Romania has solidified its position as the European Union’s top source of intra-EU migrant workers, accounting for 26% of all working-age EU citizens living in another member state in 2024, according to the European Commission’s latest Annual Report on Intra-EU Labour Mobility published in February 2026.
That translates to roughly 2.3 million Romanians abroad, up from 2.244 million in 2023 and 2.104 million in 2014, even as the country has narrowed its wage gap with Western Europe over the past decade.
The report confirms Romania’s unchallenged dominance: Poland and Italy trail far behind at 12% and 9% respectively, with no sign of a return migration wave seen elsewhere, such as Poland’s 440,000 drop over 10 years. Italy remains the preferred destination for Romanians, followed by Spain and Germany.
Persistent wage disparities fuel outflows
Despite Romania doubling net annual earnings in euros since 2017 (versus under 18% growth in Italy), the gap remains wide, explaining why mobility endures. Eurostat data shows stark differences for full-time single workers without dependents earning at the national median.
| Country | Net Annual Earnings (2017, €) | Est. 2024 Multiple vs RO |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | Baseline | 1x |
| Italy | ~2.5x RO | 1.18x |
| Spain | ~2x RO | ~1.4x |
| Germany | ~4x RO | ~2.5x |
