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
Total: 93,028 km²
Land: 89,608 km²
Water: 3,420 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

Land boundaries
Total: 2,106 km
Border countries (7): (7) Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
Mean elevation: 143 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 20.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,331 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

Geography
Note: 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

Population
Total: 9,855,745 (2024 est.)
Male: 4,812,668
Female: 5,043,077
Distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Growth rate: -0.28% (2024 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

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.)

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 56.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 44.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 42.8 years
Female: 46.7 years

Population growth rate: -0.28% (2024 est.)

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

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

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.9 years
Female: 79.3 years

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.2% (2023 est.); 3.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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: Buda on the western shore of the Danube and Pest on the eastern shore merged in 1873 to form Budapest; Buda's name may derive from the name of its founder or from a local word meaning 'water;' Pest derives from a Slavic word meaning 'furnace' or 'oven'

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

Legal system: civil system influenced by the German model

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction

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
Election/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 president
Most recent election date: president: 26 February 2024
Prime minister: April or May 2,027
2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 5
2022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51
Expected date of next election: president: spring 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Országgyülés)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Chamber name: National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
Number of seats: 199 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: mixed system
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 4/3/2022
Parties 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

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

National anthem
Title: 'Himnusz' (Hymn)
Lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL
History: adopted 1844

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 0.5% (2024 est.); -0.8% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 0.5% (2024 est.); -0.8% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 49.1% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -76.3% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 23.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 59.7% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 4.954 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.2% (2023 est.); 3.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.5% (2024 est.); 4.2% (2023 est.); 3.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $69.793 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $80.429 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 23.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $166.503 billion (2024 est.); $173.034 billion (2023 est.); $158.98 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, packaged medicine, computers (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $154.077 billion (2024 est.); $163.192 billion (2023 est.); $167.262 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 14.829 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 42.739 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 8.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 19.963 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.454 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 28.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 44.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 4.293 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.694 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 115,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 452,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 2.633 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 36,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 179,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 12.1 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 1.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 8.293 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 8.216 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 3.738 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 40.161 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 20.887 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 15.901 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 96.152 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2.693 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 10.2 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 92% (2024 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3.56 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 109 (2025)

Heliports: 15 (2025)

Railways
Total: 7,687 km (2020) 3,111 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 1 (2023)
By type: other 1