2024 Edition Primary

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.

Area

land

89,608 sq km

total

93,028 sq km

water

3,420 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

Climate

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Kekes 1,014 m

lowest point

Tisza River 78 m

mean elevation

143 m

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; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions

Irrigated land

1,010 sq km (2019)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km

total

2,106 km

Land use

agricultural land

58.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 48.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)

forest

22.5% (2018 est.)

other

18.6% (2018 est.)

Location

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

10.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.3% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

31.4

potential support ratio

3.2 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.8

youth dependency ratio

22.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

note

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

7 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.3 years

male

72.9 years

total population

76 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.1% (2021)

male

99.1%

total population

99.1%

Major urban areas - population

1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

46.7 years

male

42.8 years

total

44.8 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.4 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Hungarian

noun

Hungarian(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.4% (2016)

Physician density

6.06 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

5,043,077 (2024 est.)

male

4,812,668

total

9,855,745

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.28% (2024 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2020)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

27.8% (2020 est.)

male

35.8% (2020 est.)

total

31.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

72.9% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

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

geographic coordinates

47 30 N, 19 05 E

name

Budapest

time difference

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

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

Constitution

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

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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Hungary

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

former

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

local long form

none

local short form

Magyarorszag

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David PRESSMAN (since 14 September 2022)

email address and website

acs.budapest@state.govhttps://hu.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest

FAX

[36] (1) 475-4248

mailing address

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

telephone

[36] (1) 475-4400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKÁCS (since 23 December 2020)

consulate(s)

Houston, Miami

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

info.was@mfa.gov.huhttps://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8135

telephone

[1] (202) 362-6730

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Tamas SULYOK (since 5 March 2024)

election results

2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 52022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51

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)

head of government

Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

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)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction

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

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

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)

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%

elections

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

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL

name

"Himnusz" (Hymn)

note

note: adopted 1844

National heritage

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)

total World Heritage Sites

8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

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

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties

Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNPDemocratic Coalition or DKDialogue for Hungary or PárbeszédFidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or FideszHungarian Socialist Party or MSZPJobbik - Conservatives or JobbikLMP-Hungary's Green Party or LMPMi Hazank (Our Homeland Movement) or MHMMomentum Movement or MomentumMovement for a Better Hungary or JobbikNational Self-Government of Germans in Hungary or MNOÖOn the People's Side or A Nép PártjánOur Homeland Movement or Mi HazánkTISZA – Respect and Freedom Party or TISZA

Suffrage

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

Agricultural products

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

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

7.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

17.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$75.081 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

revenues

$69.793 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB (2019)

Moody's rating

Baa3 (2016)

note

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

Standard & Poors rating

BBB (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$7.337 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$14.47 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$623.545 million (2023 est.)

note

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

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 

Exchange rates

Currency

forints (HUF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

290.66 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

307.997 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

303.141 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

372.596 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

353.088 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$145.539 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$160.038 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$172.484 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

Exports - commodities

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

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

note

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

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

81.2% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20% (2023 est.)

household consumption

49.5% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-76.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-1% (2023 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.7% (2023 est.)

industry

24.3% (2023 est.)

note

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

services

57.6% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$212.389 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

29.2 (2021 est.)

note

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.1% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.5% (2021 est.)

note

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

Imports

Imports 2021

$145.058 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$167.744 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$161.558 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

Imports - commodities

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

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

note

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

Industrial production growth rate

-5.16% (2023 est.)

note

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

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

5.11% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.61% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

17.12% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

5.006 million (2023 est.)

note

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

Population below poverty line

12.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

75.53% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$375.268 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$392.468 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$388.906 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

7.06% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.58% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-0.91% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$38,600 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$40,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$40,600 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

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

Remittances 2021

2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$43.483 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$41.219 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$45.719 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.43% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

4.05% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.61% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.13% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

11.8% (2023 est.)

male

13.5% (2023 est.)

note

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

total

12.8% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

4.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

18.187 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

21.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

44.884 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

6.18 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

132,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

804,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

5.45 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

2.909 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

43.186 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

9.439 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

21.589 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

11.995 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.801 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

6.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

33.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

0.5% 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.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

102.832 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

9.485 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

9.314 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

1.523 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3.738 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

1.92GW (2023 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

4 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

48.8% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

12.1 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

175,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

36,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34.83 (2021 est.)

total

3,382,136 (2021 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.hu

Internet users

percent of population

89% (2021 est.)

total

8.633 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

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

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)

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

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.845 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

104 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

10.372 million (2022 est.)

Airports

109 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HA

Heliports

14 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

other 1

total

1 (2023)

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

31,226,848 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

145

number of registered air carriers

5 (2020)

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)

Railways

total

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

Roadways

total

216,443 km (2022)

Waterways

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

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 decadeHungary 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 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

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

note

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

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)

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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.1% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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

note

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

66,135 (Ukraine) (as of 15 April 2024)

stateless persons

130 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

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

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

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

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

45.54 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

7.25 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Bakony-Balaton; Bukk Region; Hungary; Novohrad-Nógrád (includes Slovakia) (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

4 (2024)

Land use

agricultural land

58.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 48.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)

forest

22.5% (2018 est.)

other

18.6% (2018 est.)

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Revenue from coal

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

104 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

3.45 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

72.9% of total population (2023)

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.)