{"id":28741,"date":"2019-03-14T11:48:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T16:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2019\/03\/14\/around-the-world-more-say-immigrants-are-a-strength-than-a-burden\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:11:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:11:26","slug":"around-the-world-more-say-immigrants-are-a-strength-than-a-burden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2019\/03\/14\/around-the-world-more-say-immigrants-are-a-strength-than-a-burden\/","title":{"rendered":"Around the World, More Say Immigrants Are a Strength Than a Burden"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Immigrants
Immigrants take the Canadian oath of citizenship during a ceremony in Toronto. (Carlos Osorio\/Toronto Star via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Majorities of publics in top migrant destination countries say immigrants strengthen their countries, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 18 countries that host half of the world\u2019s migrants.<\/p>\n\n

In 10 of the countries surveyed, majorities view immigrants as a strength rather than a burden. Among them are some of the largest migrant receiving countries<\/a> in the world: the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia (each hosting more than 7 million immigrants in 2017).<\/p>\n\n

By contrast, majorities in five countries surveyed \u2013 Hungary, Greece, South Africa, Russia and Israel \u2013 see immigrants as a burden to their countries. With the exception of Russia, these countries each have fewer than 5 million immigrants.<\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, public opinion on the impact of immigrants is divided in the Netherlands. In Italy and Poland, more say immigrants are a burden, while substantial shares in these countries do not lean one way or the other (31% and 20% respectively).<\/p>\n\n

Countries surveyed hold half of the world\u2019s migrants<\/h4>
\"Table<\/a><\/figure>

The 18 nations surveyed contain more than half (51%) of the world\u2019s migrant population, or some 127 million people, according to United Nations<\/a> and U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> estimates.<\/p>

Countries with some of the world\u2019s largest immigrant populations were surveyed, including more traditional destinations like the United States, Canada and Australia that have seen waves of immigrants arrive since at least the 19th century<\/a>. Also surveyed were more recent destination countries in the European Union such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece, all of which experienced immigration waves after World War II<\/a>.<\/p>

Japan and Israel were also surveyed. Japan is making efforts<\/a> to attract more migrants due to its aging population. Israel has been a destination for immigrants since it enacted its 1950 Law of Return<\/a> for Jewish people worldwide. Russia was surveyed since it has one of the world\u2019s largest foreign-born populations. At the same time, South Africa continues to be a top destination<\/a> country for many Africans.<\/p>

Also included in the survey were some newer destinations. Mexico, for example, has become an increasingly important destination and transit country for migrants fleeing violence from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Similarly, Hungary became an important transit country for migrants entering Europe during the refugee surge<\/a> that peaked in 2015. And although Poland for many years was a country of emigration, it has seen a recent wave of immigrants from Eastern Europe<\/a>.<\/p>

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are top immigrant destinations that were not surveyed. Pew Research Center does not have a history of conducting surveys in these countries.<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\"Table<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

In the U.S., the nation with the world\u2019s largest number of immigrants<\/a>, six-in-ten adults (59%) say immigrants make the country stronger because of their work and talents, while one-third (34%) say immigrants are a burden because they take jobs and social benefits. Views about immigrants have shifted in the U.S. since the 1990s, when most Americans<\/a> said immigrants were a burden to the country.<\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, in six European Union countries surveyed, public opinion about the impact of immigrants has changed since 2014. That was the last time the Center asked European publics this question. It was also before hundreds of thousands<\/a> of asylum seekers arrived on Europe\u2019s shores in 2015. In Greece, Germany and Italy, three countries that experienced high volumes<\/a> of arrivals, the share of adults saying immigrants make their countries stronger dropped significantly.<\/p>\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

By contrast, public opinion shifted in the opposite direction in France, the UK and Spain, countries surveyed that received fewer asylum seekers in 2015. In all three countries in 2018, majorities said immigrants made their countries stronger, up from about half who said the same in 2014.[1. The survey question was not asked in other countries in 2014.]<\/p>\n\n

While majorities in many of the 18 countries surveyed see immigrants as a strength, this opinion is not equally shared across all groups within countries. In most countries surveyed, those on the left of the ideological spectrum are more positive about immigration\u2019s impact on their country than those on the right. Similarly, in many countries surveyed, those with higher levels of education, younger adults, and those with higher incomes are more likely to say immigrants make their countries stronger because of their work and talents. (See Appendix B for group breakdowns<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n

Also, in all countries surveyed, those saying they want fewer immigrants<\/a> arriving in their countries are less<\/em> likely to view immigrants as making their countries stronger.<\/p>\n\n

Publics split on immigrants\u2019 willingness to adopt their societies\u2019 customs and way of life<\/h3>\n\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Attitudes are mixed on immigrants\u2019 willingness to adopt the destination country\u2019s customs or wanting to be distinct from its society. A median of 49% among countries surveyed say immigrants want to be distinct from the host country\u2019s society, while a median of 45% say immigrants want to adopt the host country\u2019s customs and way of life.<\/p>\n\n

In six destination countries \u2013 Japan, Mexico, South Africa, the U.S., France and Sweden \u2013 publics are more likely to say immigrants want to adopt the host country\u2019s customs and way of life than say immigrants want to be distinct.<\/p>\n\n

Japan is an outlier: A large majority of the public (75%) says immigrants want to adopt the country\u2019s customs and way of life. This country, whose aging population and low birth rate make immigration relevant<\/a> for its population growth, has recently changed<\/a> its policies to attract more foreigners. Views about immigrant integration in Japan could be linked to the low number of immigrants<\/a> the country hosts and that many immigrants in Japan are ethnically Japanese<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

By contrast, in eight destination countries \u2013 Hungary, Russia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Israel and Australia \u2013 more people say immigrants want to be distinct than say they are willing to adopt the host country\u2019s customs. Majorities hold this view in Hungary, Russia, Greece, Italy and Germany. In addition, sizable shares of people in most of these countries refused to choose one option or the other when asked this question.<\/p>\n\n

In many countries surveyed, younger adults, those with higher levels of education and those on the left of the political spectrum are generally more likely to say immigrants are adopting the country\u2019s customs and way of life (see Appendix B for group breakdowns<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n

Publics are less concerned about immigrant crime than the risk they pose for terrorism<\/h3>\n\n

In recent years, security concerns about immigration have become part of the public debate in many countries. Some of these concerns are about crime and immigration, while others are about terrorism and immigration.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/h4>\n\n

Immigrants and crime\n<\/p>\n\n

In several immigrant destination countries, large majorities say immigrants are not<\/em> more to blame for crime than other groups. This is the case in Canada, the U.S., France and the UK. Among other countries surveyed, only in South Africa, Sweden and Greece do majorities believe that immigrants are more to blame for crime than other groups.<\/p>\n\n

In the Netherlands, Japan, Israel and Germany, opinions are split on the impact of immigrants on crime. In four other countries where views were mixed, substantial shares refused to choose either of the two statements offered \u2013 Italy (26%), Hungary (17%), Poland (15%) and Russia (14%).<\/p>\n\n

In countries where majorities see immigrants as a strength, majorities also tend to say immigrants are not more to blame for crime. Notable exceptions are Germany and Sweden, where majorities say that immigrants strengthen their countries, but pluralities of adults say that immigrants carry more responsibility for crime.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/h4>\n\n

Immigrants and terrorism\n<\/p>\n\n

Publics across top migrant destination countries are split on whether or not immigrants increase the risk of terrorism in their countries.<\/p>\n\n

In six countries, majorities believe immigrants do not increase the risk of terrorism in the host country. These include all surveyed countries in North America (Mexico, Canada and the U.S.), as well as South Africa and Japan. Publics in France and Spain, two European countries that were not at the center of the 2015 refugee crisis, also hold this view.<\/p>\n\n

By contrast, majorities in seven European nations \u2013 Hungary, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands \u2013 believe immigrants increase the risk of terrorism in their countries.<\/p>\n\n

Views on the topic are divided in the UK, Australia and Israel. In Poland, half (52%) of the public says immigrants increase the risk of terrorism, while 28% say they do not<\/em> increase the risk of terrorism. But a substantial share in Poland (19%) also refused to respond one way or the other.<\/p>\n\n

CORRECTION (May 2, 2019): The original data for South Africa was incorrect in the chart, \u201cMajorities in many European migrant destinations think immigrants increase risk of terrorism.\u201d\u00a0These numbers have been switched to correctly show that 32% of South Africans say immigrants do not increase the risk of terrorism and 62% say immigrants increase the risk of terrorism.<\/i><\/p>\n\n

Majorities in many countries think immigrants in the country illegally should be deported<\/h3>\n\n
\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Majorities in most immigrant destination countries surveyed support the deportation of people who are in their countries illegally.<\/p>\n\n

In seven of the 10 EU countries surveyed, majorities support the deportation of immigrants living in their country illegally. In 2007, between 1.7 million and 3.2 million unauthorized, or irregular, migrants were estimated<\/a> to be living in the 10 EU countries surveyed. The number of asylum seeker applications has increased following the 2015 refugee surge. Since then, the number of rejected asylum applications<\/a> has increased substantially. Many of these rejected asylum seekers may continue to reside illegally in Europe.<\/p>\n\n

Similarly, majorities in Russia, South Africa, Australia and Japan also support deporting immigrants living in those countries illegally.<\/p>\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

In the U.S., public opinion is divided on the issue. About half (46%) of the public supports deporting immigrants residing there illegally, while the other half (47%) opposes their deportation.[2. When the Center asked about this issue<\/a> in the U.S. in a different way, a significantly lower share \u2013 20% \u2013 said \u201cundocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the country legally,\u201d while a large majority (79%) said \u201cthere should be a way for them to stay in the country legally, if certain requirements are met.\u201d] The Center estimates 10.7 million<\/a> unauthorized immigrants lived in the U.S. in 2016, which represented less than a quarter (23.7%) of the U.S. immigrant population. The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. has been falling since 2007 and is now at levels last seen in 2004.<\/p>\n\n

In Mexico, fewer than half (43%) say they support the deportation of immigrants living there illegally. In recent years, Mexico has experienced an increasing number of migrants<\/a> entering the country without authorization from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Mexico has historically been a migrant-sending country: About 12 million people born in Mexico live outside the country, nearly all in the U.S. Among those in the U.S., nearly half<\/a> are unauthorized immigrants.<\/p>\n\n

In most countries surveyed, those on the right of the ideological spectrum are more likely to support deportation. Similarly, older people in several countries surveyed are more likely to support the deportation of immigrants living illegally in their countries (See Appendix B<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n

Terminology<\/div>