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Country information - Hungary Hungary is a small country but one of the great survivors of history: states and empires emerged, expanded or disintegrated and disappeared around it. Hungary and the Hungarian nation survived the devastation of the Tartars and Turks, Habsburgs and Russians in the Carpathian Basin; survived the fact that it belonged among the losers of both world wars. The Nazis occupied Hungary, as they did not consider it a reliable ally. During the Second World War, the Hungarians suffered grave losses on the Soviet front. At the end of the war, Fascists took over the governing of the country. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. Following the fall of Nazi Germany, Hungary became part of the Soviet area of influence and was appropriated into a communist state following a short period of democracy in 1946-1947. After 1948 Communist leader Mátyás Rákosi established a Stalinist rule in the country, which was barely bearable for the war-torn country. This led to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact which were met with a massive military intervention by the Soviet Union. From the 1960s on to the late 1980s Hungary enjoyed a distinguished status of "the happiest barrack" within the Eastern bloc, under the rule of late controversial communist leader János Kádár, who exercised autocratic rule during this period. In the late 1980s, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and shifted toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Hungary developed closer ties with Western Europe, joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union on May 1, 2004. Geography Hungary Location Central Europe, northwest of Romania Area total 93,030 sq km Land 92,340 sq km Water 690 sq km 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) Climate temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers Terrain mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border People Hungary Population 10,006,835 Nationality noun: Hungarian(s) Adjective Hungarian Ethnic groups Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% 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% Languages Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% Government Hungary 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); 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. 20 urban counties (singular - megyei varos); Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg and 1 capital city (fovaros); 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 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) Judicial branch Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms) Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green Economy Hungary Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic growth as one of the newest members of the European Union (since 2004). Together with Slovenia and the Czech Republic, Hungary provides one of the highest standard of living among Eastern European countries. 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. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. 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. Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. The Hungarian government has expressed a desire to adopt the euro currency in 2010, but the introduction of the currency is currently only in the early planning stages. Labor force 4.18 million Labor force - by occupation agriculture 6.2%, industry 27.1%, services 66.7% Unemployment rate 7.1% Population below poverty line 8.6% Household income by percentage share lowest 10%: 4.1% , highest 10%: 20.5% Currency (code) forint (HUF) Transportation Hungary Airports 44 Airports - with paved runways total: 19 Airports - with unpaved runways total: 25 Heliports 5 Railways total: 7,937 km Roadways total: 159,568 km Paved 70,050 km (including 527 km of expressways) Unpaved 89,518 km Waterways 1,622 km Ports and terminals Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs

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