Is it true that tons of Hungarians are emigrating from their country?
The question of emigration and immigration is a hot topic nowadays. It constantly makes headlines, however, the media often raises false alarm when it comes to the exact figures. Let’s shed light on the real facts now.
Terms
According to Növekedés.hu, to be able to get a real insight, first we must be familiar with the terms. An emigrant is someone who leaves their country, in this case Hungary, for at least 12 months, regardless of the reason why. In addition to that, foreign citizens with residence permit who leave Hungary in the given year without the intention of returning, whose permit has expired and have not been renewed, or whose permit has been cancelled due to revocation can be also considered emigrants.
It goes without saying that an immigrant is the opposite of an emigrant. For instance, a Hungarian citizen who has lived or was born abroad came to Hungary with the intention of settling, and who has returned from abroad after at least 12 months is a foreign national who entered Hungary in the given year and obtained a residence or settlement permit or registration certificate in accordance with the legislation.
Emigration vs immigration
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) provides annual data on the number of emigrants from Hungary and immigrants to Hungary. Moreover, KSH breaks down the statistics to the people who were born in Hungary and are returning after their stay of over 12 months abroad, and immigrants who were born abroad. Since 2016, the number of immigrants is higher than that of the emigrants. Statistics also show that the number of Hungarian emigrants returning home is higher than the number of Hungarian born abroad relocating to Hungary.
If we look at the difference between the share of immigrants and expatriates per head of population, we can conclude that the rate is the most balanced in Hungary, Estonia, Finland and Cyprus when comparing the European countries. The difference is less than 1.5 percentage points. According to United Nations‘ statistics, when examining Hungary and its neighbouring countries, Hungary had the lowest rate of emigrants in relation to the current population.
UN statistics
According to UN’s statistics, there are 714,420 Hungarians, who were born in Hungary, living abroad. For some reason, many believe that emigration is a new phenomenon, but this is not the case. Even in 1990, there were over 400,000 Hungarians (born in Hungary) living abroad. UN also shared that there are 584,567 fellow countrymen who did not born in Hungary, but live there now.
The Orban Government is “of knowledge” this is FACT, but “veiling” it, as they are with the known FACT – of the continuing POPULATION decline, that has been a “scourge” of there time, being near on 15 years, as the Government of Hungary.
What is there for the FUTURE in Hungary, for the youth, the age bracket of Hungarians say 17 – 35 – either single or married with a “little one(s)” – from what ever “Station in Life” they come, to remain in Hungary ?
Career prospects – salary structures – job/profession sustainability and stability – important, not all, the questions, growing numbers of the FUTURE generations of Hungarians are investigating and decisions being made.
This has been PRESENT in Hungary near on a decade in Hungary.
It has just not happened post February 2020, the arrival of the Corona Pandemic, but been “festering” and slowly growing, to this present point in time, the on-going war of Russia on the Ukraine and the SICKENING or Weakening near collapse of the Hungarian Economy, been driving FACTORS, of the “mass” exodus of Hungarians to other country’s.
It continues and will worsen – SADLY.
I hear the real action is in France where the real where it’s been heating up for years but for some reason it’s never reported here. There is a big difference in French culture than what by 2050 will dominate and your worried about a population decline in Hungary. The Netherlands has had another moment of sanity with resignation of its leader- not worth mentioning here- the EU must be pissed but the 30k farmers must feel a bit of relief. No word on US celebrities this week but Wizzair tops the headlines.