*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

*Hungary, Economy

Agriculture:
  including forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 16% of employment; highly
  diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops - wheat, corn,
  sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock - hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy
  products; self-sufficient in food output
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
  recipient - $9.1 billion in assistance from OECD countries (from 1st quarter
  1990 to end of 2nd quarter 1991)
Currency:
  1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates:
  forints per US$1 - 83.97 (December 1992), 78.99 (1992), 74.74 (1991), 63.21
  (1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Hungary, Communications

Railroads:
  7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow gauge
  (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,236 km double track,
  2,249 km electrified; all government owned (1990)
Highways:
  130,218 km total; 29,919 km national highway system (27,212 km asphalt, 126
  km concrete, 50 km stone and road brick, 2,131 km macadam, 400 km unpaved);
  58,495 km country roads (66% unpaved), and 41,804 km other roads (70%
  unpaved) (1988)
Inland waterways:
  1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports:
  Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; coastal outlets are
  Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland),
  Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)
Merchant marine:
  12 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 83,091 GRT/115,950
  DWT
Airports:
 total:
  92
 usable:
  92
 with permanent-surface runways:
  25
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  28
Telecommunications:
  automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; 1,128,800
  phones (1991); telephone density is at 19.4 per 100 inhabitants; 49% of all
  phones are in Budapest; 608,000 telephones on order (1991); 12-15 year wait
  for a phone; 14,213 telex lines (1991); broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM,
  41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2 million TVs (1990); 1 satellite ground
  station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik

*Hungary, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,630,552; fit for military service 2,101,637; reach
  military age (18) annually 91,979 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  66.5 billion forints, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results