1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
After World War II Hungary became part of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member of the European Union.
Geography
Area
total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Indiana
Climate
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Environment--current issues
the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments, estimated by the Government of Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7 million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million; the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide $109.5 million in 1998
Environment--international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 20 00 E
Geography--note
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
Irrigated land
2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,009 km border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Land use
arable land: 51% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 19% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Location
Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural resources
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260) 65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Infant mortality rate
9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.18 years male: 66.85 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1980 est.)
Nationality
noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian
Net migration rate
0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.2% (1999 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
19 counties (megyek, singular--megye), 20 urban counties* (singular--megyei varos), and 1 capital city** (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*, Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*, Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*, Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Capital
Budapest
Constitution
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code
HU
Executive branch
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president since 2 May 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Government type
republic
Independence
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly for a nine-year term Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
Legal system
in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round)--MSZP 32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%, MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party--MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148, FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note--the MDF won 17 single-member district seats
National holiday
St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Budget
revenues: $11.2 billion expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Currency
1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Debt--external
$22.1 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$122.7 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Hungary has consolidated its March 1995 stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.
Electricity--consumption
35.362 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
4.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
33.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 58.76% hydro: 0.62% nuclear: 40.62% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
forints per US$1--215.960 (January 1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)
Exports
$20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
machinery and equipment 51.9%, other manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports--partners
Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%, Russia 5.0% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$75.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 30.3% services: 66.7% (1996)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Imports
$22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment 46.5%, other manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports--partners
Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%, Russia 7.4% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
11.1% (1997 est.)
Industries
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14% (1998 est.)
Labor force
4.2 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation
services 65%, industry 26.7%, agriculture 8.3 (1996)
Population below poverty line
25.3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate
10.8% (1997)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios
6 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system
14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note--the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Telephones
2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)
Television broadcast stations
39 (in addition, there are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions
4.38 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
25 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 188,203 km paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways) unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810 DWT (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991) Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Railways
total: 7,606 km broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236 km double track) narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996) note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt (Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in Hungary and 65 km in Austria
Waterways
1,622 km (1988)
Military and Security
Military branches
Ground Forces, Air Force, Border Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$645 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.4% (1997)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 2,601,741 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,073,419 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 70,393 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia is before the International Court of Justice
Illicit drugs
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines