Hungary
| Flag of Hungary Coat of arms of Hungary | |
| Capital | Budapest |
|---|---|
| Largest city | Budapest |
| Official language | Hungarian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| President | Tamás Sulyok |
| Prime Minister | Péter Magyar |
| Area | 93,030 km2 (35,920 sq mi) |
| Population (est.) | 9,585,000 |
| Currency | Hungarian forint (HUF) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Calling code | +36 |
| Internet TLD | .hu |
Hungary (Template:Lang-hu), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning an area of 93,030 square kilometers in the Pannonian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest, and Austria to the west.
Hungary has an estimated population of around 9.5 million people. Its capital and largest city is Budapest, followed by major urban centers such as Debrecen, Szeged, Miskolc, Pécs, and Győr.
History
Early History and Kingdom
Following centuries of settlement by Celts, Romans, Goths, and Huns, the foundation of the Hungarian state was laid in the late 9th century AD by the Grand Prince Árpád during the conquest of the Carpathian Basin. His great-grandson Stephen I ascended the throne in 1000 AD, converting the realm to Christianity and establishing the Kingdom of Hungary.
Modern History
In the aftermath of World War I, Hungary lost over two-thirds of its historic territory under the Treaty of Trianon (1920). Following World War II, the country became a Soviet satellite state known as the Hungarian People's Republic. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a nation-wide revolt against the Soviet-imposed government, which was eventually suppressed by Soviet forces. Hungary opened its borders with Austria in 1989, accelerating the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, and transitioned into a democratic parliamentary republic. Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
Geography
Hungary's landscape consists mostly of the flat to rolling plains of the Carpathian Basin, particularly the Great Hungarian Plain (Nagyalföld) in the south and east. The principal rivers flowing through the country are the Danube and the Tisza, which divide the country into distinct regions.
Climate
Hungary experiences a continental climate with hot summers featuring low overall humidity and cold, snowy winters. Average annual temperatures range between 8 and 11 °C.
Economy
Hungary is a high-income economy with a strong emphasis on foreign trade, manufacturing, and services. Key industrial sectors include industrial machinery, automotive manufacturing (such as plants operated by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW), electronics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Tourism also plays a prominent role in the economy, centered around Budapest and Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe.
Demographics
- **Population:** ~9.5 million inhabitants.
- **Ethnic groups:** Predominantly Hungarians (Magyars, approx. 85%), with minority populations of Romani, Germans, and Slovaks.
- **Religions:** Historically majority Catholic, with a significant Calvinist minority and a growing secular population.
- **Languages:** Hungarian is the sole official language and the primary native language of the vast majority of the population.
See also
References
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