Hungary’s population amounted to 9.7 million people as of January 2023, which was the lowest value recorded in the past three decades. Factors such as low fertility rate and emigration have contributed to the population decline. Although Hungary’s fertility rate has increased considerably over the last few years, in 2022, it was still far below the 2.1 value necessary for sustaining the country’s population.
When it comes to same-sex marriage, the Hungarian government and the majority of the population share conventional beliefs. In 2010, the government passed a new constitution that banned same-sex marriages, leaving registered partnerships as the only alternative. Consequently, the number of registered partnerships has followed an increasing trend in the country, totaling 150 partnerships in 2022 compared to only 80 recorded in 2010.
Hungary’s strict asylum policy detained large numbers of first-time asylum applicants which resulted in an increase in illegal immigration over the past decade. The number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in Hungary peaked in 2015 at nearly 12 thousand individuals. However, by 2022, this number decreased to 2.5 thousand due to increased security measures and police presence at the country’s southern borders.
The traditional family model
Most Hungarians value a traditional family model — over 40 percent were married, 12 percent were divorced, and a further 10 percent were widowed as of January 1, 2023. During the last decade, more and more people decided to get married while the number of divorces decreased. However, 2022 recorded a sharp decrease in the number of marriages compared to the previous year and the number of divorces totaled nearly three thousand higher than the figure recorded in 2020.When it comes to same-sex marriage, the Hungarian government and the majority of the population share conventional beliefs. In 2010, the government passed a new constitution that banned same-sex marriages, leaving registered partnerships as the only alternative. Consequently, the number of registered partnerships has followed an increasing trend in the country, totaling 150 partnerships in 2022 compared to only 80 recorded in 2010.
A homogenous society and immigration
The Hungarian society is rather homogenous as in 2022, the share of foreign citizens in the whole population totaled just above two percent. The number of immigrants arriving in Hungary followed a growing trend after 2013, peaking at nearly 89 thousand persons in 2019. Most foreign citizens chose Budapest as their place of residence, with Békés county accommodating the lowest number of internationals (five people per a thousand inhabitants).Hungary’s strict asylum policy detained large numbers of first-time asylum applicants which resulted in an increase in illegal immigration over the past decade. The number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in Hungary peaked in 2015 at nearly 12 thousand individuals. However, by 2022, this number decreased to 2.5 thousand due to increased security measures and police presence at the country’s southern borders.
