Repatriation in Hungary: many choose to come home at an increasingly older age
In recent years, Hungary has witnessed a notable shift in the demographics of repatriation to the country. The proportion of older individuals among returnees has increased significantly, with nearly one-fifth aged 50 or older in 2022, compared to just five percent in 2010. This trend reflects changing patterns in migration and settlement preferences among Hungarian citizens.
Photo: depositphotos.com
With the increase in emigration, the Hungarian government has put the topic of repatriation of Hungarians living abroad on its agenda, and since last year it has been promoting repatriation with the “Hazaváró” service. Previous successes of similar efforts are questionable, with the increase in repatriation in the second half of the 2010s probably driven by improving livelihoods in the home country, G7 reports.
Since last year, the government has been trying to bring back Hungarians again with the “repatriation offices”. Achieving this objective is challenging but timely, especially considering that in 2021, after a two-year period, Hungarian emigrants outnumbered returnees once more.
As we previously reported, last October a decree was issued stating that the government would open repatriation offices in 27 Hungarian municipalities – one in each county in principle – to help Hungarians wishing to repatriate.
The website hazavaro.gov.hu has been launched as part of a package of services devised by the government to help Hungarians return home, and it provides comprehensive information on moving back to Hungary and helps facilitate procedures online.
The rate of the return of Hungarian citizens who left the country has stabilised at 23-24 thousand people per year over the past six years, while emigration has fluctuated considerably, reaching a peak last year. Thus, despite the record, the overall balance of population movements has not become exceptionally negative.
Shifting demographics in repatriation to Hungary
Photo: depositphotos.com
According to G7, based on the difference between the number of Hungarian citizens emigrating and returning, emigration caused a population decline of 11,870 last year, well below the level of around 20,000 experienced during the peak of emigration ten years ago. However, the migration gap that occurred between 2010 and 2020 has disappeared.
Generally speaking, returning to the country of origin is easier before long-term integration into the labour market abroad, but more difficult after a longer stay in a foreign country. Those who have left and integrated after a gradual process of emigration find it more difficult to move back home.
A typical reason for returning is reaching the emigration goal, for example by accumulating a certain amount of money, just as it is the case that actual opportunities abroad end up falling short of what was expected. However, once an emigration attempt has been successful, it is easier to attempt it again in the future.
Returnees’ age composition is also interesting from a labour market and demographic point of view, as those who settle in Hungary at the age of having children can start a family in Hungary. The published statistics show that the group of returnees is increasingly ageing, with nearly a fifth of them aged 50 or over in 2022, compared to only five percent in 2010. The change in the proportion of 40-45-year-olds in 2022 compared to 2010 is also striking, with the proportion of returnees in this age group at 6.05 percent in 2010 and 12.31 percent in 2022.
Read also:
New flight from Budapest to Eastern seaside metropolis – Read here
The price of an average panel apartment in Budapest is shockingly high – Read here
please make a donation here
Hot news
Top Hungary news: winter is here, Romania joins Schengen, American woman’s murder details – 23 November, 2024
Hungarian foreign minister outrages for US sanctions against Putin’s Gazprombank
Suleiman the Magnificent: The Great Sultan’s heart rediscovered in Hungary
The National Bank of Hungary cooperates with Chinese university
PHOTOS: Beloved Hungarian hotel in the picturesque Danube Bend reopens in five months
Attention, users! BudapestGO app renews in November, new features available
2 Comments
In the consideration to “Repatriate” – the importance in time that must be given, weighing up, evaluating all componentry contained with a Repatriation process, the list MUST contain, the SERVICES provided to Health and well being.
Medically, statistically, at age 50 plus “nuts and bolts” in our body, do loosen, and we have a greater NEED to seek Medical Services.
Hungary, we know is an “ageing population” in the core of it’s population.
Hungary, we know, throughout the 15years of the Orban – Fidesz Government has witness, it continues, that yearly deaths outnumber the birth of new “little ones”.
Hungary, we know throughout the duration of the 15 years, under the Orban -Fidesz Government – the gargantuan FAILINGS – through there LACK, or ability as a Government to PRIORITIZE , to the NEEDS of all Hungarians, in the conduct of there daily lives.
Hungary, we know FAILED by the Orban – Fidesz Government throughout there 15 years in Government – the LACK of INVESTMENT – into broadsheet – Health Public Services, just not the appalling condition of our antiquated Hospitals, but the entire Health Services, that are funded in great part, by the taxes we PAY, taken by the Orban – Fidesz Government.
Health Services as with Education – the REPLUSIVE wrongfulness, through lack of Investment, having there PRIORITIES “arse” about, around the WRONG way, we have factually SEEN undertaken practiced by the Orban – Fidesz Government – Inhumane.
Repatriation – humongous THINK process needed by those “considering” it, a return to there “place of birth” or other, than Hungary is to THEM.
Health Services – past, to present to the FUTURE – if you believe they are going through INVESTMENT from the “present” Orban – Fidesz Government – be bought up to 21st century STANDARD(s) – see your Medical Practitioner, or include daily in your medication a Vitamin B tablet, that MEDICALLY approved and agreed, does IMPROVE brain function, or seek Medication change.
In FACT, the deeper we Hungary, as a country “sink” decline – under the Orban – Fidesz Government, as a Financial & Economic cataclysmic DISASTER, the imploding that is presently escalating in our Health Services – through lack of Funds and Staff numbers, will WORSEN.
Hungarians have DISMALLY been FAILED – Insulted and Abused – USED – over the course of the15 years of the Orban – Fidesz Government.
Confirmation of that opinion – look at the BIG Picture of Hungary to-day, just the fact that 3 million plus, are living in POVERTY, and it’s rising.
ARE they receiving any or adequate levels of PUBLICLY funded – taken from our taxes – paid to the Orban – Fidesz Government – Health & MEDICAL Services ???
Repatriation – big THINK – the for and against – Big Picture landscape it COVERS – which Health – the Medical and “other” associated Public Services – must be PLACED as a PRIORITY.
The government pays lip service to encouraging the reemigration of expat Hungarians, the main thing they won’t provide is any real funding for encouraging this. For example, in a world of dramatically increased rents, it would be an easy goal to provide a non-refundable mortgage deposit for returning Hungarian families to enable them to buy their own home, relieving them of paying high rents overseas from often modest incomes. At the stroke of a pen they might be financially better off living and working in Hungary. The government is willing to support young families giving birth in Hungary but not returning families with children that have been born abroad, despite the obvious economic and social benefits to the country if they return. In my view the reason is political. Expat Hungarians are exponentially more likely to vote for opposition politicians, moreover they would serve to contradict the public discourse about a ‘failing west’ as they come with a balanced view based on recent lived experience. If they live in Hungary and vote for a local parliamentarian, the value of their vote is doubled compared to voting for a party list if they live overseas and don’t have a registered residential address in Hungary. Exporting your opposition is a popular tactic in authoritarian regimes that seek to minimise local opposition. The Hazavaro program offers nothing more than integrated admin support, no different from that anyone can access in a local Kormanyablak.