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Portugal | Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Portugal accepting of differences? | Expat Exchange
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Lisbon, Portugal

Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Portugal accepting of differences?

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When we asked people about diversity in Portugal and whether locals are accepting of differences, they said...

"Lisbon is very diverse. While the vast majority of the population are Iberian (Portuguese & Spanish), there are immigrants from all over the globe (former Portuguese colonies in Africa, Brasil) Ukrainians make up the largest immigrant group (after Brasilians). While certain groups tend to stick to themselves, people appear accepting of everyone here," said another expat in Lisbon, Portugal.

"Madeira and Funchal in particular are getting more diverse with this current influx of immigrants. While local people are friendly, you may experience some negativity over the perception that foreigners are causing a rising cost of living; especially housing costs. Some Madeirans resent immigrants for using precious medical resources and other government resources. One sore spot is immigrants who don’t learn Portuguese. So if you are new, make an effort to learn Portuguese as soon as possible. (Yes it is a difficult language and I am struggling with it)," wrote a member who made the move to Funchal, Portugal.

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Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Portugal accepting of differences?

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

Lisbon, Portugal
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