More and more Hungarians leave the country

According to figures published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), 31,000 Hungarian citizens moved abroad in 2014 for a period of more than one year. Analysts attribute this development to low wages and the lack of opportunities for younger people in Hungary.

The 2014 figure is up by nearly 50% on the previous year and is six and a half times higher than the figure recorded in 2009, the last year before the current Fidesz government of Viktor Orbán took over in Hungary.

in 2013, the number of Hungarians leaving the country for the long term was estimated - using health insurance figures and other forms of registration - at 21,580.

This grew by 46% in 2014, the Hungarian business daily Vilkággazdaság wrote. The paper quoted KSH statisticians by saying that these estimates are likely to be well below the real figures since many neglect to tell the authorities they are leaving the country.

The statistical offcie researchers pointed out that most Hungarians leaving for abroad are young, with 77% under the age of 40 and 44% under 30. Some 54% were men and nearly two-thirds were unmarried.

The most attractive destinations for Hungarians moving abroad were Germany, Britain and Austria, the daily said.