One in 10 people in Czechia is foreign: How this shapes the economy and society

As it stands, more than one in every 10 people in Czechia are foreigners. According to the Interior Ministry, the number of non-Czechs residing in the country long-term continues to grow, reaching almost 1.1 million at the end of 2024.

With more foreigners in Czechia than the populations of Czechia’s five largest cities (excluding Prague) combined, this demographic represents a core part of the country; essential to the country’s economy and society. 

With nearly 590,000 residents, Ukrainians comprise more than half of Czechia’s foreign-born population. By comparison, the next largest group—Slovaks—has just over 100,000 residents. Vietnamese citizens are the third-largest group, with 69,015 people.

Prague remains the primary hub for foreign residents, hosting nearly one-third of the total number of legally residing foreigners. The Central Bohemian Region follows, with 14.2 percent of the country’s foreign population. 

Karlovy Vary and South Moravia are other popular regions for foreigners. Relatively large proportions of foreigners (between 11 and 14 percent) can also be found in the Pilsen and Hradec Králové regions. 

Foreigners make up around 20 percent of the workforce, filling critical gaps in manufacturing, business services, and construction. But where exactly do foreigners work? According to the latest available data, 219,000 foreigners work in the manufacturing sector, which is by far the most popular industry for non-Czechs.  

The administrative and business sector—mainly white-collar jobs—is the second-most common sector for foreigners, with 165,000 employees. According to the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) in Czechia, 40 percent of employees of Czech business services are foreigners, two-thirds of whom are from the EU. Around 70,000 foreigners work in this sector in total.

Other popular sectors for foreigners are construction and retail trade, and these are dominated mainly by non-EU workers.

Foreigners also help plug gaps in the country’s labor market. Minister of Labor Marian Jurečka said that Czechia lacked around 200,000 workers and needed to recruit foreigners to fill the gap in its workforce. Industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and construction are most in need of attracting foreign workers. 

The impact of Ukrainians on Czechia’s workforce is significant: 150,000 refugees work in the country as of January 2025, and, in total, 270,000 people with Ukrainian citizenship are employed in Czechia. 

The vast majority (80 percent) work in manual labor jobs. Ukrainian refugees also benefit the economy, earning CZK 8 billion net per year for the state coffers.

In the last three years, many cultural hubs have also sprung up around the capital (and in Czechia in general), helping Ukrainians assimilate and making Czechia more diverse. Some schools, too, have introduced Ukrainian-language lessons.

As Czechia continues to grapple with labor shortages, foreign workers are expected to remain an essential part of the country’s workforce and economic stability.