Socio-demographic characteristics

The empirical data related to the three countries of Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) denote a predominantly male population (Tab. A1). This percentage reflects a trend that can be equally observed both in migrants who decided individually to return to their origin country and in migrants who were forced to return.

However, the two abovementioned categories differ from one another when taking into consideration the age groups of the sample (Tab. A2). Whereas over half (65%) of the returnees who decided individually to return are over 40 and over 65 (18%), only 12% of the migrants who were forced to return belong to this age group. The latter migrants actually belong to a relatively young – under 40 – population (65%).

Moreover, it must be noted that the two categories strongly differ from one another when taking the civil status into consideration. Whereas over two thirds of the interviewees were single before leaving their country (Tab. A3), only 21% of them were still single when they returned to their homeland, at the time of the survey. This same rate rises to 42% for returnees who were forced to return (Tab. A4).

We also analysed the evolution of the household, as well as the changes taking place throughout the following three stages that structure the questionnaire:

1. Before emigrating (Tab.A5), most interviewees (about 73%) were living with their parents, brothers, sisters and other family members;
2. In the host country (Tab. A6), their family situation changed. 26% of the migrants lived with their spouse; 16% lived alone and 30% lived with other family members. This last situation was particularly important for those who were forced to return to their homeland. In fact, over 42% of them were living abroad with some family members;
3. At the time of the survey, after returning to their origin country (Tab. A7), almost 60% of the returnees replied that they were living with their spouse and children, while 26% were living with their parents, brothers and sisters. Once again, the migrants who were forced to return differ from the others, as over half of them were living with their parents, brothers and sisters, in their homeland, at the time of the survey.

Finally, as far as housing is concerned, it should be noted that in the main country of immigration (MCI, i.e. the last immigration country where the respondent lived before returning home), over 70% of the returnees used to live in flats (Tab. A8 and Tab. A9), 90% of which were city flats (Tab. A10).

The urban settlement is still prevailing in the origin country at the time of the return (Tab. A10).