Number of immigrants in European countries
Source: Immigration in Europe: Map of the percentage and country of origin of immigrants – OneEurope
How are the numbers calculated? Spain has one of the highest percentages – certainly higher than the UK or France – but a sizeable proportion are retired expats from all around Europe. Switzerland has the highest percentage on the map, but many of the immigrants are highly qualified professionals required by the Swiss economy to function – the country doesn’t have a population replacement rate sufficient to sustain its economy. I reckon that it’s not absolute numbers or percentages that matter, but the cultural differences between the immigrants and the local population. Immigrants that integrate relatively easily, soon become part of everyday life, others grow more difficult with each generation.