International Migration - Major Trends in Demography: A Hungarian Example

Besides fertility and mortality and the balance between the two, migration also injluences
population development in terms af size, sex and age composition. Through the
analysis af population development in Hungary, this paper investigated the role af
international migration in demographic processes. Wehave followed closely the process
in which, after the demographic catastrophes in Hungarian history (1239-1290
and 1550-1650), the missing population was replaced by foreigners settling down in
Hungary. The role played by this settled population has been examined as well. We
have outlined the ejfects ofthe third demographic disaster (1914-20), which has determined
the development af Hungarian population up till the present day. As a consequence
af the peace treaties at the end af World War I Hungary lost two-thirds of its
population, thereby changing the structure af the population profoundly. Besides the
above-mentioned processes we have demonstrated the direct and indirect ejfects af
contemporary migration on the development af population size. We have also dealt
with the migratory losses caused by the revolution af 1956 and the decades afterwards
and we have shown the way net migration has injluenced the composition af
the Hungarian population between 1881 and 1990. The migratory balance af Hungary
has been negative ever since 1901, which has also contributed ta thefact that the
Hungarian population started decreasing two decades before this occurred in the
majority af European states.