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Highest concentration of immigrants - To begin, let's look at the countries with the highest immigrant populations as a percentage of the entire population.

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20. Ireland (18%) - Ireland accepts immigrants from places like Poland, the UK, and other nations. Additionally, the government generally has a positive stance towards foreign-born people.

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19. Gabon (19%) -

Gabon has a high percentage of immigrants due predominantly to its lucrative oil industry, which attracts large numbers of foreign workers seeking employment opportunities.

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18. Germany (19%) - Germany’s population is aging steadily alongside a declining birth rate, thereby leading lawmakers to accept immigrants as a solution to labor shortages.

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17. Austria (19%) - Austria has a mixed stance on immigration that greatly fluctuates with its political landscape.

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16. Sweden (20%) - Sweden has a very multicultural population. It was previously a safe haven to refugees, but lately there have been more restrictive policies around immigration.

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15. Kazakhstan (20%) - Kazakhstan’s geographic location, plus economic growth coupled with foreign investments, have made it a desirable country for immigrants.

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14. Canada (21%) -

Canada has impressive immigration policies and, in fact, approximately 300,000 new immigrants enter the country annually.

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13. Israel (23%) - Israel offers great options for individuals and families who are Jewish. Non-Jewish immigration, however, is very restricted.

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12. Lebanon (25%) - Lebanon hosts a large immigrant population primarily due to the influx of refugees from neighboring conflict zones, particularly Syria and Palestine.

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11. New Zealand (29%) - New Zealand is particularly attractive to skilled workers and has a high employment rate for immigrants, reiterating its welcoming stance to foreigners.

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10. Switzerland (29% ) - Immigrants in Switzerland are largely from EU/EFTA countries. They are drawn by Switzerland’s strong economy and skilled migrant policies.

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9. Australia (30%) - Australia has a multicultural ethos as well as skilled migrant policies. Its approach to asylum seekers, though, has faced international criticism, showing a complex attitude regarding immigration.

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8. Jordan (34%) - Jordan is surrounded by conflict-prone areas such as Palestine, Iraq, and so on. It can serve as an asylum or safe space to flee.

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7. Saudi Arabia (39%) - Saudi Arabia has millions of workers from South Asia and Africa, who heavily contribute to its economy. However, the country lacks a formal immigration system for non-Gulf Cooperation Council citizens to gain permanent residency.

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6. Singapore (43%) - Singapore’s government encourages immigration to fill workforce gaps and boost the economy, but also has historically enforced tight controls to maintain social harmony.

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5. Oman (46%) - Despite their significant presence, immigrants in Oman have faced challenges due to the fact that the sponsorship system, called “kafala,” ties migrant workers’ legal status to their employers and can lead to exploitation.

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4. Bahrain (55%) -

There are a lot of immigrants in Bahrain thanks to their oil boom and economic development.

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3. Kuwait (73%) - Kuwait is a wealthy nation that relies heavily on foreign workers. However, its own kafala sponsorship system makes it difficult for these workers.

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2. Qatar (77%) - Qatar reports that every three in four people are immigrants. Interestingly, approximately 75% of its population is male.

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1. United Arab Emirates (88%) - This small but mighty nation in the Middle East boasts an immigrant population of around 8.7 million people.

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Lowest concentration of immigrants - Now, let's explore the places that boast the lowest immigrant populations.

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10. Philippines (0.21%) - The Philippines has a low immigration rate due, in part, to limited economic opportunities.

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9. Sri Lanka (0.19%) - Sri Lanka has such a low immigration rate due to past civil conflict, economic challenges, and restrictive immigration policies.

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8. North Korea (0.19%) -

North Korea has very isolationist policies as well as strict government control and ultimately a lack of economic opportunity.

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7. Haiti (0.17%) -

Haiti's political instability and economic hardships, as well as the fact that it is prone to natural disasters, often deters immigrants, contributing to its minimal foreign-born population.

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6. Myanmar (0.14%) - Myanmar is considered an unattractive place for immigrants due to its political unrest, ethnic conflicts, and economic underdevelopment.

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5. Madagascar (0.13%) -

Madagascar's low immigration figures are a result of its economic struggles, geographic isolation, and lack of significant economic opportunities.

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4. Indonesia (0.13%) - Indonesia has a large population which suffers from economic disparity. Additionally, complex immigration laws often discourage foreign settlers.

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3. Vietnam (0.08%) - Vietnam’s strict immigration policies, relatively uniform population, and lacking economic conditions do not attract many foreign workers.

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2. China (0.07%) - China has approximately a million immigrants living there. This may seem like a lot, but less so when you consider their population is in the billions!

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1. Cuba (0.03%) -

Cuba has the absolute lowest percentage of foreign-born people due mainly to the fact that it’s very difficult for foreigners to obtain permanent residency.

Sources: (Minority Rights Group) (Visual Capitalist) (Yahoo)

See also: Poor vs. rich? The differences between expats and immigrants

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