Repatriation in Hungary: many choose to come home at an increasingly older age

In recent years, Hungary has witnessed a notable shift in the demographics of repatriation to the country. The proportion of older individuals among returnees has increased significantly, with nearly one-fifth aged 50 or older in 2022, compared to just five percent in 2010. This trend reflects changing patterns in migration and settlement preferences among Hungarian citizens.

With the increase in emigration, the Hungarian government has put the topic of repatriation of Hungarians living abroad on its agenda, and since last year it has been promoting repatriation with the “Hazaváró” service. Previous successes of similar efforts are questionable, with the increase in repatriation in the second half of the 2010s probably driven by improving livelihoods in the home country, G7 reports.

Since last year, the government has been trying to bring back Hungarians again with the “repatriation offices”. Achieving this objective is challenging but timely, especially considering that in 2021, after a two-year period, Hungarian emigrants outnumbered returnees once more.

As we previously reported, last October a decree was issued stating that the government would open repatriation offices in 27 Hungarian municipalities – one in each county in principle – to help Hungarians wishing to repatriate.

The website hazavaro.gov.hu has been launched as part of a package of services devised by the government to help Hungarians return home, and it provides comprehensive information on moving back to Hungary and helps facilitate procedures online.

The rate of the return of Hungarian citizens who left the country has stabilised at 23-24 thousand people per year over the past six years, while emigration has fluctuated considerably, reaching a peak last year. Thus, despite the record, the overall balance of population movements has not become exceptionally negative.

Shifting demographics in repatriation to Hungary

According to G7, based on the difference between the number of Hungarian citizens emigrating and returning, emigration caused a population decline of 11,870 last year, well below the level of around 20,000 experienced during the peak of emigration ten years ago. However, the migration gap that occurred between 2010 and 2020 has disappeared.

Generally speaking, returning to the country of origin is easier before long-term integration into the labour market abroad, but more difficult after a longer stay in a foreign country. Those who have left and integrated after a gradual process of emigration find it more difficult to move back home.

A typical reason for returning is reaching the emigration goal, for example by accumulating a certain amount of money, just as it is the case that actual opportunities abroad end up falling short of what was expected. However, once an emigration attempt has been successful, it is easier to attempt it again in the future.

Returnees’ age composition is also interesting from a labour market and demographic point of view, as those who settle in Hungary at the age of having children can start a family in Hungary. The published statistics show that the group of returnees is increasingly ageing, with nearly a fifth of them aged 50 or over in 2022, compared to only five percent in 2010. The change in the proportion of 40-45-year-olds in 2022 compared to 2010 is also striking, with the proportion of returnees in this age group at 6.05 percent in 2010 and 12.31 percent in 2022.

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