Immigrants in Hungary
Hungary has a history of being both a destination and a transit country for immigrants. In recent years, however, the country has adopted increasingly restrictive policies towards immigrants and refugees.
According to the latest available data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the foreign-born population in Hungary was estimated to be around 580,000 in 2020, which accounts for around 6% of the country's total population. The majority of immigrants in Hungary come from neighboring countries such as Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia, but there are also significant numbers from Ukraine, China, and Syria.
The Hungarian government has been criticized by international human rights organizations and the European Union for its restrictive immigration policies. In 2015, Hungary built a border fence to stop the influx of refugees and migrants, and the government has since adopted a series of measures aimed at deterring immigration, including criminalizing border crossings, limiting access to asylum, and restricting the work of NGOs providing assistance to refugees and migrants.
As a result of these policies, many asylum seekers and refugees have been trapped in Hungary, unable to leave or seek protection elsewhere. Hungary's treatment of migrants and refugees has been a source of ongoing controversy and debate within the European Union, and the country has faced legal action and sanctions as a result of its immigration policies.
