Who’s staying, who’s leaving: The changing face of foreign residents in Czechia

The foreign population in the Czech Republic has declined slightly, mainly as a result of geopolitical factors. New data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) shows that the number of foreigners legally residing in the country dropped by 50,414 by the end of 2023 compared to the previous year. This brings the total to just over 1 million, accounting for 9.8 percent of the population.

Ukrainians remain the largest foreign community in the country, with 574,447 residents at the end of 2023. However, their numbers fell by over 60,000 compared to 2022, reflecting the aftermath of a migration surge linked to the start of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine full-scale war. This is also because many Ukrainians—a little fewer than one in three–have returned to their home country since February 2022.

Slovaks and Vietnamese make up the second and third-largest groups according to the CZSO report, with small increases to 119,182 and 67,783 residents respectively. Together, these three nationalities represent 71.4 percent of all foreigners with residence permits.

While the ranking of nationalities remains steady, some shifts stand out. Russians, the fourth-largest group, saw their numbers drop by 2,500 to 40,990. Recent restrictions on visas and travel for Russian citizens are behind this. Meanwhile, smaller groups like Romanians and Mongolians experienced the most significant growth, growing by 40,000 residents cumulatively. 

Over two-thirds of foreigners in Czechia held temporary residence permits in 2023, while nearly 350,000 had permanent residency. Additionally, 2,515 individuals received international protection, such as asylum or subsidiary protection. These figures highlight the diverse reasons and pathways through which foreigners integrate into Czech society, the CZSO says.

Notably, the war in Ukraine has also impacted the gender balance among foreign residents. In 2022, the arrival of Ukrainian mothers and children fleeing the conflict led to women making up 51.1 percent of the foreign population. By 2023, the balance shifted back to a male majority, though women still accounted for 49.3 percent—a significant rise from 2021.

Foreign residents have also left a mark on Czech schools and workplaces. During the 2022/23 school year, the number of foreign primary school students surged due to war-related arrivals. However, this trend reversed by the 2023/2024 school year, with fewer foreign students in primary schools but a rise in secondary school enrollments.

In the labor market, foreigners made up 19 percent of the workforce in 2023. Employment among foreigners grew by 3.9 percent year-on-year, reaching 823,945. The number of foreign entrepreneurs with trade licenses also increased by 6 percent, totaling 118,383.

These changes in the composition of foreign residents reflect broader geopolitical, economic, and social shifts. Ukrainians, who began migrating in large numbers in the 1990s for work, now form a well-established community shaped by external events. Meanwhile, the steady growth of Slovak and Vietnamese populations underscores their successful integration and expanding opportunities.