Migration of Hungarians in Europe (2010–2019)

Abstract

The purpose of the study. In my study, I examine the level of emigration from Hungary to the EU/EFTA member states in the period between 2010 and 2019, the demographic characteristics of emigrating Hungarian citizens, and their motivations for migration. Applied methods. The rate of emigration and the examination of demographic characteristics were analyzed by statistical analysis, the motivation of migration was analyzed by a literature review, and by presenting the results of my own online questionnaire research. Results. In 2019 about 490,000 Hungarian citizens lived in other EU/EFTA member states. Most of the emigrants are men in their 20s with secondary education. The most popular European destination for Hungarians is Germany. The emigration of Hungarians from our country has been continuously decreasing since the mid-2010s, as a result of which we can expect a positive migration balance from 2019. Hungarians were primarily motivated by economic and political reasons to emigrate in the 2010s.