Nearly 80% of South Africans believe that refugees who come to the country are actually economic migrants.

This is according to a survey conducted by Ipsos, a global polling company.

Ipsos polled attitudes to refugees in 29 countries and surveyed about 21 000 people. The survey was conducted in April and May and released earlier this month.

People were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement: “Most foreigners who want to get into my country as a refugee really aren't refugees. They just want to come here for economic reasons, or to take advantage of our welfare services.”

Seventy-eight percent of South Africans agreed with the statement, the highest of all the countries surveyed.

The proportion of South Africans who agreed with the statement has increased steadily over nearly a decade. In 2017, the proportion of South Africans who agreed with the statement was 64%.

The chart below shows the proportions of people in the various countries surveyed who agreed and disagreed with the statement.

The survey also asked people whether refugees make a positive contribution to their country.

Only 38% of South Africans agreed with that statement. The number of people who agreed had also decreased over time – in 2017 some 43% had said that refugees make a positive contribution to the country.

The chart below shows the proportions of people who agree or disagree that refugees are a positive influence.

The survey also asked people whether they thought refugees would integrate into their society.

People could agree or disagree with the statement: “Most refugees who come to my country will successfully integrate into their new society.”

Fifty-eight percent of South Africans agreed with the statement, an increase of more than ten points from the 47% of South Africans who held this view in 2017.

The chart below shows the proportions of people who agreed or disagreed that refugees would integrate into their society.

Taken together, the findings show that attitudes towards refugees are becoming more sceptical across much of the world. In many countries, majorities doubt the motives of those seeking refuge and remain unconvinced of their wider contribution, even where confidence in successful integration is relatively strong. The broader picture is of an increasingly sharp distinction between sympathy for genuine refugees and concern that refugee systems are being used for economic migration.