• According to the "Diaspora Sentiment 2026" study, conducted by the market research agency MKOR, 70% of Romanians living abroad exclude a possible return to the country in the next 12 months. However, the economic connection with Romania remains strong: 61% of them have already invested here, either through financial support for their family or through real estate purchases.
The study provides a clear map of distinct financial strategies across key markets. The German community stands out with the highest investment rate (71%) and the highest level of direct financial support for family (44%), reflecting a focus on predictability. Italy prioritizes asset protection, Spain generates nostalgic consumption, and the UK diaspora is focused on financial return.
The socio-professional profile of Romanians in the diaspora indicates increased maturity. Overall, 44% are employed, and 23% work as managers or entrepreneurs. The UK segment stands out: 29% hold management positions or run their own businesses (6% above the sample average), 62% have higher education, and 46% report personal incomes of over 3.000 euros per month. This high purchasing power turns the British diaspora into a solid investment partner for companies in Romania.
In contrast, the Republic of Moldova is emerging as a distinct demographic pole and a strategic hub of young human capital for the Romanian market. The average age here is just 31 years old, and 49% of the people surveyed belong to Generation Z. Compared to the rest of the diaspora, 38% of these young people are inactive – a difference of 17% compared to the general average. This structure opens up clear opportunities for internship programs, student relocation packages and financial instruments such as zero-fee cross-border bank accounts, designed to attract and retain this segment.
"In my 13 years of entrepreneurship at MKOR, I have learned to look beyond the numbers. I am grateful to our team for this study that shows the heart of the diaspora. We are talking about an active economic engine, which directly supports the Romanian economy. The fact that these people continue to invest at home, although they exclude repatriation in the next 12 months (and it is natural for lives consolidated there), proves solid trust. It is a financial connection that remains active regardless of the decision to return, more a form of securing the family heritage than a step towards repatriation", says Cori Cimpoca, founder of MKOR.
The full report "Diaspora Sentiment 2026" is available for free on the MKOR website, at https://mkor.ro/studii/studiu-mkor-diaspora-romana-2026/.
The data comes from a sample of 2.000 respondents, balanced by gender (50%/50%), consisting of people aged between 18 and 65, residing at least 7 months per year outside Romania. The collection was carried out online (CAWI) in October 2025, through MKOR's own panel and digital marketing campaigns, with an average questionnaire duration of 15 minutes. In categories with less than 30 respondents, percentages and averages are indicative.
MKOR is a B2B market research agency founded in 2012, based in Bucharest. With over 500 projects delivered for more than 200 companies from over 20 industries and an in-house panel of over 80.000 respondents, the agency operates under ISO 9001 certification, is an ESOMAR member and an EBRD accredited consulting partner.
Article source: Press Release
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