Hungary

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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.

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Central Europe, northwest of Romania

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47 00 N, 20 00 E

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Europe

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slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

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

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

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1,331 sq km (2022)

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

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

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

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

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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

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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.)

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-0.29% (2025 est.)

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9.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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14.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023)

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28.4 years (2020 est.)

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12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.78 (2025 est.)

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3.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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6.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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26.4% (2016)

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52.3% (2022 est.)

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air and soil pollution; water pollution from industry and large-scale agriculture

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temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

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14.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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104 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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19 counties (<em>megyek</em>, singular - <em>megye</em>), 25 cities with county rights (<em>megyei jogu varosok</em>, singular - <em>megyei jogu varos</em>), and 1 capital city (<em>fovaros</em>) <br><br><strong>counties:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>cities with county rights:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>capital city:</strong> Budapest

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civil system influenced by the German model

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction

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

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

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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

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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)

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Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083)

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<strong>note:</strong> commemorates the saint's canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red can stand for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for pasturelands<br><br><strong>history:</strong> 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 of the French flag 

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Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen)

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red, white, green

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<p>high-income EU and OECD economy; modest recovery from 2024 recession driven by private consumption and moderated inflation; challenges include high fiscal deficits, frozen access to EU funds, and risks from export reliance; implementing tax exemptions, price controls, and mortgage interest caps ahead of 2026 elections</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$222.905 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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

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

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maize, wheat, barley, milk, sunflower seeds, sugar beets, rapeseed, apples, pork, grapes (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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-2.5% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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4.954 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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12.1% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

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23.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Germany 25%, Italy 6%, Romania 6%, USA 5%, Slovakia 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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cars, vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, packaged medicine, computers (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Germany 23%, China 7%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

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

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.hu

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HA

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109 (2025)

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15 (2025)

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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 (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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approximately 30,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

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the HDF has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, NATO-compatible arms from such countries as Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; in 2017, Budapest launched a modernization program aimed at replacing its Soviet-era weaponry with modern systems; Hungary has also placed emphasis on building up its defense industrial capacity (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005) (2026)

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250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 200 Chad; 470 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

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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; key areas of concern for the HDF the HDF is also responsible for some aspects of domestic security, crisis management, disaster response, and assisting law enforcement forces in border security<br><br>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 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 (2025)

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Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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