Data at glance of Hungary - average on period

variable 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2007 2008-2009 2010-2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
real gdp growth 1.16 0.44 3.41 -2.84 2.35 7.22 4.27 -0.84 0.51 1.4
CPI % 10.93 20.25 5.91 4.54 2.33 5.11 14.62 17.14 3.71 4.92
Unemployment rate 0.43 8.91 6.49 10.23 6.53 4.05 3.6 4.08 4.47 4.6
Current account balance/GDP % -2.17 -6.42 -7.28 -0.79 1.24 -4.11 -8.49 0.32 2.23 1.04
Debt/GDP % - 65.6 60.91 79.18 74.74 76.22 73.86 72.97 73.45 73.51

Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here

History

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

Area: 93,028 km2

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Ethnic characteristics

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

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

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.)

Government

Capital: Budapest

Government type: parliamentary republic

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 presidentelection/appointment process: 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); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the presidentmost recent election date: president: 26 February 2024prime minister: 3 April 2022election results: 2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 52022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51expected date of next election: president: spring 2029prime minister: April or May 2027

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: National Assembly (Országgyülés)legislative structure: unicameralchamber name: National Assembly (Orszaggyules)number of seats: 199 (all directly elected)electoral system: mixed systemscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/3/2022parties elected and seats per party: Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) (135); Democratic Coalition (DK) (15); Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) (10); Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) (10); Momentum (10); Other (19)percentage of women in chamber: 15.6%expected date of next election: April 2026

Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"