*Hungary, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, between Slovakia and Romania
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area:
93,030 km2
land area:
92,340 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total 1,952 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 292 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82 km,
Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia; Vojvodina taken from Hungary and
awarded to the former Yugoslavia by treaty of Trianon in 1920
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land:
50.7%
permanent crops:
6.1%
meadows and pastures:
12.6%
forest and woodland:
18.3%
other:
12.3%
Irrigated land:
1,750 km2 (1989)
Environment:
levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every year
Note:
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western
Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean
basin
*Hungary, People
Population:
10,324,018 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
12.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
13.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.86 years
male:
66.81 years
female:
75.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Hungarian(s)
adjective:
Hungarian
Ethnic divisions:
Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages:
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
5.4 million
by occupation:
services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry 29.7%, agriculture
16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)
*Hungary, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Hungary
conventional short form:
Hungary
local long form:
Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form:
Magyarorszag
Digraph: HU
Type:
republic
Capital:
Budapest
Administrative divisions:
38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) 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, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence:
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
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
Legal system:
in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
National holiday:
October 23 (1956) (commemorates the Hungarian uprising)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman, Dr. Lajos FUR, executive
chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president;
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), Gyula HORN, chairman; Christian Democratic
People's Party (KDNP), Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president; Federation of Young
Democrats (FIDESZ), Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats
(SZDSZ), Ivan PETO, chairman
note:
the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP) renounced
Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in October 1989;
there is still a small (fringe) MSZMP
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZ
elected by parliamentary vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the
National Assembly with a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim President
from 2 May 1990 until elected President
National Assembly:
last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with the second round held 8 April
1990); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total) Democratic
Forum 162, Free Democrats 90, Independent Smallholders 45, Hungarian
Socialist Party (MSP) 33, Young Democrats 22, Christian Democrats 21,
independents or jointly sponsored candidates 13
*Hungary, Government
Executive branch:
president, prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president
from 2 May 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL (since 21 May 1990)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pal TAR
chancery:
3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 362-6730
FAX:
(202) 966-8135
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles H. THOMAS
embassy:
V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address:
Am Embassy, Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5270
telephone:
[36] (1) 112-6450
FAX:
[36] (1) 132-8934
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
*Hungary, Economy
Overview:
Hungary is in the midst of a difficult transition from a command to a market
economy. Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable export
earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for about 40% of
GDP and 30% of employment. Hungary claims that less than 25% of foreign
trade is now with former CEMA countries, while about 70% is with OECD
members. Hungary's economic reform programs during the Communist era gave it
a head start in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment.
In 1991, Hungary received 60% of all foreign investment in Eastern Europe,
and in 1992 received the largest single share. The growing private sector
accounts for about one-third of national output according to unofficial
estimates. Privatization of state enterprises is progressing, although
excessive red tape, bureaucratic oversight, and uncertainties about pricing
have slowed the process. Escalating unemployment and high rates of inflation
may impede efforts to speed up privatization and budget reform, while
Hungary's heavy foreign debt will make the government reluctant to introduce
full convertibility of the forint before 1994 and to rein in inflation. The
government is projecting an end to the 5-year recession in 1993, and GDP is
forecast to grow 0%-3%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $55.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,380 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.3% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $15.4 billion, including capital
expenditures $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
$10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 35.5%, machinery 13.5%, light
industry 23.3%, food and agricultural 24.8%, fuels and energy 2.8%
partners:
OECD 70.7%, (EC 50.1%, EFTA 15.0%), LDCs 5.1%, former CEMA members 23.2%,
others 1.0% (1991)
Imports:
$11.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
fuels and energy 14.9%, raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 37.6%,
machinery 19.7%, light industry 21.5%, food and agricultural 6.3%
partners:
OECD 71.0%, (EC 45.4%, EFTA 20.0%), LDCs 3.9%, former CEMA members 23.9%,
others 1.2% (1991)
External debt:
$23.5 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -10% (1992)
Electricity:
7,200,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,
chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses, automobiles