employers and can lead to exploitation.
© Shutterstock
17 / 33 Fotos
4. Bahrain (55%)
- There are a lot of immigrants in Bahrain thanks to their oil boom and economic development.
© Shutterstock
18 / 33 Fotos
3. Kuwait (73%) - Kuwait is a wealthy nation that relies heavily on foreign workers. However, its own kafala sponsorship system makes it difficult for these workers.
© Shutterstock
19 / 33 Fotos
2. Qatar (77%) - Qatar reports that every three in four people are immigrants. Interestingly, approximately 75% of its population is male.
© Shutterstock
20 / 33 Fotos
1. United Arab Emirates (88%) - This small but mighty nation in the Middle East boasts an immigrant population of around 8.7 million people.
© Shutterstock
21 / 33 Fotos
Lowest concentration of immigrants - Now, let's explore the places that boast the lowest immigrant populations.
© Shutterstock
22 / 33 Fotos
10. Philippines (0.21%) - The Philippines has a low immigration rate due, in part, to limited economic opportunities.
© Shutterstock
23 / 33 Fotos
9. Sri Lanka (0.19%) - Sri Lanka has such a low immigration rate due to past civil conflict, economic challenges, and restrictive immigration policies.
© Shutterstock
24 / 33 Fotos
8. North Korea (0.19%)
- North Korea has very isolationist policies as well as strict government control and ultimately a lack of economic opportunity.
© Shutterstock
25 / 33 Fotos
7. Haiti (0.17%)
- Haiti's political instability and economic hardships, as well as the fact that it is prone to natural disasters, often deters immigrants, contributing to its minimal foreign-born population.
© Shutterstock
26 / 33 Fotos
6. Myanmar (0.14%) - Myanmar is considered an unattractive place for immigrants due to its political unrest, ethnic conflicts, and economic underdevelopment.
© Shutterstock
27 / 33 Fotos
5. Madagascar (0.13%)
- Madagascar's low immigration figures are a result of its economic struggles, geographic isolation, and lack of significant economic opportunities.
© Shutterstock
28 / 33 Fotos
4. Indonesia (0.13%) - Indonesia has a large population which suffers from economic disparity. Additionally, complex immigration laws often discourage foreign settlers.
© Shutterstock
29 / 33 Fotos
3. Vietnam (0.08%) - Vietnam’s strict immigration policies, relatively uniform population, and lacking economic conditions do not attract many foreign workers.
© Shutterstock
30 / 33 Fotos
2. China (0.07%) - China has approximately a million immigrants living there. This may seem like a lot, but less so when you consider their population is in the billions!
© Shutterstock
31 / 33 Fotos
1. Cuba (0.03%)
- Cuba has the absolute lowest percentage of foreign-born people due mainly to the fact that it’s very difficult for foreigners to obtain permanent residency. Sources: (Minority Rights Group) (Visual Capitalist) (Yahoo) See also: What are the differences between expats and immigrants?
© Shutterstock
32 / 33 Fotos
Countries with the highest (and lowest) concentration of immigrants
The data and information you need to know
© Shutterstock
Global migration and immigration are felt and experienced everywhere and by each of us. There are countries out there that boast high immigrant populations, while others have next to nothing. By understanding the patterns of migration, we can better understand the lives of immigrants and nonimmigrants alike. Whether it's the lure of a promising job market, or discouraging and restrictive immigration policies, the things that invite (or deter) immigrants are important to consider. This gallery will not only list the nations with the highest and lowest immigration populations, but also explain the 'why' behind both realities. Click through to discover more.
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