Fewer Portuguese emigrated in 2016: report

LISBON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 100,000 Portuguese emigrated in 2016, 10,000 less than the number in the previous year, according to a latest report.

"In 2016, this downward trend (of emigration) has even slightly accelerated, leaving the number of emigrants stood around 100,000 individuals," said the Emigration Report for last year, prepared by the Observatory of Emigration.

According to the report, Britain continues to be the country where most Portuguese emigrate, with 30,500 in 2016. The main destinations for the emigration are France, Switzerland and Germany.

Outside of Europe, the main destination countries for Portuguese emigration are Angola and Mozambique in Africa.

The report revealed that emigration in Portugal reached its peak of this century in 2013 when the country was hardest hit by a severe economy crisis in four decades with about 120,000 emigrants. The downward trajectory has started since then in line with the slow economic recovery in the country.

The reported also indicated that it is unlikely, in the short term, Portugal will see "the recovery of the lower levels of emigration before the economic crisis".

Portugal with a total population of some 11 million continues to be, in cumulative terms, the European Union (EU) country with more emigrants in proportion to the resident population, the report said. Enditem