Romanian diaspora migration impacts child welfare and economy

A significant number of Romanian children are being raised by extended family members due to parental migration for work in countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. According to data from the National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights and Adoption, 50,364 children were recorded in social assistance files at the end of 2025 as having parents working abroad. This includes over 7,400 children with both parents away and more than 37,000 with one parent abroad.

Economically, remittances play a vital role. In 2025, Romanian workers abroad sent home over 7 billion euros, surpassing that threshold for the first time, according to National Bank of Romania data. Since the mid-2010s, total remittances have approached 60 billion euros.

Despite the financial support, the social cost is high. A survey by Save the Children indicates that 58% of these children wish for their parents to return home, and one in three reports feeling treated differently at school. Psychologists note that the concept of ‘reverse migration’ is becoming increasingly relevant as families weigh the economic benefits of working abroad against the emotional and developmental needs of children and the challenges of reintegrating into Romanian society.