Beyond money: Why young people leave former Yugoslavia and will they return?

More than 130,000 people depart the countries of the former Yugoslavia each year, a significant outflow driven by a complex mix of factors beyond just financial gain. Young individuals from the region are increasingly seeking to live in countries with more functional systems, citing a lack of organization and societal structure as primary reasons for their emigration.

Data from the International Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicates that between 2019 and 2023, over 660,000 people left Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia leads this trend, with approximately 47,000 people leaving annually, equivalent to one in every 80 residents. Serbia follows with an annual loss of about 43,000 inhabitants, while Bosnia and Herzegovina sees around 40,000 citizens depart each year.

Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, warned in 2023 that the Western Balkans region could lose between a quarter and half of its qualified and educated young citizens in the coming decades. She identified high unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion as major contributing factors.

Demographer Vladimir Nikitović from the Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade explains that while economic reasons were once dominant "push factors," contemporary migration is also influenced by satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the overall state of society. "People want to live in countries that function, it's not just about money," noted Matija, a 22-year-old from Zagreb who has lived in Germany since he was 16, highlighting issues with public transport, kindergartens, job availability, and high living costs in Croatia.

While quality of life is a significant factor, Nikitović cautions that its importance varies by profession, making it difficult to definitively state it has surpassed earnings as a primary motivator. The trend suggests a growing desire among young people to escape perceived systemic dysfunction and seek environments that offer better societal organization and a higher quality of life.

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People want to live in countries that function, it's not just about money.