23-07-2019 - In 2018, the increase in the foreign population residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (12.8%) was highly influenced by the return of emigrants in Venezuela

In 2018

Increase in the foreign population residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (12.8%) was highly influenced by the return of emigrants in Venezuela

According with the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), on the 31^st of December of 2018, the foreign population with resident status in the Autonomous Region of Madeira reached 7,578 persons, representing an increase of 12.8% from 2017, distributed between residence permits (7,535) and long-stay visas (43).

The Venezuelan (21.0%), British (13.2%), Brazilian (10.9%), and German (6.6%) nationalities remain the largest foreign communities residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

In 2018, there was a strong growth (63.9%) in the number of foreigners residing in the Region holding a residence permit with Venezuelan nationality, presenting an increase from 970 in 2017 to 1,590 in 2018, and doubling its value compared to 2016 (703). The return of emigrants in Venezuela was in fact the main reason behind the growth of foreign population between 2017 and 2018, contributing with 73% of the overall increase.

In terms of geographical distribution, it is in Funchal that the foreign population is still mainly concentrated (55.7% of the total of the Region), followed by Santa Cruz (13.6%), Calheta (8.3%) and Porto Santo (3.9%). By gender, the share of women (51.7%) is slightly higher than the proportion of men (48.3%).