Foreigners are taking over in these two districts in Budapest

Telex reported that during the 2022 census, all residents in Hungary completed a survey, unveiling valuable insights into Budapest’s demographic makeup. The survey included both foreigners who have resided in Hungary for over three months and individuals who live abroad but maintain a Hungarian address.

As per the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the Hungarian capital is now home to 98,319 foreign citizens, constituting approximately 5.8% of the city’s population. While one might assume that most of these individuals originate from the EU, given the ease of movement within the European Union, the reality differs significantly. Only around 30% of these foreign residents come from EU countries, with the remaining 70% originating from non-EU nations. Additionally, a recent survey indicated that three-quarters of Hungarians support the Christian culture.

It would be interesting to examine the composition of the foreign population, but the latest data remains unavailable. In 2011, 3.27% (56,632 people) of Budapest‘s population hailed from other countries. During that period, a substantial proportion of these residents came from neighbouring nations like Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Serbia. There were also considerable numbers from Germany and Russia, with 15,741 people arriving from various Asian countries, predominantly China and Vietnam. An additional 2,595 arrived from the States, while 1,393 came from Africa.

The prevalence of foreign residents diminishes notably in other regions of the country, with every second foreigner in Hungary residing in the capital, while the remainder is distributed throughout the countryside. The most favoured location within Budapest is Terézváros (District VI.), where approximately 24.8% of the population originates from foreign countries. This area has experienced a substantial upward trend in its foreign population. In 2001, this percentage stood at a mere 3.1%, but by 2011, it had risen to 8.4%. Should this trend continue, there may eventually be more foreign residents than Hungarian citizens in Terézváros. The district’s mayor underscores the importance of English-language communication to keep residents informed about critical news.

District V. claims the second spot in terms of Budapest neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of foreign residents. The percentage of foreigners in this district was 3.6% in 2001, and it increased to 7.9% over the following decade. Presently, it stands at 23.5%, reflecting a remarkable growth. Conversely, the District XXI. (Csepel) does not attract a substantial number of foreign citizens, with their proportion growing only from 1.2% to 1.7% over the past two decades. As previously reported, the Mayor of Budapest emphasised that “Cities should dismantle barriers and construct bridges to preserve their values.”