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EU citizens overestimate migrant population

EU citizens on average think that non-EU migrants represent 16,7% of the population, while in reality they only make up for 7,2% of it.

EU citizens overestimate migrant population

Share of non-EU migrants in population: perception of EU citizens vs reality 

  • Perceived rate of non-EU migration as a percentage of total population:16,7%
  • Actual rate of non-EU migrants in population: 7,2%

 

The difference between perceived and actual migration rates varies in the EU

% difference between the perceived share of non-EU migrants in the population and reality

Slovakia 1283%

Poland 809%

Bulgaria 769%

Romania 708%

Hungary 340%

Ireland 320%

Czech Republic 289%

Italy 251%

Portugal 232%

Cyprus 170%

Lithuania 168%

Spain 164%

UK 144%

Greece 138%

Slovenia 131%

Luxembourg 122%

Belgium 120%

France 103%

Malta 103%

Austria  93%

Finland 68%

Netherlands 48%

Denmark 38%

Latvia 34%

Germany 33%

Sweden 3%

Croatia 1%

Estonia -8%

 

Source: Eurobarometer No 469, 2018