Simple Facts
| Geography: 93,030 sq. km |
| Location: Central Europe, east of Austria |
| Population: 10 million |
| Capital: Budapest |
| Ethnic Make-up: Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7% |
| Language: Hungarian |
| Currency: Forint |
Economic Snapshot
Hungary is diligently working toward accession to the European Union and is showing strong economic growth. Unemployment and inflation have been substantially reduced and foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms is widespread. The key short-term issue is the reduction of the public sector deficit from its current 6% of GDP to 4.5% in 2003 and 3% in 2004
Cost of Living (in US dollars)
| One bedroom apartment: $275-450 |
| Monthly tram ticket: $21 |
| Cost of meal in a restaurant: $20 |
| Glass of beer: $2.50 |
| Coffee: $1.50 |
| Big Mac: $2.50 |
| Cinema Ticket: $5 |
Recent History
| 1919-20 | Hungary is temporarily occupied by Romanian forces. The first general election ever held in Hungary with a secret ballot, produces a parliament which chooses a kingdom as a system of state and elects Rear Admiral Miklós Horthy as regent. |
| 1939-44 | Hungary allies itself with Nazi Germany. |
| 1944 | A Hungarian fascist regime led by Ferenc Szálasi is installed. |
| 1945 | The Soviets occupy Hungary. |
| 1949-56 | Hungary is declared a People's Republic by Mátyás Rákosi. |
| 1956 | Following the revolution against the Communist dictatorship under Rákosi, Rákosi flees to the Soviet Union and is replaced by Imre Nagy; Nagy is later hanged for breaking from his communist past. Soviets install János Kádár as head of new government. |
| 1989 | After negotiations with West Germany, Hungary opens the border between Austria and Hungary, allowing East Germans to leave for West Germany. |
| 1989 | Hungary is declared a republic and Nagy is reburied as a national hero. |
| 1990 | The new multi-party parliament elects Józef Antall as Prime Minister. |
| 1992 | Hungary signs the Treaty of Associations with the European Community. |
| 1994 | Gyula Horn is elected Prime Minister. |
| 1998 | Viktor Orban is elected Prime Minister. |
| 1999 | Hungary joins NATO. |
| 2002 | In April parliamentary elections, the Hungarian Socialist Party and its ally, the Alliance of Free Democrats, narrowly defeat Orban's conservative coalition. Socialist Peter Medgyessy, a former finance minister, is sworn in as prime minister in May, leading a center-left coalition government with the Free Democrats. |
| 2004 | Hungary scheduled to become a full member of the EU. |
Culture Tips
- A firm handshake is customary upon greeting one another in Hungary. Close friends often embrace upon greeting. Men will shake hands, embrace, and make cheek-to cheek contact (first on the left cheek, then on the right). Close female friends will often do the same, omitting the handshake.
- Until invited, it is customary to use titles and surnames when addressing adults. Relatives and close friends use first names with one another. Where a man and a woman are involved, it is the woman who makes the decision.
- Close friends and relatives visit one another often in Hungary. While they may drop by to see one another unannounced, it is best to arrange visits in advance.
- Upon entering a Hungarian home, it is polite to remove your shoes. Hosts will normally have a pair of slippers for the guests to wear while visiting. The host will also help you remove your coat, and the visit will be casual and informal.
- First time guests do not stay long when visiting, and usually leave just after coffee is finished.
- All meals in Hungary are considered social occasions, and because of the legendary Hungarian hospitality, your Hungarian counterpart will almost always insist on paying the check.
- Meals are usually long with restaurants providing some form of entertainment during the evening.
- Always dress well, but do not expect high fashion, in food or clothes.
- Hungarians do not necessarily queue up for buses, etc. (although you must let people off the bus before you get on; to do otherwise is rude). In public, there can be much pushing and jostling.
- Names are written surname first, Christian names second.
- Hungarians celebrate name days (printed on most calendars) with colleagues and friends, and birthdays with close friends and relatives. A card and a small gift are appropriate for name days.
- It is customary for the man to enter a pub or restaurant first, and the woman to leave the pub/restaurant first.
Links
The following sites provide additional information about Hungary
http://www.fsz.bme.hu/hungary/homepage.html
http://hipcat.hungary.org/users/hipcat/
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/hu.html
http://www.hungaryemb.org/
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