Over half a million Hungarians gone: The educated youth fleeing a country they no longer believe in
Hungary is experiencing unprecedented levels of emigration, particularly among its younger, better-educated population. Recent data and analyses reveal that hundreds of thousands of Hungarians have left for mainly Western European countries. This trend, which has accelerated in the past few years, poses significant demographic and economic challenges for Hungary and has become a focal point in domestic political debate.
How many have left?
According to 444.hu, the latest figures from Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH) show that a record 41,300 Hungarians emigrated in 2024, surpassing previous highs and marking the largest annual outflow since detailed records began in 2010.
Over the 15 years of the current Fidesz government (2010–2025), a total of 367,515 Hungarians officially left the country.
However, according to VálaszOnline, this number likely underestimates the true scale, as foreign statistics often record nearly twice as many new arrivals from Hungary as Hungarian authorities do departures.
The Demográfiai portré 2024 estimates the number of Hungarians living abroad at around 546,000 in European Union countries, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway, based on official registrations. This figure does not include those in North America, Israel, or elsewhere, nor does it account for the many who retain a Hungarian address while living abroad. Some estimates, including those considering temporary and unregistered migrants, put the total number of Hungarian emigrants even higher*—up to 637,000 as of 2017, or roughly 6.6% of the population at that time.
(*Papp et al.: The Diasporisation and Transnationalism of New Hungarian Migrants and the Related Potentials of Hungarian Diaspora Policy, doi: 10.54667/ceemr.2025.05)
Destination countries
The most popular destinations for Hungarian emigrants are:
- Austria: Over 124,000 Hungarians have moved here since 2010, with migration to Austria reaching an all-time high in 2023, according to XPatLoop. More than 16,500 Hungarians moved to Austria in 2023 alone, more than doubling the pre-2020 figures.
- Germany: Approximately 104,000 Hungarians have emigrated to Germany since 2010, with a 20% increase in 2023 compared to the previous year.
- United Kingdom: Nearly 53,000 Hungarians have relocated to the UK since 2010, though numbers have declined since Brexit.
- Netherlands and Switzerland: Over 86,000 Hungarians have chosen these and other Western European countries as their new homes since 2010.
Demographic impact
Emigration has had a pronounced effect on Hungary’s working-age population. By 2023, 6.8% of Hungarians aged 15–64 were living abroad, up from 1.8% in 2010, VálaszOnline writes. Among the critical 25–49 age group, the proportion living abroad has soared to 11.2%—meaning over one in ten of Hungary’s best-educated, most economically active citizens now reside elsewhere in Europe.
Why are Hungarians leaving?
The primary drivers of emigration are economic: persistent wage gaps with Western Europe, limited job opportunities, and the impact of inflation and economic crises. However, other factors are increasingly significant:
- Education: The introduction of tuition fees at Hungarian universities and government pressure on academic institutions have pushed many students to seek free or higher-quality education abroad. Countries like Austria and the Netherlands, with their tuition-free or English-language university programmes, have become especially attractive.
- Work environment: Many cite poor working conditions, lack of career prospects, and dissatisfaction with the domestic political climate as reasons for leaving.
- Family and children: Some families emigrate to provide better educational opportunities for their children or to escape perceived shortcomings in the Hungarian education system.
Return migration and new trends
While emigration continues to rise, there is also a notable trend of return migration. In recent years, 20,000–24,000 Hungarians have returned annually, often motivated by family reasons or changes in personal circumstances. However, the outflow still far exceeds the inflow, and the loss of young, skilled workers remains a pressing concern.
Conclusion
Hungarian emigration to Western Europe is at record levels, with over half a million citizens now living abroad—many of them young, skilled, and seeking better prospects. This ongoing exodus is reshaping Hungary’s demographic and economic landscape, fueling debate about the country’s future and the policies needed to stem the tide.
Sources: 444.hu, KSH, Válasz Online, XpatLoop, Demográfiai Portré, Papp et al.
Wish to read more news on demographic issues in Hungary? Click HERE.
Read also:
- Hungarian government official calls expats ‘traitors’ for leaving the country
- Changes to Hungarian residence permits for non-EU nationals: what this means for retirees and other long-term residents
- Shocking forecast: Hungary’s population to plummet by 2.2 million by 2100
Featured image: Pexels
Traitors! 😀 seriously, old people still believes the Fidezs lies about the hungarian golden age. The sad reality is that hungarians will be less and less, and even the young one do not believe in the “hungarian dream” just losers like Maria and Larry, the typical pro-fidezs clows, believe in such lie
I believe you mean @michaelsteiner, not @larry ? To be honest – I do appreciate their input here and reading their opinions. Even though I do not always agree. So, would not qualify them as “losers” – just people with a different outlook. Funnily enough, I think it is quite possible we would agree on a chunk of things if we were ever to meet, in person!
Yes sorry. Those are not hungarian names and are hard to get them right in my head. The thing is, michael will always defende fidesz blindly and while some might agree with some points of fidesz (i.e migration control) i would not support every movement they do specially calling traitors to the people living hungary as some politician did recently
It is lovely to see such people like Norbert and Larry. I am sure too that Jose meant Steiner by his words.
It would be lovely to have a drink sometimes with Norbert and you Jose.
That does not surprise me at all, for no educated youngster wants to live in a ( de facto ) dictatorial regime.
History never Lies.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto – Marshall Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the combined Fleet during World War 11.
Japans attacked on the American Navy at Pearl Harbour was under his Command.
Yamamoto, was asked days after the Japanese attack, what he thought would be the United States of America’s – RETALIATION ???
Yamamoto replied :
” I fear ALL we have done is to awaken a Sleeping giant, and FILL him, with a TERRIBLE resolve”.
Hungarian youth that must include to thousands of Hungarians in there 20’s to early 30’s – the EXPORT leaving of thousands upon thousands in this age group, that CONTINUES exiting Hungary, the Orban led Fidesz Government, the “heinous” Government they are there CONDUCT of a “toxic culture” – the BLAMERS – the “resolve” of Hungarians in the age bracket of my commentary – seeing the “light” of the FUTURE – there DISAPPROVAL of the Orban led Fidesz Government, they RIGHTFULLY are the “sleeping” giants no longer seeing Hungary a country of OPPORTUNITIES – in there awakening, in there thousands – have MOVED away in serch of BETTERMENT – for a better FUTURE.
Orban – his Fidesz Government – has FILLED with – FAILING them, betraying them and our country Hungary, with RESOLVE – that there LIVES, there careers, there FUTURES – are NOT in Hungary.
Why call these people ” traitors ” ? I think its beter to take care of these yong people so the stay in Hungary. Because the main reason the go is economische . No Jobs
No jobs?? Really “Herman .”?
There is an abundance of vacant jobs in Hungary. Just no decent pay nor career options for the highly educated and skilled young Hungarian professionals.
And then the government forced so-called “traditional values” that many young people do not want to embrace.
Good luck, and enjoy your international experience to all young expats. Good decision to go and see what the world has to offer for you.
Not only is it not true that there are no jobs (there are labour shortages at all levels of the workforce), there are also plentiful jobs in the higher paid white collar segments. Well educated Hungarians seeking to live a middle class lifestyle have plenty of choice and compared to many economies in the west, they have less competition to get these jobs as mostly they’re competing against their fellow countryfolk, rather than talented applicants from all the over the world in the case of the Netherlands and the UK to name but two. However…. despite this state of affairs many still leave as there remains an undoubted salary gap with Hungarian wages now among the lowest in the EU and the cost of living has been rising much closer to western European levels due to high inflation creating an unresolvable friction in household finances. Educated younger Hungarians may find the febrile political climate unpleasant and seek peace and quiet elsewhere; somewhere they can just ‘be’ and a broad spectrum of political views and lifestyles are not just tolerated but welcomed.
Far more than 53,000 Hungarians arrived to live in the UK since 2010. Way more. The real figure is more like 300,000. Many have since left, having either arrived with the intention of only staying a few years, or have found the cost of living to be excessive and have moved on, but the total number of Hungarians that arrived to ‘take a punt’ on life in the UK over the last 15 years is far in excess of the figure quoted.
Orban, his Fidesz Government – are “Booting” out – Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders living working in Hungary under the status of a Residence Permit.
Orban & his Fidesz Government as there residency Permits expire, issued only for a (2) two year period, then need of a re-application, as there current Residency Permits expire being told by the Hungarian Department of Immigration – you are rejected to STAY on in Hungary, you no longer meet the criteria to be granted a Residence Permit to stay live or work in Hungary.
Thousands from countrys refered in the above paragraph have been INFORMED of this – leave Hungary.
These Residence Permit Holders :
(1) – Self Funded Retirees.
(2) – Personal / Private Medical Coverage.
(3) – have In-come / money in there BANK accounts – got to PROVIDE this in there APPLICATION.
(4) – those that work in Hungary – pay there Taxes.
(5) – those RETIRED – like those that work – supply MONEY – pay into the Hungarian Economy.
(6) – Residency Permit Holders have NO vote at National Elections.
(7) – in number, holders of Residency Permit Cards, have “invested” into Property and “business” adventures.
(8) – Residency Permit Holders – receive – NOTHING for FREE – nor take NOTHING for FREE from the Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary.
(9) – in majority not of need in the past to be a granted a Residence Permit Card – they don’t speak nor write Hungarian.
(10) – American, Canadian, Australians and New Zealanders – countrys either of there birth, there passports being DEMOCRATIC in Governance or from countrys that “embrace” or aligned to principles of DEMOCRACY.
WHY -are they being BOOTED out of HUNGARY ???