The overall savings of Romanians working abroad could be much higher, considering that the survey was conducted between September 2009 and September 2010. According to the Soros Foundation, $3 billion leave Romania every year.
While Romanians working abroad saved EUR11.98 billion last year, remittances to Romania amounted to EUR2.87 billion in the same period. The average monthly income per household of Romanians working abroad is EUR1,896, the research also shows. This is the lowest level of income per household out of all countries included in the research (Moldova, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia), the main reason for this being that Romanians’ migration cycle is relatively recent and less mature.
These differences can also be explained by the fact that the main destinations of Romanian migrants are Spain and Italy (for around 73%), while migrants from Bosnia and Kosovo (who earn EUR2,846 and EUR3,856 per household respectively) work in countries where salaries are higher (Germany, Switzerland, Austria etc).