Record number of Hungarians in Austria: exploring the causes
The number of Hungarians in Austria has surpassed the milestone of 100,000 individuals. In this article, we delve into the potential factors driving this significant increase.
Growing number Hungarian presence
As we previously reported, Hungarians rank second only to Germans as the largest group of guest workers in Austria. The country primarily fulfils its labour demands from two primary sources: Germany, boasting a population of 83 million, and Hungary, with just under 10 million inhabitants.
Recent data reveals that as of 1st January, 107,347 Hungarian nationals were residing in Austria, marking an 8 percent increase from the previous year. 24.hu notes that the majority of them are concentrated in Vienna. Moreover, the granting of Austrian citizenship to Hungarians has seen a remarkable five-fold surge over the past decade, with nearly 400 individuals naturalised in 2023 alone.
What attracts Hungarians to Austria?
Austria is increasingly recognising the influx of Hungarians and is consequently expanding training opportunities to facilitate employment prospects. For instance, the Austrian Association of Waste Management Companies has introduced Hungarian-language training courses tailored for forklift operators.
By various independent metrics, Austria boasts a higher standard of living compared to Hungary. Its GDP, GDP per capita and wages surpass those of its western neighbour, while experiencing lower inflation rates. Furthermore, the adoption of the euro ensures greater purchasing power, offering better value for money compared to reliance on the Hungarian forint.
In terms of prosperity, Austria, particularly Vienna, outshines Hungary’s neighbouring countries, with a significant portion of Hungarians proficient in German. This linguistic advantage minimises communication barriers, distinguishing Austria from Croatia or Slovakia.
The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict may also have contributed to the surge of Hungarians relocating to Austria. The geographical distance from Ukraine provides a sense of security for those residing in Austria. Additionally, the Austrian government’s stance on the conflict and its relations with Russia, in contrast to the Fidesz-led Hungarian government, could influence migration decisions.
Read also:
- Reach Austria from Budapest faster than ever before
- Expatriation: Hungarians are flooding into Austria
The reasons aren’t complicated. Salaries 2-3x those in Hungary with a comparable cost of living (typically 30-50% higher), an exceedingly well-run and aesthetically appealing country with superb public services and welfare system, rule of law, a productive economy with a very high GDP per capita and some of the most contented people in Europe according to recent surveys. I know I’d be contented too if I lived there. The main surprise is that in light of the proximity and ease of moving there, that more Hungarians haven’t already made the move.
Reasons are not complicated, but peopples lives are. I konw very well I could get better healthcare and better paid job in Austria but I have personal family reasons for not moving there. For young peopple its different and in the long run it does not look good for Hungary as its young generation is planning to move abroad in an increasing amounts.
The proximity and the obvious appeal of living in Austria should serve as an impetus for the government to buck their ideas up and start achieving meaningful improvements in people’s living standards otherwise, as you rightly point out, the future isn’t looking bright for the country as increasing numbers of the young will emigrate. Hungary doesn’t exist in a vacuum and with Austria just next door, the government can’t stretch people’s patience too far. Unfortunately, those in the corridors of power don’t seem to realise this, or they don’t care about the potential loss. In my 20 years of visiting and living in Hungary, never have costs and incomes been more out of kilter than they are today. In fact, many an Austrian wage might be insufficient for a decent life in Budapest these days, bearing in mind that in Austria those with low incomes and families are heavily supported by the welfare state.
What a stupid article. The reasons are obvious and have nothing to do with Ukraine.