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Hungarian emigration hits record highs: Tens of thousands leave the country annually
Hungary is facing a historic wave of emigration, with over 40,000 Hungarian citizens leaving the country annually, according to industry experts. The trend shows no sign of slowing, with estimates for 2025 indicating similar numbers.
Hungarian emigration at record high
József Nógrádi, Strategic Director at Trenkwalder Hungary, a leading HR and workforce services company, told Népszava that the figures are unprecedented.
“Based on feedback, incoming information, economic performance, and societal trends, we expect that more than 40,000 Hungarians left the country in 2025,” he said.
Official government statistics will only be available later in the year, but even preliminary estimates surpass previous high points. The 2015–2016 emigration wave, often cited as the strongest in recent history, saw fewer than 39,000 citizens leave annually. By comparison, 2024 saw 41,300 people emigrate, while returnees also increased, reaching nearly 29,000 – up from 23,860 in 2023. Despite this, the overall effect continues to represent a loss for Hungary’s workforce.
Discrepancy between domestic and international data
According to WMN, domestic statistics may underestimate the scale of the phenomenon. Mirror statistics (data collected by destination countries) suggest that around 50,000 Hungarians may have emigrated in 2024. Eurostat’s figures similarly report higher numbers than Hungarian national statistics.
Young people drive the trend
The trend is particularly pronounced among young adults. Central Statistics Office (KSH) data show that 20–24-year-olds accounted for only 8% of emigrants in 2008, rising steadily to over 16% by 2023. Sociologist and political scientist Andrea Szabó, from the Eötvös Loránd University Social Science Research Centre, told Qubit that Hungarian university students increasingly plan to move abroad: in 2015–2016, 33–37% of students considered emigration, while by 2024 this had risen to 45%.
Beyond wages: Seeking opportunities and stability
Experts emphasise that higher salaries abroad are not the sole reason for emigration. For many young Hungarians, the key factors are access to meaningful jobs that match their education, career perspectives, and social stability. Nógrádi stresses the importance of creating opportunities that allow for real career and lifestyle advancement, rather than offering only minimal wage positions.
“The rule of thumb is clear: if a higher salary is available abroad, some will inevitably leave,” he said.
“But the broader societal context also matters. A highly polarised society encourages emigration, while addressing divisions can help retain talent.”
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A societal challenge
The emigration of young Hungarians is not just an economic issue; it is a social one. Experts suggest that tackling it requires both economic incentives and broader societal policies that restore confidence in the future. Without meaningful opportunities and a sense of inclusion, Hungary risks continuing the trend of losing its most mobile and educated citizens.
Another success story of Fidesz gov. HU Gov will say that they are replacing the young with elderly from Germany cause they feel safer in HU than in DE 😀
That’s Hungarians voting with their feet against the disasterous Fidesz government. They see no future for them in Hungary. Young people leave and you are left with a collection of brainwashed Fidesz TV watching seniors collecting their 13th month pension. We have a few Hungarian family members living and working in Vienna. When one was finishing his degree in Austria his grandmother asked if he was coming back to Hungary when he finishes his studies. His reply was no nagymami I can make three times the money in Austria and the prices are the same.