Map of Hungary
Hungary is a country in Europe with its capital at Budapest, home to about 9.51 million people across 93,011 km². The interactive map below plots 20 cities and towns, 6 rivers, 1 lakes and 1 mountain summits recorded for Hungary in YearMaps.
- Population
- 9.51 million
- Area
- 93,011 km²
- Capital
- Budapest
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Hungary
Centred on Budapest at 47.5020° N, 19.0814° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest, and Austria to the west. Hungary lies within the Danube River's drainage basin and is dominated by great lowland plains. It has a population of over 9.5 million, consisting mostly of ethnic Hungarians (Magyars) and a significant Romani minority. Hungarian is the official language and among the few in Europe outside the Indo-European family. Budapest is the country's capital, largest city, and cultural and economic centre.
Before the establishment of the Hungarian state, the territory was settled by various groups, including Celts, Romans, Huns, Germanic peoples, Avars, and Slavs. Statehood began in the late ninth century with the Principality of Hungary, which became a medieval Christian kingdom under King Stephen I in 1000. After it was defeated by the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the kingdom was split into three regions for over 150 years until its reunion under Habsburg rule before the turn of the 18th century. Several uprisings against the Habsburgs precipitated the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in the Compromise of 1867; Austria-Hungary remained a European great power until World War I. Hungary's modern borders were then established by the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, which resulted in severe losses for the country, including 71% of its historical territory and the majority of its economy and population; a third of ethnic Hungarians were left outside the new borders.
Hungary endured turmoil in the early interwar period, culminating in the national-conservative regime of regent Miklós Horthy. Hungary joined the Axis powers in World War II, suffering significant damage and casualties. After a brief Soviet occupation, the Hungarian People's Republic was established in 1949 as a satellite state inside the Warsaw Pact. Subsequent political repression and economic stagnation led to the unsuccessful Hungarian Revolution of 1956, though communist rule softened in the following decades. During the Revolutions of 1989, Hungary peacefully transitioned into a democratic parliamentary republic. It joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and the Schengen Area in 2007. Under the leadership of Viktor Orbán and Fidesz from 2010 to 2026, the country experienced democratic backsliding.
Hungary is a high-income economy with universal health care and tuition-free tertiary education.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Hungary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Hungary
Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule after World War II. In 1956, Moscow responded to a Hungarian revolt and announcement of its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact with a massive military intervention. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.
- Location
- Central Europe, northwest of Romania.
- Climate
- Temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers.
- Terrain
- Mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border.
- Highest point
- Kekes 1,014 m.
- Lowest point
- Tisza River 78 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land borders
- Total: 2,106 km; border countries: Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km.
- Major rivers
- Duna (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Lake Balaton - 590 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.); arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.); forest: 22.7% (2023 est.); other: 20.9% (2023 est.)
- Geographic note
- Landlocked; strategic location on main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula, as well as between Ukraine and the Mediterranean basin; the Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions.
- Languages
- Hungarian (official) 98.8%, English 25.3%, German 12.6%, Russian 2.1%, French 1.5%, Romanian 1.4%, other 5.1% (2022 est.)
- Religions
- Catholic 30.1% (Roman Catholic 27.5%, Greek Catholic 1.7%, other Catholic 0.9%), Calvinist 9.8%, Lutheran 1.8%, other Christian (includes Orthodox) 1.6%, other 0.4%, none 16.1%, no answer 40.1% (2022 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Hungarian 84.3%, Romani 2.1%, German 1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 13.7% (2022 est.)
- Economy
- High-income EU and OECD economy; modest recovery from 2024 recession driven by private consumption and moderated inflation; challenges include high fiscal deficits, frozen access to EU funds, and risks from export reliance; implementing tax exemptions, price controls, and mortgage interest caps ahead of 2026 elections.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Hungary in Numbers
- Population
- 9.51 million
- GDP
- US$246.5 billion
- GDP per person
- US$25,907
- Life expectancy
- 76.7 years
- Population growth
- -0.50% a year
- Population density
- 105 per km²
- Urban population
- 70.7%
- Surface area
- 93,030 km²
- Forest cover
- 22.8%
- Arable land
- 45.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 93.8%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Hungary in Depth
History
The Roman Empire conquered the territory between the Alps and the area west of the Danube River from 16 to 15 BC, the Danube being the frontier of the empire. In 14 BC, Pannonia, the western part of the Carpathian Basin, which includes the west of today's Hungary, was recognised by emperor Augustus in the Res Gestae Divi Augusti as part of the Roman Empire. The area south-east of Pannonia was organised as the Roman province Moesia in 6 BC. An area east of the river Tisza became the Roman province of Dacia in 106 AD, which included today's east Hungary. It remained under Roman rule until 271.
From 235, the Roman Empire went through troubled times, caused by revolts, rivalry and rapid succession of emperors.
Geography
Hungary is a landlocked country. Its geography has traditionally been defined by its two main waterways, the Danube and Tisza rivers. The common tripartite division—Dunántúl ("beyond the Danube", Transdanubia), Tiszántúl ("beyond the Tisza"), and Duna–Tisza köze ("between the Danube and Tisza")—is a reflection of this. The Danube flows north–south through the centre of contemporary Hungary, and the entire country lies within its drainage basin.
Transdanubia, which stretches westward from the centre of the country towards Austria, is a primarily hilly region with a terrain varied by low mountains.
Economy
Hungary is an OECD high-income mixed economy with a very high human development index and skilled labour force with the 16th lowest income inequality in the world. Furthermore, it is the 9th most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index. The economy is the 57th-largest in the world (out of 188 countries measured by IMF) with $265.037 billion output and ranks 49th in the world in terms of GDP per capita by purchasing power parity. The annual median equivalised disposable income was $15,361 (PPP) in 2021. The employment rate was 68.3% in 2017; the employment structure shows the characteristics of post-industrial economies, 63.2% of employed workforce work in service sector, the industry contributed by 29.7%, while agriculture with 7.1%.
Demographics
Hungary's population was 9,689,000 in 2021, according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, making it the fifth most populous country in Central and Eastern Europe, and a medium-sized member state of the European Union. As in other former Eastern bloc countries, its population has decreased markedly since the fall of communism, having peaked at 10.8 million in 1980. Population density stands at 107 inhabitants per square kilometre, which is about two times higher than the world average.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Hungary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hungary: Key Facts
| Currency | forint |
|---|---|
| Official language | Hungarian |
| Head of government | Péter Magyar |
| Form of government | parliamentary republic |
| Calling code | +36 |
| Internet domain | .hu |
| Highest point | Kékes |
| Lowest point | Gyálarét |
| Established | 1000 |
Facts from Wikidata Q28 (CC0).
History of Hungary: Empires and States
The atlas records 32 polities whose mapped territory included part of Hungary, from The Roman Empire in 43 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Roman Empire | 43–450 CE | A large part |
| Western Roman Empire | 395–450 CE | A large part |
| Huns | 407–425 CE | A large part |
| Hunnic Empire | 426–454 CE | Nearly all |
| Ostrogoths | 455–499 CE | A large part |
| Ostrogothic Kingdom | 500–545 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of the Gepids | 510–566 CE | A large part |
| Lombards | 546–568 CE | Most |
| Avar Khaganate | 567–805 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of the Franks | 793–849 CE | Most |
| Carolingian Empire | 793–899 CE | Most |
| First Bulgarian Empire | 806–899 CE | A large part |
| Great Moravia | 850–895 CE | A small part |
| East Franks | 850–899 CE | A large part |
| Principality of Hungary | 900–999 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Hungary | 1000–1546 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Bohemia | 1305–1313 CE | A small part |
| The Holy Roman Empire | 1305–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| House of Habsburg | 1450–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| Vassalage of Electorate of Brandenburg to Holy Roman Empire | 1450–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| The Ottoman Empire | 1529–1686 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Spain | 1540–1555 CE | A large part |
| The Spanish Empire | 1540–1555 CE | A large part |
| Eastern Hungarian Kingdom | 1547–1571 CE | A small part |
| Habsburg Monarchy | 1556–1805 CE | Nearly all |
| Principality of Transylvania | 1622–1695 CE | A small part |
| Austrian Empire | 1806–1867 CE | Nearly all |
| Hungarian Nationalists | 1849–1957 CE | Nearly all |
| Austria-Hungary | 1868–1918 CE | Nearly all |
| Hungarian Republic | 1919–1943 CE | Nearly all |
| Hungary | 1947–2024 CE | Nearly all |
| Hungarian People's Republic | 1950–1989 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Hungary
Hungary on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Hungary
Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország) is a small landlocked country in central Europe, at a historical crossroads between the Balkans and the Great Eurasian Steppe. Its capital city, Budapest, boasts Habsburg architecture, and ornate Turkish bathhouses remnant of its Ottoman past, while its villages preserve strong folk traditions. Straddling the Peri-Carpathian Steppe and the Carpathian Mountains, Hungary offers a diverse range of landscapes—from relatively low mountain ranges and thermal hot springs, to the Great Plain in the east, along with a variety of lakes and rivers. The vast Lake Balaton is a key destination for Hungary's warm summers.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Hungary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Hungary
20 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 1.68 million | Budapest | National capital |
| 2 | Miskolc | 247,757 | Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Debrecen | 231,286 | Hajdú-Bihar | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Szeged | 187,765 | Csongrád | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Pécs | 186,262 | Baranya | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Nyíregyháza | 176,880 | Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Székesfehérvár | 144,319 | Fejér | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Győr | 136,081 | Gyor-Moson-Sopron | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Kecskemét | 113,895 | Bács-Kiskun | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Szombathely | 109,518 | Vas | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Szolnok | 109,261 | Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Kaposvár | 108,528 | Somogy | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Tatabánya | 70,541 | Komárom-Esztergom | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Békéscsaba | 65,206 | Békés | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Veszprém | 62,023 | Veszprém | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Zalaegerszeg | 61,898 | Zala | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Eger | 56,647 | Heves | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Salgótarján | 39,640 | Nógrád | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Vác | 35,293 | Pest | Populated place |
| 20 | Szekszárd | 34,174 | Tolna | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Hungary
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kékes | 1,015 m | 3,330 ft | Europe |
Kékes
Mountain · 1,015 m
Kékes is a mountain rising to 1,015 metres (3,330 ft) in Hungary, in the Europe region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Kékes [ˈkeːkɛʃ] is Hungary's highest mountain, at 1,014 metres (3,327 ft) above sea level in the Mátra mountain range. It is Hungary's third most popular tourist attraction, after Lake Balaton and the Danube, and has a number of skiing pistes. The Kékestető TV Tower stands at the summit. Kékestető is a resort place surrounding the summit, and is part of the town of Gyöngyös in Heves county. It is 18 km away from the town center. As of the 2022 census, it has a population of 14. The resort is reachable by bus from Budapest.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Kékes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,015 m (3,330 ft)
- Global rank
- #557 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#66)
- Country
- Hungary
- Coordinates
- 47.8801°, 20.0100°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Kékes ranks #557 by elevation, below Mont Nabeba (1,020 m) and above Monts de la Lékéti (1,000 m).
- Ranges:
- Tatra Mountains (Europe), Carpathian Mountains (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Moldoveanu (2,543 m), Sněžka (1,603 m), Triglav (2,864 m)
- Settlements below:
- Eger (28 km), Salgótarján (29 km), Miskolc (62 km)
More about Kékes
History
The Hungarian Carpathian Association built a 20 m high wooden watchtower at east of the summit in 1889. With the Treaty of Trianon, Kékes became the highest mountain in the country in 1920. Before that, the Gerlachovský štít was the highest peak of the Kingdom of Hungary. The watchtower was rebuilt and named after József Vass in 1926. The Kékes luxury hotel, the meteorological station and the road to Mátraháza were built in 1934. The watchtower was demolished in 1938. The luxury hotel was converted into a sanatorium in 1951 and the trade union resort was built. The skiers' houses were built in 1953. A 65-meter TV tower, made of andesite, was handed over in 1960. A new 178-meter-high TV tower was built in 1980, and the older one was converted into a hotel.
Climate
Kékes Peak is the highest altitude region in Hungary, so it has the highest altitude weather station in the country. Although the mountain is still classified as a temperate humid continental climate (Dfb) according to the Köppen climate classification, it is very close to a subarctic climate (Dfc). Unlike cities in the plains such as Miskolc, which is also classified as a humid continental climate (Dfb), it is closer to an oceanic climate (Cfb) and may even be subtropical humid (Cfa). The annual average temperature of Kékes is 6.4 °C (43.5 °F), which is about 5 °C (9.0 °F) lower than that of Budapest or Miskolc. August is the warmest month with an average temperature of 16.4 °C (61.5 °F); January is the coldest month with −3.4 °C (25.9 °F).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kékes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kékes: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 774 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Mátra |
Facts from Wikidata Q747618 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Hungary
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Balaton | 544 km² | Lake |
Lake Balaton
Lake · 544 km²
Lake Balaton is a lake in Hungary, with a mapped surface area of about 544 km².
Lake Balaton (Hungarian: [ˈbɒlɒton] ) is a freshwater rift lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow.
The mountainous region of the northern shore is known both for its historic character and as a major wine region, while the flat southern shore is known for its resort towns. Balatonfüred and Hévíz developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th century when landowners, ruined by Phylloxera attacking their grape vines, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle class.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Balaton (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 544 km²
- Area rank
- #295 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Lake
- Country
- Hungary
- Coordinates
- 46.9847°, 18.0734°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Lake Balaton ranks #295 by surface area, after Gyaring Hu (544 km²) and ahead of Lake Payne (544 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
- Settlements on the shore:
- Veszprém (17 km), Székesfehérvár (34 km), Tatabánya (68 km)
- Other water nearby:
- Lake Skadar (379 km²), Lago di Garda (353 km²)
More about Lake Balaton
History
It always has been an important location, both tactically and culturally (with many folk tales surrounding it). During the Ottoman wars played an important role in defending Royal Hungary where even battles were fought. While a few settlements on Lake Balaton, including Balatonfüred and Hévíz, have long been resort centres for the Hungarian aristocracy, it was only in the late 19th century that the Hungarian middle class began to visit the lake. The construction of railways in 1861 and 1909 increased tourism substantially, but the post-war boom of the 1950s was much larger.
Climate
Lake Balaton affects precipitation in the local area. The area receives approximately 5–7 cm (2–3 in) more precipitation than most of Hungary, resulting in more cloudy days and less extreme temperatures. The lake freezes over during winters. The microclimate around Lake Balaton has also made the region ideal for viticulture. The Mediterranean-like climate, combined with the soil (containing volcanic rock), has made the region notable for its production of wines since the Roman period 2,000 years ago.
Tourism
The major resorts around the lake are Siófok, Keszthely, and Balatonfüred. Zamárdi, another resort town on the southern shore, has been the site of Balaton Sound, a notable electronic music festival since 2007. Balatonkenese has hosted numerous traditional gastronomic events. Siófok is known for attracting young people to it because of its large clubs. Keszthely is the site of the Festetics Palace and Balatonfüred is a historical bathing town which hosts the annual Anna Ball.
The peak tourist season extends from June until the end of August. The average water temperature during the summer is 25 °C (77 °F), which makes bathing and swimming popular on the lake. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks, or the silty sand that also makes up most of the bottom of the lake.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Balaton (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Lake Balaton: Key Facts
| Surface area | 592 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 12.5 m |
| Volume | 1.9 km³ |
| Surface elevation | 104 m |
| Inflows | Zala, Tapolca Stream |
| Outflows | Sió |
| Drainage system | Danube basin |
Facts from Wikidata Q6383 (CC0).
Rivers in Hungary
6 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary
7 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue | 1987 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 2 | Hollókő | 1987 | Cultural | (v) |
| 3 | Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst | 1995 | Natural | (viii) |
| 4 | Pannonhalma Archabbey | 1996 | Cultural | (iv) (vi) |
| 5 | Hortobágy National Park | 1999 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 6 | Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs | 2000 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 7 | Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape | 2002 | Cultural | (iii) (v) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Hungary
4 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | Carpathian Mountains | 220,248 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 3 | Alps | 176,042 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 4 | Alföld | 100,263 km² | Plain | Europe |
Countries Bordering Hungary
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Hungary: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Hungary?
- The capital of Hungary is Budapest.
- What is the population of Hungary?
- Hungary has a population of about 9.51 million, the #97 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Hungary?
- Hungary covers 93,011 km², ranking #111 by area, with about 102 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Hungary in?
- Hungary is in Europe.
- Which countries border Hungary?
- Hungary shares a land or maritime border with Austria, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia.
- What is the largest city in Hungary?
- Budapest is the largest city in Hungary, with a metropolitan population of about 1.68 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Hungary?
- The highest summit recorded for Hungary in YearMaps is Kékes at 1,015 m (3,330 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Hungary?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Hungary is Lake Balaton, at roughly 544 km².