Hungary

Hungary (literally "Country of the Hungarians") is located in Central Europe. From 1989 to 2011, it had the official name "Hungarian Republic." After the new constitution came into effect in 2012, the name was shortened. The currency is the Hungarian Forint, and the official language is Hungarian. The capital is Budapest. The area of the territory is 93,036 km².

It is a landlocked country with no sea access. The country is situated on the Great Hungarian Plain. The highest mountain peaks include Kékes, the foothills of the Alps such as the Apokalja, Bakony, Vértes, Dunazug, Mecsek, and the spurs of the Western Carpathians. All rivers belong to the Danube basin. The largest lake is Balaton. In the northwest is the Kisalföld plain. Near the border with Slovenia lies the largest karst cave, Aggtelek. Hungary borders Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria.

The government is a unitary parliamentary republic. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly, and executive power is held by the Government. The country is divided into 20 administrative units: 19 counties and 1 city of county rank, which is the capital. Hungary is a member of the UN, GATT, IMF, IBRD, Council of Europe, NATO, and the European Union.

Climate Conditions

Hungary has a moderately continental climate. The central location and mountain peaks prevent air masses from entering its territory. All seasons are well-defined. Winters are mild, and summers are hot. The Mediterranean climate is felt only in the south.

In spring, the temperature warms up to +15 °C. By mid-season, humidity, fog, and occasional rains increase. In summer, temperatures reach up to +30 °C. There are brief rains and sometimes cold spells. In autumn, temperatures drop to +7 °C. September still has a beach season, but by November, rains, fogs, and frosts begin. Winters are mild, with snow falling a few times. Ice rain can occur. Temperatures hover around 0 °C, and every few years, frosts can reach -20 °C.

Despite frequent rains, the number of sunny days exceeds cloudy ones. More precipitation falls in the mountainous regions, and drought is typical near the Tisza River. The weather conditions have fostered the development of arable land, orchards, and vineyards.

The diverse climate has influenced tourism. People visit thermal springs, wine cellars, go fishing, and ski. Beach holidays are popular from May to September. During Christmas and the spring and autumn periods, tourists visit Budapest, Eger, Szentendre, Debrecen, Pécs, Sopron, and Szeged.

The country experiences seismic activity. The most powerful earthquakes have reached a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale.

Demography

According to the 2022 census, Hungary's population was 9,689,010. The average life expectancy is 74.5 years, ranking 99th globally.

The majority of the population are Hungarians. Other nationalities include Germans, Roma, Romanians, Jews, Slovaks, Croats, and Serbs. Hungarian communities are being established in neighboring countries, with significant populations in Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, and Croatia.

The Hungarian language is native to more than 90% of residents. It belongs to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic language family, with many Turkic and Slavic borrowings. Hungarian is close to the Mansi language.

Hungary is considered a secular state, yet the majority of the population identifies as religious. Hungarians adopted Christianity in the 11th century. The dominant religion is Catholicism. There are communities of Calvinists, Lutherans, and Greek Catholics. Representatives of other Christians make up 1%. Atheism is supported by 25.6% of the population. The largest religious organizations are the Hungarian Reformed Church and the Evangelical Pentecostal Community.

Economy

Hungary is a moderately developed industrial-agrarian state. Inflation is low at 3.2%. Market transformations are nearly complete. The minimum wage is 266,800 HUF (177,422 HUF net) and 326,000 HUF (216,790 HUF net).

The economy is characterized by high growth rates and low public debt. The workforce is well-educated compared to other European Union countries, but there is an increasing shortage of labor each year. The scarcity of raw materials also negatively affects the economy.

The most demanded industries are oil and gas, automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical production. Exports include vehicles, electronics, electrical equipment, medicines, chemical and food products, and textiles. Imports consist of semi-finished products, spare parts, oil, gas, and foodstuffs. Foreign trade is primarily oriented towards EU countries, with Germany as the main partner.

Freedom of Travel

A Hungarian passport allows free movement within the European Union. The document permits visits to 175 countries, with no visa required for entry into 127 of them. Additionally, 48 countries issue visas upon arrival, and 23 require an electronic visa. In the global passport ranking, the Hungarian passport is in 4th place.