Hungary Travel Guide - Facts on Hungary

History		Top of Page
	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.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic Coordinates	47 00 N, 20 00 E
Area	Total: 93,030 sq km Water: 690 sq km Land: 92,340 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 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline	0 km (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
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
Natural hazards	Flooding, summer storms, tornados
People		Top of Page
Population	9,956,108 (July 2007 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 15.3% (male 785,643/female 741,907) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,399,926/female 3,498,403) 65 years and over: 15.4% (male 554,356/female 975,873) (2007 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)
Language	Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4%

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Republic of Hungary Conventional short form: Hungary Local short form: Magyarorszag Local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
Government Type	Parliamentary democracy
Capital	Budapest
Administrative Divisions	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
Independence	25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date)
Flag Description	Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, with a per capita income nearly two-thirds that of the EU-25 average. 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 $60 billion since 1989. Hungary issues investment-grade sovereign debt. International observers, however, have expressed concerns over Hungary's fiscal and current account deficits. In 2007, Hungary eliminated a trade deficit that had persisted for several years. Inflation declined from 14% in 1998 to a low of 3.7% in 2006, but jumped to 7.8% in 2007. Unemployment has persisted above 6%. Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policy challenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 4% of GDP by 2008, from about 6% in 2007. The government's austerity program of tax hikes and subsidy cuts has reduced Hungary's large budget deficit, but the reforms have dampened domestic consumption, slowing GDP growth to less than 2% in 2007. The government will need to pass additional reforms to ensure the long-term stability of public finances. The government plans to eventually lower its public sector deficit to below 3% of GDP to adopt the euro.
Currency	Forint
Currency Code	HUF
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and is capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service
Internet Country Code	.hu
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 8,057 km broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,802 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified) narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)
Roadways	total: 159,568 km paved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km of expressways) unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)
Waterways	1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2007)
Ports and Harbors	Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)
Hungary:	Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page

		Hungary
		Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries
	Hungary Travel Guide: Facts on Hungary
History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation
Map of Hungary and its major cities

Hungary Travel Guide:

Facts on Hungary