According to a survey by Sedes, of the 300 emigrants and Portuguese descendants covered by the survey, only 18% said they did not intend to return to live in their country of origin, while 11.6% said they wanted to return in the short term and 71% responded that they wanted to return to live in Portugal in the medium or long term, or only after retirement (43% and 28%, respectively).

Low salaries

The low Portuguese salaries are for 62% of respondents the reason they have not yet returned to their country.

Meanwhile, 19% say it is due to lack of social recognition of their skills and functions, when compared to what is given to them in their host country and 30% indicate as a reason for not having returned to the levels of cronyism and corruption in Portugal.

For 27% of respondents, the lack of professional opportunity is the obstacle to return, while for 22% it is the poor health system.

Administrative services in Portugal are also identified as an obstacle by 16% of respondents and the political system in Portugal by 11%, as well as the Portuguese legal system, which is mentioned by another 11%.

Portuguese products

As for the question about how likely they are to promote Portuguese products among their networks of contacts, 65% responded that they had already done so and a total of 31% said it was “likely” or “very likely” to be able to.

This survey, which is part of the activities carried out by the Observatório das Comunidades Portuguesas, covered 300 Portuguese residents abroad, 60% aged between 40 and 65 years and 26% between 26 and 40 years.

The survey coordinator, Christine de Oliveira, told Lusa agency in May that it would allow “bringing more scientific and less empirical knowledge to questions that have been posed for several years”.

The objective of the study, Christine Oliveira said at the time, was “to bring the most comprehensive scientific basis possible, preferably with valid answers from all continents”.