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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

6 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note--the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

39 (in addition, there are low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

4.38 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $11.2 billion expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$22.1 billion (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$122.7 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Hungary has consolidated its March 1995 stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

35.362 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

2.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

4.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

33.162 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 58.76% hydro: 0.62% nuclear: 40.62% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

forints per US$1--215.960 (January 1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment 51.9%, other manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%, Russia 5.0% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$75.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 30.3% services: 66.7% (1996)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 24% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment 46.5%, other manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%, Russia 7.4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

11.1% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.2 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 65%, industry 26.7%, agriculture 8.3 (1996)

Population below poverty line [time series]

25.3% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.8% (1997)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate [time series]

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments, estimated by the Government of Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7 million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million; the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide $109.5 million in 1998

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

47 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

Irrigated land [time series]

2,060 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,009 km border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 51% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 19% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

19 counties (megyek, singular--megye), 20 urban counties* (singular--megyei varos), and 1 capital city** (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*, Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*, Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*, Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*

Capital [time series]

Budapest

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president since 2 May 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly for a nine-year term

Legal system [time series]

in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model

Legislative branch [time series]

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 on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round)--MSZP 32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%, MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party--MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148, FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note--the MDF won 17 single-member district seats

National holiday [time series]

St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

After World War II Hungary became part of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member of the European Union.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Air Force, Border Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$645 million (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1997)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,601,741 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,073,419 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 70,393 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260) 65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.18 years male: 66.85 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1980 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.2% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia is before the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines

Transportation

Airports [time series]

25 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 188,203 km paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways) unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810 DWT (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Budapest, Dunaujvaros

Railways [time series]

total: 7,606 km broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236 km double track) narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996) note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt (Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in Hungary and 65 km in Austria

Waterways [time series]

1,622 km (1988)