|
|
|
Background:
|
Hungary
was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which
collapsed during World War I. The country fell under
Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt
and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met
with a massive military intervention by Moscow. 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 in 2004. |
|
Location:
|
Central
Europe, northwest of Romania |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
47 00 N,
20 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Europe
|
|
Area:
|
total:
93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly
smaller than Indiana |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total:
2,171 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km,
Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia
677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 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 extremes:
|
lowest
point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
bauxite,
coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 50.09%
permanent crops: 2.06%
other: 47.85% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
2,100 sq
km (1998 est.) |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
the
upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to
meet EU requirements will require large investments |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
|
|
Geography - note:
|
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south
flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the
country into three large regions |
|
Population:
|
10,006,835 (July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 15.8% (male 813,203/female 769,687)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 3,405,559/female
3,511,141)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 547,323/female
959,922) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
38.57 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 41.24 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
-0.26%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
9.76
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
13.19
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0.86
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
8.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 72.4 years
male: 68.18 years
female: 76.89 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.32
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1%
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
2,800
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
less than
100 (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Hungarian
92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
|
|
Religions:
|
Roman
Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek
Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified
11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census) |
|
Languages:
|
Hungarian
93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag |
|
Government type:
|
parliamentary democracy |
|
Capital:
|
Budapest
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
19
counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties
(singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)
: counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron,
Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok,
Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala
: urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen,
Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar,
Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs,
Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely,
Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg
: capital city: Budapest |
|
Independence:
|
1001
(unification by King Stephen I) |
|
National holiday:
|
Saint
Stephen's Day, 20 August |
|
Constitution:
|
18 August
1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972;
18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority
of the prime minister and also established the principle
of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined
the judicial system |
|
Legal system:
|
rule of
law based on Western model |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years
of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief
of state: Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc
GYURCSANY (since 29 September 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the
National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National
Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 6-7
June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister
elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation
of the president; election last held 29 September 2004
election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president
by a simple majority in the third round of voting, 185
to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANY elected prime minister; result
of legislative vote - 197 to 12
note: to be elected, the president must win
two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds
or a simple majority in the third round |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats;
members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to
be held NA April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or
more of the vote required for parliamentary
representation in the first round) - Fidesz/MDF 48.70%,
MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats by party -
Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National
Assembly for nine-year terms) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Alliance
of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Hungarian
Civic Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman];
Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID];
Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet
PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Istvan
HILLER, chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP [Gyula
THURMER, chairman] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
NA |
|
International organization participation:
|
Australia
Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member
affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador George Herbert WALKER
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy
Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764 |
|
Flag description:
|
three
equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
|
|
Economy - overview:
|
Hungary
has made the transition from a centrally planned to a
market economy, with a per capita income one-half that
of the Big Four European nations. Hungary continues to
demonstrate strong economic growth and acceded to the
European Union in May 2004. The private sector accounts
for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment
in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulative
foreign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion
since 1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded in
2000 and together with the Czech Republic holds the
highest rating among the Central European transition
economies; however, ratings agencies have expressed
concerns over Hungary's unsustainable budget and current
account deficits. Inflation has declined from 14% in
1998 to 7% in 2004. Unemployment has persisted around
the 6% level, but Hungary's labor force participation
rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the OECD. Germany is
by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policy
challenges include cutting the public sector deficit to
3% of GDP by 2008, from about 5% in 2004, and
orchestrating an orderly interest rate reduction without
sparking capital outflows. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$149.3
billion (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
3.9%
(2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $14,900 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 31.4%
services: 65.3% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
4.17
million (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 6.2%, industry 27.1%, services 66.7% (2002)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
5.9%
(2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
8.6%
(1993 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 20.5% (1998) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
24.4
(1998) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
7% (2004
est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
22.8% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $46.07 billion
expenditures: $51.36 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
58.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat,
corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs,
cattle, poultry, dairy products |
|
Industries:
|
mining,
metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,
textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
9.6%
(2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
34.07
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 60.1%
hydro: 0.5%
nuclear: 39%
other: 0.3% (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
35.99
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
8.3
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
12.6
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Oil - production:
|
41,190
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
140,700
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
47,180
bbl/day (2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
136,600
bbl/day (2001) |
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
110.7
million bbl (1 January 2002) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
3.231
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
13.37
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
4 million
cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
9.587
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
50.45
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$-7.941
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$54.62
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
machinery
and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, food
products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity
1.6% (2003) |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Germany
31.4%, Austria 6.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, UK 5.1%
(2004) |
|
Imports:
|
$58.68
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery
and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%, fuels and
electricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0%
(2003) |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Germany
29.2%, Austria 8.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5.5%,
Netherlands 4.9%, China 4.8%, France 4.7% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$14.8
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$57
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$4.2
billion in available EU structural adjustment and
cohesion funds (2004-06) |
|
Currency (code):
|
forint
(HUF) |
|
Currency code:
|
HUF |
|
Exchange rates:
|
forints
per US dollar - 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003), 257.89
(2002), 286.49 (2001), 282.18 (2000) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar
year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
3,666,400
(2002) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
6,862,800
(2002) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: the telephone system has been
modernized and is capable of satisfying all requests for
telecommunication service
domestic: the system is digitalized and highly
automated; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic
cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for
fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in
1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 36; Hungary has
fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring
countries; the international switch is in Budapest;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small
aperture terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 17, FM
57, shortwave 3 (1998) |
|
Radios:
|
7.01
million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
35 (plus
161 low-power repeaters) (1995) |
|
Televisions:
|
4.42
million (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.hu |
|
Internet hosts:
|
383,071
(2004) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
16 (2000)
|
|
Internet users:
|
1.6
million (2002) |
|
Railways:
|
total:
7,937 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
159,568 km
paved: 70,050 km (including 533 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 89,518 km (2002) |
|
Waterways:
|
1,622 km
(most on Danube River) (2004) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 4,397
km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Budapest,
Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)
|
|
Airports:
|
44 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
5 (2004
est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Ground
Forces, Air Forces |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
18 years
of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004 (June 2004) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 2,303,116 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 1,780,513 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
63,847 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$1.08
billion (2002 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.75%
(2002 est.) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
in 2004,
Hungary amended the status law extending special social
and cultural benefits and voted down a referendum to
extend dual citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in
neighboring states, which have objected to such
measures; consultations continue between Slovakia and
Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion the
Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the
Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's
external border, Hungary must implement the strict
Schengen border rules |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals,
particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine;
improving, but remains vulnerable to money laundering
related to organized crime and drug trafficking |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
|
|
| |
|
|
