Hungary at a Glance

A concise overview of Hungary's key facts, geography, and practical information.

Basic Facts

• Official name: Hungary (Magyarország)
• Founded: 896 AD (State of Hungary); current constitutional form: Parliamentary Republic
• Capital: Budapest
• Area: 93,030 km² (about 36,000 sq miles)
• Population: approx. 9.7 million — see KSH for current data
• Official language: Hungarian (Magyar)
• Most widely spoken foreign languages: English, German
• Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF) — see MNB for current rates

Geography

• Location: Central Europe, in the Carpathian Basin
• Borders: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia
• Terrain: Mostly flat plains (the Great Plain / Puszta) with hills in the north and west
• Major rivers: Danube (Duna), Tisza
• Largest lake: Lake Balaton — the largest lake in Central Europe

International Memberships

• NATO member: since 1999
• EU member: since 2004
• Schengen Area member: since 2007
• OECD member: since 1996

Economy

• GDP: approx. €190 billion — see KSH or European Commission for current figures
• Key exports: Electronics, vehicles & parts, pharmaceuticals, machinery
• Key sectors: Automotive manufacturing, IT & shared services, pharmaceuticals, tourism

Practical Notes

• Time zone: CET (UTC+1); CEST (UTC+2) March–October
• Electricity: 230V / 50Hz; Type F (Schuko) sockets
• Date format: Year/Month/Day (e.g. 2026.04.25)
• Name convention: Family name precedes given name in Hungarian usage
• Decimal separator: Comma (e.g. 3,14); thousands separator: full stop

Encyclopaedic overview: Britannica — Hungary →