Portuguese Emigration to Angola (2000–2015): Strengthening a Specific Postcolonial Relationship in a New Global Framework?

Abstract

It is impossible to think about current Portuguese emigration without thinking of Angola which, both as an independent country and a former colony, has played an important role in the history of migration from Portugal. After 2004-2005, when emigration to the country began to increase again, Angola became one of Portuguese emigrants' main destinations. Despite the scarcity of statistical data, we know that Angola retained this status until 2013, after which it lost significance in absolute P. Candeias

“Skilled white bodies”: Portuguese workers in Angola as a case of North–South migration

“…The constellation of primarily negative economic push factors from the Portuguese side was complemented by pull factors from the fast‐growing Angolan economy. Two factors emerge as paramount (Candeias et al, ). The first was the end of the long‐running civil war in 2002 .…”

“…Angola is the fifth largest oil producer in the world and the second in Africa after Nigeria. Candeias et al (, pp. 211–212) noted that oil production accounted for 91%–98% of Angola's exports by value during the years 2008–2012, and for around 80% of the country's total fiscal revenue.…”

“…Finally, there is little information from the Angolan authorities on the number of Portuguese migrants in the country. Other researchers (Åkesson, ; Åkesson & Orjuela, ; Candeias et al, ) attribute this deficiency to the secret and corrupt nature of the Angolan state apparatus inherited from decades of civil war.…”

“…Then highly educated young people started arriving after 2008 and the crisis years in Portugal, many of them working in finance and telecommunications. Questionnaire data collected by Candeias et al () in 2014–2015 give a more quantitative appreciation of the Portuguese migrants in Angola: 65% were men, 66% aged 35+, 69% tertiary educated, and 77% were first‐time emigrants ( n = 579; a mixture of online and hard‐copy responses). However, this statistical profile might well reflect lower response rates from less‐educated migrants.…”

“… According to data from the Angolan Ministry of Interior quoted by Candeias et al (, p. 217), foreigners with residence or work permits numbered 339,035 in 2011. Chinese contributed the largest share (47.3%), followed by Portuguese (13.2%) and Brazilians (10.7%).…”