Agriculture in Hungary - statistics & facts
While agriculture was a main pillar of the Hungarian economy in the 1990s, the economic importance of the industry has lessened over the years. By 2022, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector's contribution to the national economy, in terms of gross value added, had decreased to 3.7 percent from 8.5 percent in 1995.
The value of agricultural output has been constantly increasing in recent years, with mostly cereals driving Hungary’s agricultural production. In 2022, cereals accounted for approximately 27 percent of the country's gross agricultural output. Animals came second in the ranking, with a 24-percent share, followed by industrial crops and animal products. Cereals, however, recorded a slight decrease in production value in 2022, totaling 2.2 billion euros, while the highest figure was recorded in 2019 at nearly 2.5 billion euros. Animal husbandry has also been a significant contributor to the country’s agricultural output. The segment generated 4.1 billion euros in 2022, marking a 33-percent decrease compared to the previous year.
In recent years, the number of organic agricultural producers has experienced significant growth, reaching over 6,000 in 2022, marking an over 20 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, when it comes to animal husbandry, the number of dairy cows and other bovine animals heavily oscillated over the past years, with their number reaching 1,600 and 23,000 in 2022, respectively.
Hungary's agricultural area spans five million hectares, with Western Transdanubia recording the highest production intensity in 2022. In the same year, the production value of crops peaked at 6.2 billion euros in Hungary, while animal husbandry generated 4.1 billion euros. Organic farming is also gaining ground, with the share of organic agricultural land expected to reach 10 percent by 2027.
Agricultural landscape
Hungary’s agricultural area spreads over five million hectares, covering almost two-thirds of its territory. The country’s most significant agricultural regions include the Little Hungarian Plain, the Great Hungarian Plain, and Transdanubia. The highest agricultural production intensity was recorded in the region of Western Transdanubia in 2022, followed by Southern- and Central Transdanubia.The value of agricultural output has been constantly increasing in recent years, with mostly cereals driving Hungary’s agricultural production. In 2022, cereals accounted for approximately 27 percent of the country's gross agricultural output. Animals came second in the ranking, with a 24-percent share, followed by industrial crops and animal products. Cereals, however, recorded a slight decrease in production value in 2022, totaling 2.2 billion euros, while the highest figure was recorded in 2019 at nearly 2.5 billion euros. Animal husbandry has also been a significant contributor to the country’s agricultural output. The segment generated 4.1 billion euros in 2022, marking a 33-percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Organic farming
Alongside traditional farming, organic agriculture has been gaining ground in Hungary in recent years, with the share of land under organic farming reaching 6.3 percent as of 2022. The organic agricultural sector plays a vital role in achieving Hungary’s sustainability goals as it develops ways of food production that protect the environment and support a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture has made it a primary objective to increase the share of land under organic farming to at least 10 percent of the total agricultural area by 2027.In recent years, the number of organic agricultural producers has experienced significant growth, reaching over 6,000 in 2022, marking an over 20 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, when it comes to animal husbandry, the number of dairy cows and other bovine animals heavily oscillated over the past years, with their number reaching 1,600 and 23,000 in 2022, respectively.
Hungary's agricultural area spans five million hectares, with Western Transdanubia recording the highest production intensity in 2022. In the same year, the production value of crops peaked at 6.2 billion euros in Hungary, while animal husbandry generated 4.1 billion euros. Organic farming is also gaining ground, with the share of organic agricultural land expected to reach 10 percent by 2027.
