Country explorer: Hungary

Hungary has undergone significant economic transformation, marked by substantial reductions in unemployment and inflation rates alongside notable progress in GDP per capita, paralleling trends seen in its regional peers, albeit with distinctive challenges like managing higher inflation rates compared to high-income countries.

Hungary has experienced a gradual population decline and an aging demographic, coupled with slightly improved life expectancy and a moderate increase in fertility rates, indicative of broader demographic trends observed across high-income countries.

Hungary has consistently maintained high access to clean fuels, electricity, and safely managed water services, showcasing improvements in basic needs fulfillment comparable to high-income countries, while experiencing significant progress in safely managed sanitation facilities, characteristic of Eastern European transitional economies.

Hungary has experienced steady progress in human development indicators such as the Human Development Index, literacy rate, and a reduction in child mortality rate, reflecting improvements in education, health, and standard of living, which aligns it closely with its Central European peers and high-income countries globally.

Hungary has seen a notable shift towards cleaner energy sources, illustrated by increased electricity production from solar and wind, despite its relatively high per capita CO₂ emissions, while maintaining a steady increase in forest area and managing a gradual decrease in renewable internal freshwater resources per capita, aligning with broader European trends in environmental consciousness and sustainable development.

Hungary has shown significant advancements in technology and innovation, with a noticeable increase in internet usage among the population, growth in mobile phone subscriptions, a consistent investment in research and development relative to its GDP, and an upward trend in scientific publications, aligning it with global trends but still trailing behind leading high-income countries.

Hungary has navigated a complex pathway of cultural and societal change, marked by moderate gains in self-reported life satisfaction and gender equality, a stable but low rate of foreign-born population compared to its high-income peers, and a steadily increasing age dependency ratio which reflects broader demographic shifts seen across similar nations.

Hungary has experienced notable declines in the rule of law, press freedom, perception of corruption, and political civil liberties, diverging from the patterns observed in other high-income and Central European countries, signaling a significant shift towards increased governmental control and decreased transparency and freedoms.