Shifts in Hungary’s Demographics: A Deep Dive into the 2022 Census

Shifts in Hungary’s Demographics: A Deep Dive into the 2022 Census

A Declining Population

According to the latest census data processed by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), as of October 1, 2022, the population of Hungary stands at 9,603,634. This figure represents a decrease of 334,000 compared to the 2011 census. Along with the decline in total population, the average age of the populace has increased from 41.5 years in 2011 to 43.1 years in 2022, signifying a steady aging trend within the population.

Religious Affiliation: A Significant Drop

When it comes to religious affiliation, the census data reveals a significant drop in the number of people identifying as religious. Eleven years ago, 3,871,000 people identified as Catholics; this number has now reduced to 2.9 million. The number of Roman Catholics decreased from 3.69 million to 2.6 million. If one includes those who chose not to answer the question about religious affiliation, the percentage of religiously affiliated individuals falls below 50%.

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Nationality, Fertility, and Education

The census also collected data on fertility, education levels, and nationality. Of the female population, 73% have had children, with a distribution of 23% having one child, 35% having two, and 18% having three or more. There has been a significant improvement in education, with 22% of the population holding a degree in 2022. The highest levels of education were found in the 1st, 2nd, and 12th districts of Budapest and in Telki. One-third of the population completed high school, while the proportion of those who only completed primary school or less decreased to 23%.

In terms of nationality, 86% of respondents answered, with the highest number, 210,000, identifying as Romanians, a decrease of 105,000 compared to 2011. The number of people identifying as Germans was 143,000, down by 42,000 from the previous census. The number of people identifying as Slovaks, Romanians, and Ukrainians was 30,000, 28,000, and 25,000 respectively.

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Foreign Citizens and Health Status

Data reveals that there were 218,000 foreign citizens living in Hungary in 2022, with three-quarters of them being European. Health status was another critical area covered by the census. Three-quarters of respondents answered the health question. Of these, 1.7 million reported having a chronic illness, 639,000 stated that their health significantly limits them, and 270,000 live with a disability.

Household Composition

On the home front, every third household has a single occupant. In 2022, there were 235 people per 100 households, a figure practically unchanged compared to 236 in 2011, indicating a stagnation in household composition over the last decade.

These figures provide a comprehensive overview of Hungary’s demographics, shedding light on various aspects including population, religious affiliation, fertility, education, nationality, and health status. Understanding these trends is crucial for both short-term and long-term planning and policy formulation in the country.

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