Hungary – country information

Country name	Hungary
Official name	Republic of Hungary
Capital	Budapest
Continent	Europe
Area	93,032 km2
Population	9,906,000 (2013)
Foundation of a state	1. 1. 1001
The highest mountains	Kékes 1,015 m
Longest rivers	Duna 2850 km (429 km in the country), Tisza 967 km (577 km in the country)
The largest lakes	Lake Balaton 590 km2
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Budapest (capital) 1,975,000, Debrecen 205,000, Miskolc 180,000
Official language	Hungarian
Ethnicity/National Composition	Hungarians 98%, Gypsies 1.5%, others 0.5%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholics 64.5%, Protestants 23.5%, Atheists and no religion 11%, others 1%
Currency	1 forint (ft) = 100 fillers
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$19,497 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	men 66.2 years, women 74 years years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 8%, mining and industry 30%, construction 5%, services 57%

Hungary – neighboring states

State	Capital	Area	Population
Croatia	Zagreb	56,538 km2	4,290,612
Austria	Vienna	83,858 km2	8,504,850
Romania	Bucharest	238,391 km2	20,121,641
Slovakia	Bratislava	49,033 km2	5,415,949
Slovenia	Ljubljana	20,256 km2	2,061,963
Serbia	Belgrade	77,474 km2	7,181,505
Ukraine	Kyiv	603,700 km2	45,426,200

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Eastern Europe, with an ancient culture. It is a landlocked country that once occupied a significantly larger area, which is why practically all neighboring countries have significant Hungarian minorities on their territory.

Country data

Location: Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 93,028 km²

Land area: 89,608 km²

Water area: 3,420 km²

Length of the state border: 2,106 km

Bordering countries:
Croatia: 348 km
Austria: 321 km
Romania: 424 km
Serbia: 164 km
Slovakia: 627 km
Slovenia: 94 km
Ukraine: 128 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Budapest

Regions: 43
Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest, Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Fejer, Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz -Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Pest, Salgotarjan, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szatheged, Szekesfehervar, Vas, Veszprem, Veszprem (urban), Zala, Zalaegerszeg,

Electric current: 230 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 36 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Population

Population: approx. 9.9 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: -0.2% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 106

Life expectancy: 72 (male), 79 (female)

Official language: Hungarian

Religions:

• 37% Roman Catholic
• 11% Calvinists
• 52% other

Climate

Hungary has a Central European to continental Eastern European climate.

Spring is very pleasant, summer is hot and dry with temperatures of up to 32 ° C.

In the sometimes very cold winter, the temperatures drop to below -10 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Forint (HUF)

Classification: 1 forint = 100 fillers

ATMs: Available in the major cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is limited to the declared import.

You should keep all exchange receipts until you leave the country. There are always random checks by customs on departure.

Currency exchange on the black market is not advisable, as one is often cheated here.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 250 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Milk, meat and sausage products of all kinds are not allowed to be imported into Hungary.

Artifacts that have a cultural value and precious metals may not be exported or only with a special permit.

Travel advice

There are currently more controls at the border to Austria. Appropriate time delays should be planned.

The crime rate is not significantly higher than in other European countries.

There have been isolated cases of pickpockets in the tourist centers on Lake Balaton and in the state capital.

Behavioral advice

You should always lock expensive and new vehicles (even if you leave them for a short time).

Valuables and cash should not be shown unnecessarily openly.

Economy

Tourism has developed into an important branch of industry in recent years with ever increasing numbers of visitors.

The processing and export of metal products is very important for the Hungarian economy.

Industries: building materials, mining, chemistry, food production, metal processing, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: bauxite, natural gas, coal, farmland

Land use:

• Land: 51%
• Grain cultivation: 4%
• Pasture area: 12%
• Forests: 19%
• other: 14%

Plants

In the last few decades, environmental protection has been given very little importance. A high level of pollution and the clearing of huge forest areas for industrial purposes have destroyed a large part of the original ecosystem.

The remaining forest areas consist mainly of deciduous forests (beeches, oaks).

Animals

The red deer and wild boar have withdrawn to the remaining forests. In addition to some fox, rabbit and pig species, there are hardly any larger wild animals.

The country’s lakes are well filled with fish of all kinds and every year they provide the necessary habitat for large flocks of migratory birds.