Hungary

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 93,028 sq km

land: 89,608 sq km

water: 3,420 sq km

comparison ranking: total 110

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 2,106 km

border countries (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

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 55.6% (2022 est.)

arable land: 45.6% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.6% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.5% (2022 est.)

forest: 22.5% (2022 est.)

other: 21.9% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

1,331 sq km (2022)

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 km

note: [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)

Population distribution

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

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

People and Society

Population

total: 9,855,745 (2024 est.)

male: 4,812,668

female: 5,043,077

comparison rankings: total 95; female 94; male 95

Nationality

noun: Hungarian(s)

adjective: Hungarian

Ethnic 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

Hungarian audio sample:

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)

2024 population pyramid:

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

comparison ranking: total 27

Population growth rate

-0.28% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 212

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 198

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 6

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 44

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.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

28.4 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 146

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

comparison ranking: total 180

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76 years (2024 est.)

male: 72.9 years

female: 79.3 years

comparison ranking: total population 119

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 186

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

7.4% of GDP (2021)

9.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

26.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 42

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 10.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 16

Tobacco use

total: 28.5% (2025 est.)

male: 33.7% (2025 est.)

female: 23.8% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 28

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

10.4% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 60

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)

male: 15 years (2023 est.)

female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

International environmental 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

Climate

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

40.161 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 20.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 15.901 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 62

Particulate matter emissions

14.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.45 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

104 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: Bakony-Balaton; Bukk Region; Hungary; Novohrad-Nógrád (includes Slovakia) (2024)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Hungary

local long form: none

local short form: Magyarorszag

former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People’s Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic

etymology: the Byzantine Greeks referred to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the “Oungroi,” a name that later became “Hungari,” which originally meant an “[alliance of] ten tribes;” the Hungarian name Magyarorszag means “Country of the Magyars,” which may be derived from the name of the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes

Government type

parliamentary republic

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

Constitution

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

amendment process: 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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

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

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: 3 April 2022

election results:
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 2029

prime minister: April or May 2027

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: 15.2%

expected date of next election: April 2026

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 on 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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKÁCS (since 23 December 2020)

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

telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730

FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s): Houston, Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert PALLADINO (since 7 March 2025)

embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest

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

telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400

FAX: [36] (1) 475-4248

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://hu.usembassy.gov/

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

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)

National holiday

Saint Stephen’s Day, 20 August (1083)

note: commemorates the saint’s canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083

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 of the French flag; 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

National symbol(s)

Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen)

National color(s)

red, white, green

National anthem(s)

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: 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)

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$389.207 billion (2024 est.)
$387.223 billion (2023 est.)
$390.513 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 55

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

comparison ranking: 188

Real GDP per capita

$40,700 (2024 est.)
$40,400 (2023 est.)
$40,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 56

GDP (official exchange rate)

$222.905 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2024 est.)
17.1% (2023 est.)
14.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 118

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

comparison rankings: services 92; industry 101; agriculture 145

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

comparison ranking: 165

Labor force

4.954 million (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 87

Unemployment rate

4.5% (2024 est.)
4.2% (2023 est.)
3.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 74

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 14.1% (2024 est.)

male: 14.8% (2024 est.)

female: 13.1% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 86

Population below poverty line

12.1% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

30.2 (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 124

Average household expenditures

on food: 16.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.)

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

Remittances

2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

Budget

revenues: $69.793 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $75.081 billion (2022 est.)

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

Public debt

75.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 48

Taxes and other revenues

23.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 27

Current account balance

$5.074 billion (2024 est.)
$751.071 million (2023 est.)
-$14.699 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 36

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

comparison ranking: 37

Exports – partners

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

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

Exports – commodities

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

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

comparison ranking: 39

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$46.422 billion (2024 est.)
$45.719 billion (2023 est.)
$41.219 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 43

Exchange rates

forints (HUF) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
365.691 (2024 est.)
353.088 (2023 est.)
372.596 (2022 est.)
303.141 (2021 est.)
307.997 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

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.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 133; imports 11; exports 27; consumption 57; installed generating capacity 55

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 28.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 44.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.92GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 48.8% (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.)

Energy consumption per capita

96.152 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 54

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.693 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 40

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 10.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 94

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.hu

Internet users

percent of population: 92% (2024 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 3.56 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 45

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

109 (2025)

comparison ranking: 48

Heliports

15 (2025)

comparison ranking: 60

Railways

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

Merchant marine

total: 1 (2023)

by type: other 1

comparison ranking: total 187

Military and Security

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 (2025)

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 expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2023)
1.8% of GDP (2022)
1.7% of GDP (2021)
1.8% of GDP (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

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

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 aimed at replacing its Soviet-era weaponry with modern systems; Hungary has also placed emphasis on building up its s defense industrial capacity (2024)

Military service age and obligation

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

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

Military deployments

250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 200 Chad; 365 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

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; 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

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)

Space

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: 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

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

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