Romania is no longer losing only able-bodied people. It loses generations.
According to data published by Eurostat, approximately 3.1 million Romanians live legally in other European Union states. It is the largest diaspora in the EU. And the real figure is most likely higher.
Romania, European leader in emigration
Official data confirm a phenomenon that has been felt for years: Romania is the European country with the most citizens settled outside the borders.
Romanian migration is no longer an episode. It is a structural reality.
After joining the EU in 2007, departures rose steadily, peaking after 2014, when labor market restrictions were lifted in several western states. Since then, the diaspora map has been redrawn.
Germany and Great Britain, the new magnet for Romanians
If in the past Italy and Spain dominated the top destinations, in recent years Germany and Great Britain have become the main pole of attraction.
The number of Romanians settled in Germany has doubled in the last decade, from approximately 450,000 to over 900,000, according to the German Federal Statistical Office. And the real figures are higher, since the Romanians who obtained German citizenship no longer appear in the statistics as foreigners.
Great Britain: over a million Romanians, despite Brexit
In the United Kingdom, the Romanian community exceeded the symbolic threshold of one million people. Diplomatic estimates even speak of approximately 1.2 million.
According to the Romanian ambassador in London, Laura Popescu, London has become the third capital in the world with the most Romanian speakers, after Bucharest and Chisinau.
The Romanian language is today the third most spoken language in the British capital.
Economic impact: Romanians, part of Great Britain’s infrastructure
Today, Romanians are present in most important sectors of the British economy. We find them on construction sites that transform big cities, in NHS hospitals and clinics, in IT companies and financial institutions, but also in schools or public administration. Their contribution is constant and visible, and the Romanian community no longer means just labor, but an integrated and stable part of British society.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, publicly recognized the positive contribution of the Romanian community to the development of the city.
Brexit and new barriers
The withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union radically changed the rules for Romanians who want to settle in the Kingdom. New arrivals now need a work visa, and access to universities has become considerably more expensive. Tuition fees have risen, as have maintenance costs, and the impact has been seen quickly: the number of Romanian students newly enrolled in British universities has fallen by around 80% in recent years.
In addition, from 2025, Romanians who want to travel to the UK must obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA), a new formality that adds yet another bureaucratic filter.
For young people, the British dream has become more expensive and more difficult. However, the already established community remains large and firmly anchored in British society. Many Romanians applied for permanent resident status (Settled Status), and some obtained British citizenship.
The Romanian-British relationship, beyond migration
Beyond the migration figures, the relationship between Romania and Great Britain remains an active and consolidated diplomatic and cultural one. King Charles III continues to speak publicly of his attachment to Romania and, in particular, to Transylvania, which he has constantly promoted as a tourist destination and heritage conservation area.
British interest in Romania is growing. In 2024, more than 135,000 tourists from the United Kingdom visited our country, with the UK among the main sources of foreign tourists.
There is also a strong symbolic image here. While hundreds of thousands of Romanians are choosing Britain for economic opportunities and stability, more and more Brits are looking to Romania as a place of authenticity, traditions and unspoiled landscapes.
Do the Romanians return home?
Approximately 220,000 Romanians returned to the country last year, according to official data. It is undoubtedly a sign that the connection with Romania has not been broken. But the numbers are not enough to change the general direction.
The flow remains unbalanced: while some choose to return, others pack up and leave. And this continuous game of departures and returns does not stop the demographic decline.
Romania is losing population, year after year.
Romania between two realities
Romania is experiencing a profound contradiction today. On the one hand, the diaspora supports the national economy through billions of euros sent home annually, money that keeps families, communities and local businesses alive. On the other hand, the constant departure of the labor force leaves increasingly visible gaps in hospitals, in schools and in the labor market within the country.
While millions of Romanians work in Germany, Great Britain or other Western economies, the Romanian state is still looking for the formula to convince its own citizens to stay or return. Between the financial contribution of those who left and the shortage of people in the country, Romania is trying to find its balance.
Hungary, the surprise from the region
Less visible in the public debate is the fact that more and more Romanians choose to settle in Hungary. In 2025, the Romanian community there will exceed 70,000 people, which means an increase of almost 30% in recent years.
For many, the decision isn’t just about wages, it’s also about distance. Hungary is close, and the road home can be covered in a few hours. For those who do not want to completely sever ties with Romania, this option offers a compromise: work outside the country, but with the feeling that they are not too far away.
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