Emigration remains a defining phenomenon for Romania, marked by a significant loss of population and skilled labor, but recently counterbalanced by increasing immigration flows. According to the EY study „Migration at the crossroads: The evolution of emigration and immigration in Romania within the global system”, published in February 2026, Romania faces a dual reality: massive emigration, which has reduced the resident population by about 2.3 million in the last two decades, and emerging immigration, which has generated a net positive net migration balance between 2022 and 2024. This report analyzes the impact on the economy, society and culture, highlighting specific trends in Romania compared to European countries, where migration is becoming essential to counteract demographic ageing and labor shortages, arguingAuthors - Corina Mîndoiu, Partner, Human Capital Advisory Services, EY Romania and Iulian Pasniciuc, Director, Human Capital Advisory Services, EY Romania.
Top 3 reasons why Romanians choose to emigrate
In Romania, emigration accelerated after 2008, particularly affecting young people and skilled professionals in sectors such as IT, engineering and professional services. The main reasons include seeking better opportunities abroad, higher salaries and better living conditions. In 2024, 229,180 people emigrated, an increase of 13% from 2022.
This loss has created acute labor shortages, pressure on the pension and health systems, but has also generated cash flows to Romania, which support not only the families of those who emigrated, but also the economy in general. Unlike other Eastern European countries, such as Poland, which are implementing repatriation programmes with financial incentives, housing and jobs, Romania has yet to create and implement coherent reintegration policies, although the importance of the diaspora (almost 6 million Romanians live abroad) is obviously recognized. By comparison, in Europe, emigration is part of a wider context of positive net migration, driven by an ageing population and the need for labor.
Top 5 emigration trends in Romania
Maturing the profile of migrants
There is an increase in the proportion of emigrants aged 40-59 and over 60, while the proportion of young people under 39 remains the majority. This indicates a structural change in the dynamics of emigration, with implications for the Romanian labor force and human capital.
Persistent emigration of young people, with a relative downward trend
Although young people under the age of 39 continue to account for a large share of emigrants, their share is declining, which may reflect both changes in domestic opportunities and migration preferences. However, the loss of this segment affects competitiveness and innovation in the economy.
The significant impact of remittances on the economy
Remittances sent by Romanians in the diaspora reached record levels of around USD 9.5 billion in 2024, exceeding foreign direct investment by 67%. These funds support consumption, household investment and entrepreneurial initiatives and are a vital source of external financing.
Return migration and its potential
There is a trend of return of Romanians abroad, but their integration into the labor market is essential to prevent negative effects such as rising unemployment. Successful models, such as the Polish one, show that financial, housing and employment support can stimulate this return.
Demographic and economic pressure due to emigration and ageing population
Emigration combined with an ageing population is putting pressure on health and pension systems, reducing the active labor force and affecting productivity and long-term economic sustainability.
According to the data in our study, in 2025 the population pyramid is almost inverted, the share of elderly and pensioners has increased significantly. The average age of the resident population rose from 37 years in 2005 to 42 years in 2025. In only two decades, the base of the age pyramid has shrunk, indicating a considerably lower birth rate than in 2005. At the same time, the young and employable segment, especially the population under 40, has shrunk due to massive emigration to other countries. This demographic structure puts increasing pressure on the health system, which is faced with the needs of an ageing population, and severely strains the pension budget, which is becoming more difficult to support a young workforce that is shrinking as a share of the total population. For the Romanian business environment, this demographic reality represents a huge risk in terms of problems in retaining the workforce, but above all in terms of the burden of making the workforce more efficient.
Romania, with a resident population declining to just over 19 million (as of January 1, 2025, almost 0.2% less than the previous year), could benefit from this dynamic, turning emigration into opportunities through repatriation and strategic immigration. Reintegration programs with tax incentives, cooperation between business and authorities for integration, visa facilitation for digital nomads and strict controls on recruitment to avoid legal risks are therefore needed. Romania needs to better manage the diaspora link and turn mobility into a competitive advantage.
Europe sees migration as a key competitive advantage to counter the demographic crisis. Therefore, Romania must also accelerate the transition from a sending to a receiving country, managing the challenges and opportunities of the emigration phenomenon in a balanced way, even learning from the experience of the more developed countries in Western Europe. Without reforms, the emigration trend risks perpetuating the decline, while alignment with the European model could underpin sustainable growth.