Hungary - HU - HUN - HUN - Europe

Last updated: January 02, 2025

Hungary Images

The Budapest Castle Hill Funicular opened in Budapest, Hungary, in 1870. A funicular railway (sometimes called an “incline”) runs on an electric motor, with one car ascending as a second car descends and acts as a counterbalance. The Budapest incline was among the first funiculars in the world and provides easy access to government offices and the Castle Theatre. During World War II, the railway was destroyed, but it was later rebuilt and reopened in 1986. A year later, Budapest -- including the banks of the Danube River, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, and the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular -- was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A view of the Danube River that splits Buda and Pest (the two halves of the city of Budapest, Hungary), as seen from Buda; the Parliament Building is visible in the distance.
Closer view of the Parliament Building on the Pest side of the Danube River in Hungary. Construction began in 1885 but was not completed until 1904.
A night-time view of Buda's Royal Castle as seen from along the Danube in Pest in Hungary.
The statue of Stephen I, saint and king, in the Fisherman's Bastion terrace on the Buda side of Budapest, Hungary.
St. Stephen’s Basilica is the third largest church in Hungary and the largest church in Budapest. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue. Construction on the church, which is named for Hungary’s first king and patron saint Stephen I, began in the 1850s and was completed in 1905. At 96 m (315 ft), it is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest.
Close up of some of the architecture in Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill in Buda, Hungary.
The Church of the Assumption -- more commonly referred to as the Matthais Church -- in front of the Fisherman's Bastion in Buda's Castle District in Hungary.
Hungary's Royal Castle (also referred to as the Royal Palace) on Castle Hill in Budapest. Formerly the residence of Hungarian kings, the castle now houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
The Millennium Monument in Heroes Square in Budapest, Hungary, contains statues of many Hungarian statesmen.
Statues of seven mounted figures at the base of the Millennium Monument column in Budapest, Hungary, represent the Magyar chieftains who led the Hungarian people to settle in the Pannonian Plain of central Europe.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary, is situated to the left of the Millennium Monument.
A monument in Budapest, Hungary, to Imre Nagy, leader during the failed 1956 revolution.
The Liberty Statue or Freedom Statue on Gellert Hill in Budapest commemorates those "who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary." Originally erected in 1947 in remembrance of what was then referred to as the Soviet liberation of Hungary in World War II, the monument was rededicated in 1989 following the transition from communist rule to democracy.
The Liberty Bridge (or Freedom Bridge) in Budapest is one of several bridges across the River Danube that connects the Buda and Pest halves. Built between 1894 and 1896 as part of Budapest's Millennium World Exhibition, the Art Nouveau bridge incorporates mythological turul bird sculptures into its spires and the country's coat of arms into its side.
Esztergom Basilica is the largest church in Hungary.
Assumption Cathedral in the town of Kalocsa was built between 1735 and 1754. The town (about 140 km (85 mi) south of Budapest) is one of the oldest in Hungary, dating back to about the year 1000.
The Danube River divides Budapest, the capital of Hungary, into two parts, one called Buda and the other called Pest. Eight bridges connect the city’s halves, including the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, which is the oldest and most iconic. Opened on 20 November 1849, the bridge was destroyed in 1945 during World War II, then reconstructed and reopened on 20 November 1949 -- exactly 100 years after its original inauguration. Budapest became a UNESCO site in 1987 and is considered one of the world's outstanding urban landscapes.
The Szabadsad hid (Liberty or Freedom Bridge) was built between 1894 and 1896. It is a cantilever truss bridge with a suspended middle span, yet imitates the general outline of a chain-type bridge. Opened in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and named after him, the bridge features an art nouveau design, with mythological sculptures and the country's coat of arms adorned on its side. Budapest’s trams (“villamos”) have been vital to the city’s public transportation system for more than 150 years. Two of the tram lines cross the Danube River via the Liberty Bridge, offering tourists a view of the city.
The Budapest Castle Hill Funicular opened in Budapest, Hungary, in 1870. A funicular railway (sometimes called an “incline”) runs on an electric motor, with one car ascending as a second car descends and acts as a counterbalance. The Budapest incline was among the first funiculars in the world and provides easy access to government offices and the Castle Theatre. During World War II, the railway was destroyed, but it was later rebuilt and reopened in 1986. A year later, Budapest -- including the banks of the Danube River, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, and the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular -- was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A view of the Danube River that splits Buda and Pest (the two halves of the city of Budapest, Hungary), as seen from Buda; the Parliament Building is visible in the distance.

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Hungary Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David PRESSMAN (since 14 September 2022)

embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest

mailing address: 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270

telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400

FAX: [36] (1) 475-4248

email address and website:
acs.budapest@state.gov

https://hu.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 753,955/female 683,943)

15-64 years: 63.9% (male 3,195,761/female 3,104,750)

65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 862,952/female 1,254,384)

This is the population pyramid for Hungary. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 20 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Heliports

14 (2024)

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005); 6-month service obligation (2023)

note: as of 2021, women comprised over 20% of Hungary's full-time military personnel

Background

Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule after World War II. In 1956, Moscow responded to a Hungarian revolt and announcement of its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact with a massive military intervention. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution are some of Hungary's most serious environmental problems; water quality in the Hungarian part of the Danube has improved but is still plagued by pollutants from industry and large-scale agriculture; soil pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection

Population below poverty line

12.1% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 24.1% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, packaged medicine, computers (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 24%, Italy 6%, Romania 5%, Slovakia 5%, Austria 4% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 25 cities with county rights (megyei jogu varosok, singular - megyei jogu varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)

counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala

cities with county rights: Baja, Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Esztergom, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg

capital city: Budapest

Agricultural products

wheat, maize, milk, barley, sunflower seeds, rapeseed, sugar beets, pork, grapes, apples (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF or Magyar Honvédség): the HDF is organized as a joint force under a general staff with commands for land, air, cyber, special operations, territorial defense, and support forces (2024)

note: the National Police are under the Ministry of Interior and responsible for maintaining order nationwide; the Ministry of Interior also has the Counterterrorism Center, a special police force responsible for protecting the president and the prime minister and for preventing, uncovering, and detecting terrorist acts

Budget

revenues: $69.793 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $75.081 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Budapest

geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the Hungarian capital city was formed in 1873 from the merger of three cities on opposite banks of the Danube: Buda and Obuda (Old Buda) on the western shore and Pest on the eastern; the origins of the original names are obscure, but according to the second century A.D. geographer, Ptolemy, the settlement that would become Pest was called "Pession" in ancient times; "Buda" may derive from either a Slavic or Turkic personal name

Imports - commodities

natural gas, vehicle parts/accessories, electricity, cars, plastic products (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

history: previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following the collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012

amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by parliamentary committee, or by Parliament members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament members and approval by the president; amended several times, last in 2018

Exchange rates

forints (HUF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
353.088 (2023 est.)
372.596 (2022 est.)
303.141 (2021 est.)
307.997 (2020 est.)
290.66 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tamas SULYOK (since 5 March 2024)

head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in first round or simple majority vote in second round for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 February 2024 (next to be held in spring 2029); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April or May 2027)

election results:
2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 5

2022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green; the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag; folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red is seen as being for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for the pasturelands that make up so much of the country

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy

Independence

16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established)

Industries

mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Curia or Supreme Judicial Court (consists of the president, vice president, department heads, and has a maximum of 113 judges, and is organized into civil, criminal, and administrative-labor departments; Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)

judge selection and term of office: Curia president elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president of the republic; other Curia judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a separate 15-member administrative body; judge tenure based on interim evaluations until normal retirement at age 62; Constitutional Court judges, including the president of the court, elected by the National Assembly; court vice president elected by the court itself; members serve 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts: 5 regional courts of appeal; 19 regional or county courts (including Budapest Metropolitan Court); 20 administrative-labor courts; 111 district or local courts

Land boundaries

total: 2,106 km

border countries (7): Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km

Land use

agricultural land: 58.9% (2018 est.)

arable land: 48.5% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 22.5% (2018 est.)

other: 18.6% (2018 est.)

Legal system

civil legal system influenced by the German model

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (199 seats; 106 members directly elected in single-member constituencies by simple majority vote and 93 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, using the D’Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2026)

election results: percent of vote by party list - Fidesz-KDNP 54.1%, United for Hungary 34.5%, Mi Hazank 5.9%, other 5.5%; seats by party list - Fidesz-KDNP 135, United for Hungary 57, Mi Hazank 6, independent 1; composition - men 170, women 29, percentage women 14.6%

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.1%

male: 99.1%

female: 99.1% (2021)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083

Nationality

noun: Hungarian(s)

adjective: Hungarian

Natural resources

bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions

Economic overview

high-income EU and OECD economy; tightening fiscal policy in response to budget deficit; delayed EU cohesion fund disbursement due to judicial independence concerns; high inflation and low consumer confidence; seeking alternatives to dependence on Russian natural gas

Pipelines

5,874 km gas (high-pressure transmission system), 83,732 km gas (low-pressure distribution network), 850 km oil, 1,200 km refined products (2018)

Political parties

Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP
Democratic Coalition or DK
Dialogue for Hungary or Párbeszéd
Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz
Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP
Jobbik - Conservatives or Jobbik
LMP-Hungary's Green Party or LMP
Mi Hazank (Our Homeland Movement) or MHM
Momentum Movement or Momentum
Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik
National Self-Government of Germans in Hungary or MNOÖ
On the People's Side or A Nép Pártján
Our Homeland Movement or Mi Hazánk
TISZA – Respect and Freedom Party or TISZA

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment:

Hungary’s telecom infrastructure has been upgraded in recent years following considerable investments made by telcos as they upgrade their mobile networks to 5G and deploy more fiber; these developments have helped operators to promote converged fixed and mobile service; the number of fixed lines continue to fall as subscribers migrate to the mobile platform for voice and data services; a number of measures aimed at promoting competition in the broadband market encourage investment in technology upgrades; Hungary has the highest fixed broadband penetration rate in Eastern Europe; there remains considerable growth in mobile broadband services delivered via upgraded networks; 5G development is supported by the government, universities, other telcos, and vendors

(2024)

domestic: fixed-line connections, with 29 fixed per 100 persons and 104 mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 (2022)

international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 (very small aperture terminal) VSAT system of ground terminals

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Government type

parliamentary republic

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Hungary

local long form: none

local short form: Magyarorszag

former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic

etymology: the Byzantine Greeks refered to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the "Oungroi," a name that was later Latinized to "Ungri" and which became "Hungari"; the name originally meant an "[alliance of] ten tribes"; the Hungarian name "Magyarorszag" means "Country of the Magyars"; the term may derive from the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes, the Megyer

Location

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Map references

Europe

Irrigated land

1,010 sq km (2019)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKÁCS (since 23 December 2020)

chancery: 1500 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730

FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135

email address and website:
info.was@mfa.gov.hu

https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s): Houston, Miami

Internet country code

.hu

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 66,135 (Ukraine) (as of 15 April 2024)

stateless persons: 130 (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$212.389 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB (2019)

Moody's rating: Baa3 (2016)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

104 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

mixed system of state-supported public service broadcast media and private broadcasters; the 5 publicly owned TV channels and the 2 main privately owned TV stations are the major national broadcasters; a large number of special interest channels; highly developed market for satellite and cable TV services with about two-thirds of viewers utilizing their services; 4 state-supported public-service radio networks; a large number of local stations including commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations; digital transition completed at the end of 2013; government-linked businesses have greatly consolidated ownership in broadcast and print media (2019)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Himnusz" (Hymn)

lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL

note: adopted 1844

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Hungary. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction

Physician density

6.06 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

7 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen); national colors: red, white, green

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.4 years (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 49.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 20% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 81.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -76.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.8

youth dependency ratio: 22.4

elderly dependency ratio: 31.4

potential support ratio: 3.2 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Hungary

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 145

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,226,848 (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Hungarian 84.3%, Romani 2.1%, German 1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 13.7% (2022 est.)

note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–10% of Hungary's population

Religions

Catholic 30.1% (Roman Catholic 27.5%, Greek Catholic 1.7%, other Catholic 0.9%), Calvinist 9.8%, Lutheran 1.8%, other Christian (includes Orthodox) 1.6%, other 0.4%, none 16.1%, no answer 40.1% (2022 est.)

Languages

Hungarian (official) 98.8%, English 25.3%, German 12.6%, Russian 2.1%, French 1.5%, Romanian 1.4%, other 5.1% (2022 est.)

major-language sample(s):
A World Factbook nélkülözhetetlen forrása az alapvető információnak. (Hungarian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one spoken language

Hungarian audio sample

Imports - partners

Germany 21%, China 7%, Austria 7%, Slovakia 6%, Poland 6% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

lowest point: Tisza River 78 m

mean elevation: 143 m

Current health expenditure

7.3% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) are responsible for ensuring the defense of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and citizens, and fulfilling Hungary’s commitments to the EU and NATO, as well as contributing to other international peacekeeping efforts under the UN; the HDF is also responsible for some aspects of domestic security, crisis management, disaster response, and assisting law enforcement forces in border security; Hungary’s most recent national security strategy addressed migration as an important security concern, alongside other issues, such as great power competition and cyber security; modernizing the HDF by replacing Soviet-era equipment with Western systems and building up Hungary’s defense industrial capacity has been a priority over the past decade

Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999 and considers the collective defense ensured within the Alliance as a cornerstone of the country’s security; NATO membership is complemented by Hungary’s ties to the EU under its Common Security and Defense Policy; the HDF has participated in multiple NATO-led security missions, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, as well as EU-led missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mali; it hosts a NATO battlegroup comprised of troops from Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and the US, and NATO’s Multinational Division Center, a headquarters capable of commanding a division-sized force (typically 15-20,000 troops) in a crisis; both organizations were established as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine; Hungary also hosts NATO’s Center of Excellence for Military Medicine; Hungary is a member of the Visegrad Group, a regional platform that brings together Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to discuss cultural, defense, and political cooperation (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 21,000 active-duty troops (16,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2024)

note: in 2017, Hungary announced plans to increase the number of active soldiers to around 37,000 but did not give a timeline

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the HDF has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western equipment from such countries as Germany, France, Sweden, and the US; in 2017, Budapest launched a modernization program known as Zrinyi 2026, which was aimed at replacing its Soviet-era weaponry with modern systems, and increasing Hungary’s defense expenditure to 2% of GDP by 2024, in line with NATO spending targets (2024)

Military deployments

150 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 150 Iraq (NATO); 410 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); note - Hungary has small numbers of troops on several UN missions (2024)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.45 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.712 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 962,893 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 17.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 14.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 45.54 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 7.25 megatons (2020 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Balaton - 590 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Duna (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue (c); Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (c); Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (c); Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (c); Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (c)

Coal

production: 5.45 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption: 6.18 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports: 132,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 804,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves: 2.909 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 33.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

nuclear: 44.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar: 13.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

biomass and waste: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Natural gas

production: 1.523 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption: 9.485 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports: 9.314 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves: 3.738 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 36,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 175,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 12.1 million barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2023)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.92GW (2023 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 48.8% (2023 est.)

Space program overview

has a history of involvement in space activities going back to the Soviet era; growing a modern space program focused on acquiring satellites and contributing to the European Space Agency (ESA); has a national space strategy; builds and operates satellites; researches and develops space technologies, including communications, navigation, and subsystems for satellites; has an astronaut corps; in addition to being an ESA member and cooperating with individual ESA and EU member states, particularly France, has relations with a variety of other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Israel, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, and the US; national space strategy included the goals of fostering innovation and increasing Hungary’s competitiveness in the commercial space sector (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space agency/agencies

Hungarian Space Office (HSO; established 1992) (2024)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: Bakony-Balaton; Bukk Region; Hungary; Novohrad-Nógrád (includes Slovakia) (2024)

Labor force

5.006 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 12.8% (2023 est.)

male: 13.5% (2023 est.)

female: 11.8% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 44.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 42.8 years

female: 46.7 years

Maternal mortality ratio

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$45.719 billion (2023 est.)
$41.219 billion (2022 est.)
$43.483 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Waterways

1,622 km (2011) (most on Danube River)

Public debt

75.53% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2023)
1.8% of GDP (2022)
1.7% of GDP (2021)
1.8% of GDP (2020)

Unemployment rate

4.13% (2023 est.)
3.61% (2022 est.)
4.05% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 9,855,745

male: 4,812,668

female: 5,043,077 (2024 est.)

Internet users

total: 8.633 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 89% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

44.884 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 21.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 18.187 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Area

total : 93,028 sq km

land: 89,608 sq km

water: 3,420 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

23.43% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$388.906 billion (2023 est.)
$392.468 billion (2022 est.)
$375.268 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Roadways

total: 216,443 km (2022)

Airports

109 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 10.372 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

29.2 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

17.12% (2023 est.)
14.61% (2022 est.)
5.11% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$623.545 million (2023 est.)
-$14.47 billion (2022 est.)
-$7.337 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$40,600 (2023 est.)
$40,700 (2022 est.)
$38,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3,382,136 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34.83 (2021 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 31.8% (2020 est.)

male: 35.8% (2020 est.)

female: 27.8% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.4% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

102.832 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

9.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 11.995 million kW (2022 est.)

consumption: 43.186 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports: 9.439 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports: 21.589 billion kWh (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.801 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1 (2023)

by type: other 1

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Imports

$161.558 billion (2023 est.)
$167.744 billion (2022 est.)
$145.058 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$172.484 billion (2023 est.)
$160.038 billion (2022 est.)
$145.539 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.845 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2022 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 10.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76 years (2024 est.)

male: 72.9 years

female: 79.3 years

Real GDP growth rate

-0.91% (2023 est.)
4.58% (2022 est.)
7.06% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-5.16% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 7,687 km (2020) 3,111 km electrified

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.7% (2023 est.)

industry: 24.3% (2023 est.)

services: 57.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.28% (2024 est.)

Sources: