1.
[syn: Hungary, Republic of Hungary, Magyarorszag]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hungary \Hun"ga*ry\, n.
A country in Central Europe, formerly a part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Hungary water, a distilled "water," made from dilute
alcohol aromatized with rosemary flowers, etc.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Hungary
n 1: a republic in central Europe [syn: Hungary, Republic of
Hungary, Magyarorszag]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Hungary
Introduction Hungary
--------------------
Background: Hungary was part of the polyglot
Austro-Hungarian Empire, which
collapsed during World War I. The
country fell under communist rule
following World War II. In 1956, a
revolt and announced withdrawal from
the Warsaw Pact were met with a
massive military intervention by
Moscow. In the more open GORBACHEV
years, Hungary led the movement to
dissolve the Warsaw Pact and
steadily shifted toward multiparty
democracy and a market-oriented
economy. Following the collapse of
the USSR in 1991, Hungary developed
close political and economic ties to
Western Europe. It joined NATO in
1999 and is a frontrunner in a
future expansion of the EU.
Geography Hungary
-----------------
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 93,030 sq km
water: 690 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 2,171 km
border countries: Austria 366 km,
Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Yugoslavia 151 km, Slovakia 677 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid
winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills
and low mountains on the Slovakian
border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile
soils, arable land
Land use: arable land: 52.2%
other: 45.34% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 2.46%
Irrigated land: 2,100 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - current issues: the approximation of Hungary's
standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil,
and water pollution with
environmental requirements for EU
accession will require large
investments
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution, Air
agreements: Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-
Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur
94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location
astride main land routes between
Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula
as well as between Ukraine and
Mediterranean basin
People Hungary
--------------
Population: 10,075,034 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 847,081;
female 802,340)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 3,406,701;
female 3,528,087)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male
544,956; female 945,869) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.3% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 9.34 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 13.09 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.9 years
female: 76.55 years (2002 est.)
male: 67.55 years
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 2,500 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 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: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government Hungary
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local short form: Magyarorszag
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular -
megye), 20 urban counties* (singular
- megyei varos), 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, Veszprem*, Zala,
Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. 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: Ferenc MADL (since
NA August 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister
Peter MEDGYESSY (since 27 May 2002)
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 June 2000
(next to be held by June 2005);
prime minister elected by the
National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
note: to be elected, the president
must win two-thirds of legislative
vote in the first two rounds or a
simple majority in the third round
election results: Ferenc MADL
elected president; percent of
legislative vote - NA% (but by a
simple majority in the third round
of voting); Peter MEDGYESSY elected
prime minister; percent of
legislative vote - NA%
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)
election results: percent of vote by
party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary
representation in the first round) -
FIDESZ/MDF 48.70%, MSZP 46.11%,
SZDSZ 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats by
party - FIDESZ/MDF 188, MSZP 178,
SZDSZ 20
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)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Free Democrats or SZDSZ
[Gabor KUNCZE]; Christian Democratic
People's Party or KDNP [Gyorgy
GICZY, president]; Hungarian Civic
Party or FIDESZ [Zoltan POKORNI];
Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF
[Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Democratic
People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet
PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian
Justice and Life Party or MIEP
[Istvan CSURKA, chairman]; Hungarian
Socialist Party or MSZP [Laszlo
KOVACS, chairman]; Hungarian
Workers' Party or MMP [Gyula
THURMER, chairman]; Independent
Smallholders or FKGP [Jozsef
TORGYAN, president]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ABEDA, Australia Group, BIS, CCC,
participation: CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Geza
JESZENSZKY
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy
US: Goodman BRINKER
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054
Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American
Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4336, 475-
4156
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4520
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red
(top), white, and green
Economy Hungary
---------------
Economy - overview: Hungary continues to demonstrate
strong economic growth and to work
toward accession to the European
Union. The private sector accounts
for over 80% of GDP. Foreign
ownership of and investment in
Hungarian firms is widespread, with
cumulative foreign direct investment
totaling more than $23 billion since
1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was
upgraded in 2000 to the second-
highest rating among all the Central
European transition economies.
Inflation and unemployment - both
priority concerns in 2001 - have
declined substantially. Economic
reform measures such as health care
reform, tax reform, and local
government financing have not yet
been addressed by the ORBAN
government.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $120.9
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.9% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,000
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6%
industry: 34%
services: 60% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 8.6% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 4.1%
percentage share: highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini 25.3 (1998)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 27%,
agriculture 8% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $13 billion
expenditures: $14.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2000 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction
materials, processed foods,
textiles, chemicals (especially
pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 33.436 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58.83%
hydro: 0.53%
other: 0.35% (2000)
nuclear: 40.29%
Electricity - consumption: 35.095 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 5.2 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed,
potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,
poultry, dairy products
Exports: $27.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 59.5%, other
manufactures 29.4%, food products
6.9%, raw materials 2.4%, fuels and
electricity 1.8% (2000)
Exports - partners: Germany 37%, Austria 9%, Italy 6%,
Netherlands 5% (2000)
Imports: $29.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 51.1%, other
manufactures 35.9%, fuels and
electricity 8.1%, food products
2.8%, raw materials 2.1% (2000)
Imports - partners: Germany 25%, Russia 8%, Austria 7%,
Italy 7% (2000)
Debt - external: $28.5 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: forint (HUF)
Currency code: HUF
Exchange rates: forints per US dollar - 275.920
(January 2002), 286.490 (2001),
282.179 (2000), 237.146 (1999),
214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Hungary
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.095 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.269 million (July 1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: the telephone
system has been modernized and is
capable of satisfying all requests
for telecommunication service
domestic: the system is digitalized
and highly automated; trunk services
are carried by fiber-optic cable and
digital microwave radio relay; a
program for fiber-optic subscriber
connections was initiated in 1996;
heavy use is made of mobile cellular
telephones
international: Hungary has fiber-
optic cable connections with all
neighboring countries; the
international switch is in Budapest;
satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian
Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very
small aperture terminal (VSAT)
system of ground terminals
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters)
(1995)
Televisions: 4.42 million (1997)
Internet country code: .hu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 16 (2000)
Internet users: 1.2 million (2001)
Transportation Hungary
----------------------
Railways: total: 7,869 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,614 km 1.435-
m gauge (2,423 km electrified; 1,236
km double-tracked)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly
manage the cross-border, standard-
gauge railway connecting Gyor,
Sopron, and Ebenfurt (Gysev
railroad) which has a route length
of about 101 km in Hungary and 65 km
in Austria (2001)
Highways: total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 448 km
of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,373 km (permanently navigable)
(1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas
4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Airports: 43 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 8 (2001)
914 to 1,523 m: 12
Heliports: 5 (2001)
Military Hungary
----------------
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,559,260 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 2,039,710 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching military males: 64,121 (2002 est.)
age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $1.08 billion (2002 est.)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.75% (2002 est.)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Hungary
----------------------------
Disputes - international: Slovakia requested additional ICJ
judgment in 1998 and talks continue
to set modalities to assure
Hungarian compliance with 1997 ICJ
decision to proceed with
construction of Gabcikovo-Nagymaros
Dam, abandoned by Hungary in 1989;
Hungary opposes Croatian plan to
build a hydropower dam on the
boundary stream Drava
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest
Asian heroin and cannabis and for
South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of
precursor chemicals, particularly
for amphetamine and methamphetamine