Surprising number of foreigners now live in Hungary: Most Asian nationals ever recorded

Hungary is seeing a steady rise in foreign residents, with recent statistics revealing that more than 255,000 foreigners currently live in the country. Notably, nearly 100,000 of them are of Asian origin: a dramatic increase over the last decade.

Foreigners make up nearly 3% of Hungary’s population

According to Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH), as of 1 January 2025, a total of 255,443 foreign citizens reside in the country, representing 2.7% of the population. The number has been steadily growing over the past ten years, with the only notable decline recorded during the COVID-hit year of 2021.

According to Növekedés.hu, one of the most striking trends is the growing proportion of Asian nationals. In 2013, only 23% of foreign residents came from Asia, but that share has now jumped to 39%, amounting to nearly 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the proportion of foreigners from neighbouring countries dropped from 36% in 2015 to just 25% this year.

KSH data also shows that 5% of Hungary’s foreign population is from Africa and 3% from the Americas. European citizens, while still the majority, now represent only 53% of all foreign nationals, down from 69% a decade ago.

Why are more Asians moving to Hungary?

Experts attribute this trend to several factors. Péter Klemensits, senior research fellow at the Eurasia Centre, told Növekedés.hu that the integration of Filipinos is often smoother due to cultural and religious similarities: most come from a predominantly Roman Catholic background.

For Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants, long-established communities in Hungary make relocation and adaptation easier. Many of them already have contacts or extended family living in the country, which helps newcomers adjust to their new environment.