Record number of Hungarians in Austria: exploring the causes

Vienna Austria city

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:

Source:

Tags