11 Most Multicultural Countries in The World

Naturally, the most multicultural countries in the world are those countries with the highest percentage of foreign-born population.

The latest refugee crisis caused by the Syrian Civil War has seen more than 4.8 million people fled their country, seeking shelter from the war. The refugees have overwhelmed Turkey and Europe, causing one of the greatest humanitarian crisis in the last few decades. At the same time, a large number of Afghani and Iraqi migrants are also on the move, trying to secure asylums in EU countries. The public reaction so far has been mostly negative, citing various concerns ranging from terrorist infiltrating countries masked as refugees to the ability of host countries to accommodate such large numbers of emigrants. Considering the numbers that are flooding into Europe alone, those concerns do seem valid. In 2015 alone, there were more than 1.3 million asylum claims in EU countries, a majority of them coming from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

All this can seriously test European commitment to human rights and multiculturalism and endanger open borders agreements member countries share. A seemingly unending stream of migrants has already caused one country to exit the union. The main argument that Brexit proponents used in their campaign was fear of migrants, which they used relentlessly in order to mobilize their voters. Evidently, the tactic worked and Brexit vote has passed.

French presidential candidate and the leader of far-right National Front Marine Le Pen is using similar techniques in her campaign. Her xenophobic rhetoric has pushed her into the second round of the election, facing a centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron. At the moment, polls suggest that she doesn’t stand a chance of winning, with just 36% of voters supporting her, opposed to 67% supporting Macron. Still, the mere fact that she managed to pass into the second round is eerily reminiscent of last year’s US elections, where Hillary Clinton was seen as a sure pick for the 45th President of the United States. Yet, the exact same rhetoric that is being used by Le Pen secured a win for Donald Trump.

Among all the clashes over the future of the Western world, many seem to forget the simple fact that many of the countries fighting tooth and nail to prevent migrants from coming over owe a lot to foreigners that choose to build a life for themselves and their families away from their respective home countries. It does appear cynical that the United States, a nation of immigrants, is barring the latest generation of refugees from entering the country. America isn’t alone in this. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are also in the same boat, being countries that are founded by white settlers, much to the detriment of the native population. According to the OECD data, many of the most multicultural countries in the world are also among the Richest Countries in the World by GDP Per Capita. Migrants, refugees included, are responsible for a significant part of that success. Their capitals are some of the Most Ethnically Diverse Cities in the World, a fact that, among other things, makes them huge tourists attractions, further increasing their wealth. All this begs the question, at what point do we draw a line and say no more and do we have a moral right of even thinking about drawing it? Now, let’s see the list of most multicultural countries in the world.

11. Belgium

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 15.5

Surprisingly enough, Belgium is the only former colonial power that is present on our list. In 2007, the percentage of foreign-born residents in the country was 12.9%, with some 1.38 million people living in Belgium, but being born in a different country. The split between EU and non-EU countries was fairly even, with 685,000 and 695,000 in favor of European Union member states. Just six years later, that percentage rose to 15.5%, with a .43% annual growth.

10. Sweden

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 16.0

Sweden has often been featured in news in the last few years regarding their relations towards migrants. In many cases, the stories that came from the North featured clashes between the native population and their new neighbors, many of whom found it hard to accustom to the Swedish tolerant ways. Unlike many other countries on this list, Sweden had a noble idea to take in those who are in need and not those who could potentially benefit their society the most. The majority of refugees from Syrian Civil War and an earlier crisis in Somalia and elsewhere had minimal or no education at all. While the principle is to be applauded, it is highly questionable whether it is sustainable in the long run.

9. Slovenia

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 16.1

Slovenia has been a popular target for refugees during the Yugoslavian Civil War in the 1990s, which is a contributing factor to its position on this list of most multicultural countries in the world. Another one is the fact that many of its foreign-born residents have become ones overnight, following the breakup of Yugoslavia, as many Slovenians have been born in other Yugoslav republics, like Croatia and Serbia. This doesn’t make them migrants, but for the purpose of the OECD study, they are born in foreign countries.

8. Ireland

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 16.4

For a long time, Ireland’s most successful export were people. Either running away from hunger or political oppression, Irish have been routinely jumping across the pond in search for a better life. They represent one of the largest ethnicities in the United States. But today, the situation has changed and now people from other countries are coming to Ireland. The economic boom Ireland has experienced in the recent decades has left its economy starving for skilled workers, a deficit small Irish population couldn’t easily overcome, so they turned to migrants to fill the gaps.

7. Austria

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 16.7

Similar to Ireland, a need for workers has spurred immigration to Austria in the second half of the 20th century. According to some sources, there are some 350,000 ethnic Turks living in the country, although many of them are born in Austria and aren’t included in our statistics. Austria has also been one of the favorite destination for people fleeing the Balkan madness in the 1990s.

6. Canada

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 20.0

With one-fifth of the population being born abroad, Canada takes 6th place on our list of 11 most multicultural countries in the world. The majority of immigrants comes from three Asian countries, China, the Philippines, and India. At this rate, visible minorities could constitute up to 30% of the population by 2031 and not everybody is happy with that. About 40% of those asked in a poll in 2010 wanted to see some changes in Canada’s immigration policies.

5. New Zealand

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 22.4

Back in the 1960s, the demographic picture of New Zealand was looked very different from what it is today, with some 92% of the population being of European origin. In 2013, that percent fell down to 74. At the same time Maori population more than doubled, from 7% in 1961 to 14.9% in 2013. Asians and Pacific people constitute other large demographic groups.

4. Israel

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 22.6

Israel is a bit of an oddball on this list of most multicultural countries in the world. A large percentage of its population has been born abroad and by that criteria, it deserves its spot on the list. The slight catch is that a vast majority of the foreign-born population in Israel is of either Jewish or Arab descent, which are two dominant cultures in the countries. We decided to enlist it on the presumption that, despite their ethnicity, those migrants also brought with them some of the cultural traits of their countries of birth, thus fulfilling our criteria of multiculturalism.

3. Australia

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 27.7

Despite its humble start as a penal colony, Australia is today considered one of the most desirable countries for a living. Many migrants from all over the world have found a new life in a land down under, especially from Europe and lately Asia.

2. Switzerland

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 28.3

Ever since it proclaimed its neutrality in 1815, Switzerland, the number two on our list of most multicultural countries in the world, has become a gathering place for wealthy refugees from wars that raged across Europe in the 19th and 20th century. The country was already multicultural to begin with, with Germans, French, and Italians living together on a small patch of land in the Alps, and newcomers quickly adapted to the air of tolerance prevailing in Swiss politics, only adding their own cultural background to the unique mix which makes Switzerland what it is today.

1. Luxembourg

Percentage of foreign-born residents: 43.7

Number one on our list of the 11 most multicultural countries in the world is Luxemburg. Although a very small country, with less a population of less than 600,000, the percentage of foreign-born residents is staggering. Its small population is a contributing factor to another first place Luxemburg holds, and that is among the richest countries in the world by GDP per capita, although a fact that is considered one of the worst tax havens in the European Union helps a lot in that regard.