The decisions of returning emigrants are influenced not only by the longing for loved ones in Lithuania, obligations to the family, the desire to create a future in the home country, but also by the changing context (pandemic, geopolitical situation). On the one hand, in situations of uncertainty, it is more difficult to live far from loved ones or to find people with whom you can share your thoughts, living in countries whose historical experience is very different from Lithuania. On the other hand, uncertainty and a sense of insecurity can both contribute to repeated departure and encourage more active involvement in support networks in Lithuania.
Who is hiding behind the official statistics?
Lithuanian citizens are characterized by a high level of mobility. Based on 2021 according to the population and housing census, every tenth Lithuanian has lived abroad for at least a year or more. The growing number of Lithuanian residents with migration experience is also related to the long-term level of return migration. The International Organization for Migration indicates that the number of returnees in 2022 was 13 percent. higher than those who left.
From 2021 to 2023 Vilnius University sociologist dr. The post-doctoral research conducted by Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė aimed to find out the motives and experiences of the mobility of Lithuanian residents. During the research, interviews were conducted with persons who have left or returned from Lithuania in recent years.
Based on the previous ones Vilnius University according to the researches of sociologists, departure abroad, in addition to financial reasons, can be promoted by better professional opportunities, study goals and a friendly environment abroad, significant personal connections in other countries. Returning to Lithuania is motivated by the desire to live in the native country, close to relatives, to raise children in a Lithuanian environment, obligations to the family, and the achievement of previous goals.
Although the reasons for departure and return mentioned by the majority of research participants correspond to the reasons identified in previous studies, the results of this research project showed that it is important to take into account the changing context (pandemic, war in Ukraine), which can influence people's decisions and experiences in the future.
The pandemic has reduced the level of emigration
In recent years, Lithuania and other countries have faced various new challenges. All persons who lived both abroad and in Lithuania were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the pandemic reduced the level of emigration, according to the data of the State Data Agency, more than 15 thousand Lithuanian citizens went abroad in 2020. and 19 thousand in 2021. Cf. in 2019 more than 24 thousand people left.
Return migration trends were less variable during the pandemic. Statistics provided by the State Data Agency show that in 2020 more than 20 thousand returned to the country, and in 2021 - over 23 thousand Lithuanian citizens. Cf. in 2019 more than 20 thousand persons returned to the country.
On the one hand, due to the restrictions introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, for some Lithuanian citizens who lived abroad, it was an incentive to return temporarily ("until there is more clarity") or an additional reason to decide to return permanently (for example, due to obligations to aging parents), to reconsider their previous decisions. On the other hand, some of those who previously planned to leave had to postpone it a little for a later time or leave due to a changed situation (e.g. due to the loss of a job in the service sector, etc.).
For some Lithuanian citizens who lived in the United Kingdom, the pandemic was an additional incentive to review their previous choices in the context of Brexit. Statistical data show that every second person who returned to Lithuania in 2021 came from the United Kingdom. For some of the study participants who returned from the United Kingdom, after the start of the pandemic, it became easier to decide to return to Lithuania or to move to another country and due to changes in the United Kingdom.
Insecurity in the region may lead to repeated emigration
Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has contributed to a greater sense of insecurity in the region and may become an important factor in the future. Although the migration decisions of the majority of the participants in the study are large-scale invasion, which began in 2022. in February, without directly touching on it, many spoke about how difficult it is to be separated from relatives in such a context and to find people with whom to share thoughts, living in countries whose historical experience is very different from Lithuania.
Some research participants said how their relatives admitted that they felt safer having relatives abroad, not in Lithuania. Dalis mentioned that the events in the region helped to realize that Lithuania will never be as safe as some other countries due to the geopolitical situation. Meanwhile, the relatives of the returnees, who remained abroad, encouraged them to leave the country. Therefore, uncertainty and a sense of insecurity can both contribute to repeated departure and encourage more active involvement in aid networks in Lithuania.
This variety of migration decisions and experiences shows that in the future, when it comes to the mobility of Lithuanian residents, in addition to the usual reasons for emigration and return migration (financial situation, professional and study opportunities, personal relationships abroad and the longing and desire of relatives in Lithuania to create a future in the home country), it is important take into account the changing context in the region that may influence future mobility decisions.
This article was prepared by VU sociologist dr. Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė.
