Quarterly international migration balance, Q2 2025
Released: 22 December 2025
The international migration balance is the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants, taking into account the movement of both Hungarian and foreign citizens. In recent years, the number of immigrants has always exceeded that of emigrants, although the difference has shown a decreasing trend.
By increasing the frequency of data transmissions and developing a new model-based estimation procedure, it becomes possible to produce the international migration balance on a quarterly basis, which was previously calculated annually.
1. Trends in the international migration balance
Figure 1
In the second quarter of 2025, the international migration balance showed a negative value of more than 1,200 people, compared to a surplus of about 1,300 people in the same period of 2024. The most striking difference between the two quarters was in the number of foreign immigrants.
The development of the migration balance can be influenced by several factors, such as the mobility patterns of university students, the intensity of seasonal employment, and changes in the legal environment.
In the first quarter of 2024, the arrival of foreigners showed an extremely low level due to legal changes, which was followed by a significant increase in the second quarter. This can partly be interpreted as a replacement for the migrations that were delaved in the first quarter. In contrast, in 2025 – also due to legal changes – the reverse of this process can be observed: while foreign immigration was relatively high in the first quarter, it decreased significantly in the second quarter.
In the second quarter of 2025, the net migration of Hungarian citizens (emigrants and return migrants) was negative (-801 people), which was turned positive by the number of immigrants naturalised abroad (1,414 people).
2. Distribution of immigrants, return migrants, and emigrants by sex and age group
Figure 2
Figure 3
The sex distribution of international migration shows a predominance of men. In the second quarter of 2025, the proportion of men reached 60% across all groups (immigrants, return migrants, and emigrants). This was unchanged from the same period of the previous year.
In terms of age structure, primarily the working-age population (15–64 years old) participated in migration. The 25–29 age group was the most represented, accounting for 14% of immigrants and return migrants, and 20% of emigrants in the second quarter of 2025.
3. Foreign immigrants by country of citizenship
Figure 4
In the second quarter of 2025, the composition of foreigners immigrating to Hungary by citizenship showed a significant shift. The number of Vietnamese citizens – who represented a dominant group in previous periods – decreased dramatically, primarily as a result of legal restrictions. In parallel, the proportion of those arriving from the Philippines increased significantly: in the second quarter of 2025, 15% of foreign immigrants were Filipino, while in the same period of 2024, Filipino citizens were not among the most common citizenships.
In the second quarter of the previous year – similarly to the entire year – the largest group of immigrants was made up of those arriving from Asia, among whom Vietnamese represented the majority (20% of all foreigners).
The proportion of German citizens was also significant in the second quarter of 2025 (13%). Since Hungary's accession to the EU in 2004, they have consistently been among the most significant immigrant groups, typically with a proportion of 5–10%.
Released: 22 December 2025
The international migration balance is the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants, taking into account the movement of both Hungarian and foreign citizens. In recent years, the number of immigrants has always exceeded that of emigrants, although the difference has shown a decreasing trend.
By increasing the frequency of data transmissions and developing a new model-based estimation procedure, it becomes possible to produce the international migration balance on a quarterly basis, which was previously calculated annually.
1. Trends in the international migration balance
In the second quarter of 2025, the international migration balance showed a negative value of more than 1,200 people, compared to a surplus of about 1,300 people in the same period of 2024. The most striking difference between the two quarters was in the number of foreign immigrants.
The development of the migration balance can be influenced by several factors, such as the mobility patterns of university students, the intensity of seasonal employment, and changes in the legal environment.
In the first quarter of 2024, the arrival of foreigners showed an extremely low level due to legal changes, which was followed by a significant increase in the second quarter. This can partly be interpreted as a replacement for the migrations that were delaved in the first quarter. In contrast, in 2025 – also due to legal changes – the reverse of this process can be observed: while foreign immigration was relatively high in the first quarter, it decreased significantly in the second quarter.
In the second quarter of 2025, the net migration of Hungarian citizens (emigrants and return migrants) was negative (-801 people), which was turned positive by the number of immigrants naturalised abroad (1,414 people).
2. Distribution of immigrants, return migrants, and emigrants by sex and age group
The sex distribution of international migration shows a predominance of men. In the second quarter of 2025, the proportion of men reached 60% across all groups (immigrants, return migrants, and emigrants). This was unchanged from the same period of the previous year.
In terms of age structure, primarily the working-age population (15–64 years old) participated in migration. The 25–29 age group was the most represented, accounting for 14% of immigrants and return migrants, and 20% of emigrants in the second quarter of 2025.
3. Foreign immigrants by country of citizenship
In the second quarter of 2025, the composition of foreigners immigrating to Hungary by citizenship showed a significant shift. The number of Vietnamese citizens – who represented a dominant group in previous periods – decreased dramatically, primarily as a result of legal restrictions. In parallel, the proportion of those arriving from the Philippines increased significantly: in the second quarter of 2025, 15% of foreign immigrants were Filipino, while in the same period of 2024, Filipino citizens were not among the most common citizenships.
In the second quarter of the previous year – similarly to the entire year – the largest group of immigrants was made up of those arriving from Asia, among whom Vietnamese represented the majority (20% of all foreigners).
The proportion of German citizens was also significant in the second quarter of 2025 (13%). Since Hungary's accession to the EU in 2004, they have consistently been among the most significant immigrant groups, typically with a proportion of 5–10%.