Hungary (Republic of Hungary)

https://www.humantruth.info/hungary.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Hungary Republic of Hungary
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	31st best
Capital	Budapest
Land Area	90 530km²₁
Location	Europe
Population	9.7m₂
Life Expectancy	74.53yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$32 789 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	HU, HUN, 348₅
Internet Domain	.hu₆
Currency	Forint (HUF)₇
Telephone	+36₈

1. Overview

“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 polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. 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. In 2011, Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU for the first time.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Hungary has always marched to a different drummer - speaking a language, preparing dishes and drinking wines like no others. It´s Europe at its most exotic. A short hop from Vienna, this land of Franz Liszt and Béla Bartók, paprika-lashed dishes and the romantic Danube River continues to enchant visitors. The allure of Budapest, once an imperial city, is obvious at first sight, and it also boasts the hottest nightlife in the region. Other cities, too, like Pécs, the warm heart of the south, and Eger, the wine capital of the north, have much to offer travellers, as does the sprawling countryside, particularly the Great Plain, where cowboys ride and cattle roam.
And where else can you laze about in an open-air thermal spa while snow patches glisten around you? In Hungary you´ll find all the glamour, excitement and fun of Western Europe - at half the cost.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Hungary National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
43=	Qatar	0.855
44	San Marino	0.853
45	Slovakia	0.848
46	Hungary	0.846
47	Argentina	0.842
48	Turkey	0.838
49	Montenegro	0.832
50	Kuwait	0.831
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
41	Portugal	$33 155
42	Poland	$33 034
43	Latvia	$32 803
44	Hungary	$32 789
45	Turkey	$31 033
46	Slovakia	$30 690
47	Bahamas	$30 486
48	Croatia	$30 132
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
28	S. Korea	53.8
29	Cyprus	53.9
30	Costa Rica	54.7
31	Hungary	54.7
32	Malta	55.8
33	Poland	56.3
34	Chile	57.5
35	USA	57.5
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Hungary's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #hungary #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Hungary's population is predicted to fall to 9 644 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.52. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
88	Sweden	10.0m
89	Jordan	10.0m
90	Azerbaijan	9.9m
91	Hungary	9.7m
92	UAE	9.6m
93	Honduras	9.6m
94	Belarus	9.5m
95	Tajikistan	9.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
62	Slovakia	74.9
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
83=	Belgium	1.53
84	Costa Rica	1.52
85=	Sweden	1.52
85=	Hungary	1.52
87	St Kitts & Nevis	1.51
88	Kosovo	1.51
89	Belarus	1.50
90	Netherlands	1.49
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₅
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
148	Norway	32.2
149	Iceland	32.5
150	Serbia	32.7
151	Hungary	32.9
152	Romania	33.6
153	USA	33.8
154	New Zealand	34.9
155	UK	35.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants₁₆
Pos.		2017 %₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
80	Turkey	6.0%
81	Syria	5.5%
82	Thailand	5.2%
83	Hungary	5.2%
84	Palestine	5.2%
85	Argentina	4.9%
86	Panama	4.7%
87	Tonga	4.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₇
Pos.		2010 %₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
113	Iraq	4.9%
114	Denmark	4.7%
115	Yemen	4.7%
116	Hungary	4.6%
117	Colombia	4.6%
118	Sierra Leone	4.6%
119	Philippines	4.6%
120	Egypt	4.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Hungary was violating human rights for the way it handled asylum seekers₁₈; the cause isn't that Hungary is experiencing large numbers of immigrants - the opposite: it has very few. The issue is the xenophobic and nationalist stance of Prime Minister Victor Orbán and his Fidesz Party. For more, see the section on Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #Hungary #hungary_women #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
43	Croatia	54.9
44	Liechtenstein	54.9
45	Dominica	57.3
46	Hungary	58.5
47	Bulgaria	58.6
48	Brazil	60.3
	Europe Avg	47.37
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Hungary does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Hungary comes in the best 20 in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀. It does better than average when it comes to LGBT equality₂₁, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₂, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃ (but bad for Europe), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄ (but bad for Europe), opposing gender inequality₂₅ (but bad for Europe), supporting press freedom₂₆ (but bad for Europe), eliminating modern slavery₂₇, its average Freedom in the World rating (but high for Europe) and in freethought₂₈ (but high for Europe). Hungary still has work to do. Hungary does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₉. Since 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, supported by his Fidesz Party, has been damaging Hungary's democracy with increasingly authoritarian measures₃₀. In 2017, the United Nations 'raised concerns about the government´s continued stigmatization of human rights defenders'₃₁. In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Hungary was violating human rights for the way it handled asylum seekers₁₈ and the European Parliament 'adopted a resolution characterizing the human rights situation as one that risked breaching EU values and calling for action under article 7 of the EU treaty'₃₁. By 2021, human rights continued to decline, with the Freedom of Thought report highlighting a top-down campaign of hate and legal discrimination against LGBT+ folk, government favouritism towards selected churches at the expense of others and loss of media freedom₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Hungary

5. Hungary's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #hungary #latvia #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)₃₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
34	Macedonia	70.4
35	Poland	70.8
36	Albania	71.4
37	Hungary	71.6
38	Slovakia	72.6
39	Serbia	72.7
40	Bosnia & Herzegovina	75.0
41=	Armenia	75.5
41=	Lithuania	75.5
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=52.

Health (2025)₃₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
64=	Puerto Rico	70.9
65	Barbados	71.0
66	Albania	71.4
67	Hungary	71.6
68	Slovakia	72.6
69	Serbia	72.7
70	Turks & Caicos Islands	74.3
71	Thailand	74.5
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₃. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₃.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₃, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₃.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Hungary has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Hungary does the best in terms of its immunizations take-up₃₄. It does better than average when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅, its average life expectancy₁₁ (but low for Europe), its adolescent birth rate₃₆ (but high for Europe) and in its fertility rate₁₄. Hungary doesn't do so well in other areas. Hungary does worse than average when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its suicide rate₃₈ (one of the highest in Europe) and in its smoking rate₃₉. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Hungary had the 2nd-lowest average fertility rate in the world throughout the 1960s (at 1.9, after Latvia). It has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 over each decade's average since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate on a single year was 2.35 in 1975. Life expectancy improved by +7.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, on par with the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
62	Slovakia	74.9
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₇
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
163	Belarus	11.2
164=	Andorra	11.3
164=	Equatorial Guinea	11.3
166	Hungary	11.4
167=	UK	11.5
167=	Gabon	11.5
167=	Slovakia	11.5
167=	Switzerland	11.5
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
83=	Belgium	1.53
84	Costa Rica	1.52
85=	Sweden	1.52
85=	Hungary	1.52
87	St Kitts & Nevis	1.51
88	Kosovo	1.51
89	Belarus	1.50
90	Netherlands	1.49
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2014₃₉
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
160	Cyprus	1 688
161	Croatia	1 709
162	Japan	1 713
163	Hungary	1 759
164	Estonia	1 775
165	Ukraine	1 854
166	Jordan	1 855
167	Austria	1 988
	Europe Avg	1 648
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate₃₈
Pos.		2013 Per 100k₃₈
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
82	Ukraine	44.8
83	Latvia	48.2
84	Japan	49.4
85	Hungary	50.6
86=	Kazakhstan	52.4
86=	Guyana	52.4
88	Belarus	57.5
89	S. Korea	62
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
30	Nicaragua	30
31	Armenia	31
32	Bangladesh	32
33	Hungary	33
34	Macedonia	34
35	India	35
36	Fiji	36
37	Thailand	37
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2016 %₄₀
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
144	Dominican Rep.	61.2
145	Syria	61.4
146=	Spain	61.6
146=	Hungary	61.6
146=	Costa Rica	61.6
146=	Tunisia	61.6
146=	Iran	61.6
151	Bulgaria	61.7
	Europe Avg	58.5
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₆
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
70	Lebanon	20.0
71	Kazakhstan	20.9
72	Turkmenistan	21.2
73	Hungary	21.9
74	Djibouti	22.7
75	Chile	22.8
76	Mauritius	24.0
77	Jordan	24.9
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₃₄
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₄
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
6	Czechia	98.7
7	Seychelles	98.6
8	S. Korea	98.6
9	Sri Lanka	98.4
10	St Lucia	98.2
11	Bahrain	98.2
12	Iran	98.1
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Hungary's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #hungary #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Europe (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
9	Italy	63.1
10	Ireland	63.1
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Hungary	65.8
13	Norway	66.9
14	Netherlands	71.1
15	Luxembourg	71.4
16	Sweden	71.8
17	Finland	71.9
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
44	Cyprus	64.8
45	Dominican Rep.	65.0
46	Ecuador	65.6
47	Hungary	65.8
48	Guatemala	66.1
49	Lesotho	66.1
50	Mexico	66.3
51	Norway	66.9
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

" Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Hungary ranks 47th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. Hungary does better than average in terms of its score on the Green Future Index₄₂ (but low for Europe), its environmental performance₄₃ (but low for Europe), its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₅. Hungary doesn't do so well in other areas. Hungary does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆ (still good for Europe) and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₄
Pos.		Total₄₄
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
40	Réunion	8.1%
41	UK	7.8%
42	Martinique	7.2%
43	Hungary	6.8%
44	India	6.7%
45	Costa Rica	6.2%
46	Switzerland	6.0%
47	Belarus	5.9%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₃
Pos.		2018₄₃
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
40	Albania	65.5
41	Croatia	65.5
42	Colombia	65.2
43	Hungary	65.0
44	Belarus	65.0
45	Romania	64.8
46	Dominican Rep.	64.7
47	Uruguay	64.7
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₅
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
73	Spain	0.98
74	Peru	0.99
75	Croatia	1.00
76	Hungary	1.01
77	Poland	1.01
78	Montenegro	1.03
79	Lesotho	1.03
80	Mauritius	1.03
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
49	Pakistan	67%
50	Liechtenstein	66%
51	Gambia	66%
52	Hungary	66%
53	Azerbaijan	66%
54	New Zealand	66%
55	Spain	66%
56	Guatemala	66%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
71	Sierra Leone	38.6%
72	France	38.4%
73	Mongolia	38.4%
74	Hungary	38.0%
75	Mauritania	38.0%
76	Croatia	37.8%
77	Cambodia	37.1%
78	Namibia	36.6%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₇
Pos.		2021 kg₄₇
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
146	New Zealand	81.4
147	S. Korea	81.5
148	Dominica	81.6
149	Hungary	82.1
150	UK	82.3
151	Czechia	82.4
152	Bahrain	82.8
153	Qatar	83.0
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Hungary was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.₄₇

Green Future Index Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		2023 Score₄₂
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
26	Uruguay	5.1
27	China	5.1
28	Japan	5.1
29	Hungary	5.1
30	Chile	5.1
31	Czechia	5.0
32	Singapore	5.0
33	Hong Kong	4.9
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Hungary's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #charity #corruption #croatia #economics #education #english #extremism #finland #happiness #health #human_development #hungary #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #maths #modernity #morals #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
14=	Czechia	21.8
15	Slovenia	22.5
16	France	26.8
17	Hungary	29.0
18	Spain	30.0
19	Latvia	30.3
20	Lithuania	31.4
21	Poland	33.2
22	Luxembourg	33.9
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
20	Japan	24.7
21	USA	26.4
22	France	26.8
23	Hungary	29.0
24	Israel	29.5
25	Spain	30.0
26	Latvia	30.3
27	Hong Kong	31.2
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₉. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₂
2	Israel	4.11₅₂
3	Japan	3.58₅₂
	...
22	Canada	1.61₅₂
23	Ireland	1.52₅₂
24	Estonia	1.43₅₂
25	Hungary	1.37₅₂
26	Italy	1.29₅₂
27	Portugal	1.28₅₂
28	Luxembourg	1.26₅₂
29	Spain	1.22₅₂
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₃
Pos.		2018₅₃
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
13	Georgia	98.0%
14	Slovenia	97.6%
15	Armenia	97.2%
16	Hungary	97.2%
17	Palau	97.1%
18	New Zealand	96.9%
19	Switzerland	96.5%
20	Moldova	96.4%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2021 Years₅₄
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
58	Belarus	15.2
59	Croatia	15.1
60	Montenegro	15.1
61	Hungary	15.0
62	Mongolia	15.0
63	Ukraine	15.0
64	Bolivia	14.9
65	Mexico	14.9
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
4	Denmark	4
5	UK	5
6	Austria	6
7	Finland	7
8	Netherlands	8
9	Belgium	9
10	Slovenia	10
11	Switzerland	11
12	New Zealand	12
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₅₅
Pos.		2015 Score₅₅
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
35	Iceland	1443
36	Croatia	1426
37	Lithuania	1425
38	Hungary	1424
39	Israel	1416
40	Argentina	1406₅₆
41	Malta	1391
42	Slovakia	1389
	Europe Avg	1417
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better₅₇
Pos.		2018 %₅₇
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
12=	France	11
12=	Belgium	11
14	Austria	12
15	Hungary	14
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
	Europe Avg	25.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2006₅₈
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
28=	Denmark	98
28=	USA	98
28=	Latvia	98
28=	Hungary	98
32	Ukraine	97
33=	Russia	97
33=	Belarus	97
35	Moldova	96
	Europe Avg	96.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better₅₉
Pos.		2016₅₉
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
35	Austria	81%
36	Ireland	81%
37	Barbados	80%
38	Hungary	80%
39	Kuwait	80%
40	Malta	80%
41	Chile	78%
42	Lithuania	77%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₀
Pos.		2012₆₀
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
4	Australia	18
5	Hungary	19
6=	Philippines	23
6=	Italy	23
8	UK	25
9=	S. Africa	26
9=	Argentina	26
11	Ukraine	27
12=	Brazil	27
	Europe Avg	31.4
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better₆₁
Pos.		2013₆₁
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
10	Philippines	0.24
11	Czechia	0.24
12	Argentina	0.27
13	Hungary	0.27
14	Peru	0.30
15	Latvia	0.33
16	Pakistan	0.38
17	Taiwan	0.44
	Europe Avg	0.80
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₂
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
25	New Zealand	9.7
26	Romania	8.7
27	Austria	7.5
28	Hungary	7.4
29	Guatemala	6.9
30	Saudi Arabia	6.8
31	Vietnam	5.9
32	Slovenia	5.4
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2024₆₃
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
33	Croatia	61.1%
34	Malta	61.0%
35	Slovakia	60.7%
36	Hungary	60.2%
37	Australia	59.7%
38	Greece	58.9%
39	Qatar	58.6%
40	Saudi Arabia	57.5%
	Europe Avg	61.0%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

National Culture:

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2022 %₆₄
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
62=	Estonia	40.0
62=	Uruguay	40.0
62=	Turkey	40.0
62=	Hungary	40.0
62=	India	40.0
62=	Cyprus	40.0
68	Malawi	39.0
69=	Slovenia	39.0
	Europe Avg	39.0
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2022 Points₆₅
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
80	Burkina Faso	42.0
81=	Solomon Islands	42.0
81=	Kuwait	42.0
81=	Hungary	42.0
84	Kosovo	41.0
85=	Tunisia	40.0
85=	Suriname	40.0
85=	Macedonia	40.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Thoughout the 2010s, Hungary's score on the Corruption Perception Index declined drastically; it was amongst the 10 countries with the worse rise in perceived corruption that decade.

Happiness Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2024 Score₆₆
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
66	Russia	5.9
67	Cyprus	5.9
68	China	5.9
69	Hungary	5.9
70	Trinidad & Tobago	5.9
71	Montenegro	5.9
72=	Croatia	5.9
72=	Jamaica	5.9
	Europe Avg	6.37
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
16	Slovenia	16
17	Latvia	17
18	Barbados	18
19	Hungary	19
20	Slovakia	20
21	Poland	21
22	Norway	22
23	Lithuania	23
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
20	Nicaragua	20
21	Portugal	21
22	Moldova	22
23	Hungary	23
24	Jordan	24
25	Mauritius	25
26	Zimbabwe	26
27	Canada	27
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₇
Pos.		2023 Score₆₇
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
15	Germany	1.46
16	Netherlands	1.49
17	Bhutan	1.50
18	Hungary	1.51
19	Malaysia	1.51
20	Belgium	1.52
21	Qatar	1.52
22	Australia	1.53
	Europe Avg	1.70
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
14	Singapore	14
15	Colombia	15
16	Costa Rica	16
17	Hungary	17
18	Japan	18
19	Chile	19
20	Kazakhstan	20
21	Thailand	21
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
40	Malaysia	40
41	Montenegro	41
42	Iceland	42
43	Hungary	43
44	Kenya	44
45	Serbia	45
46	Bolivia	46
47	Japan	47
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2019 Score₆₈
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
29	New Zealand	0.14
30	Uruguay	0.17
31	Dominican Rep.	0.18
32	Hungary	0.18
33	Switzerland	0.19
34	Latvia	0.23
35	S. Korea	0.30
36	Macedonia	0.30
	Europe Avg	1.62
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2019₆₉
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
27	France	3.80
28=	Germany	3.80
29	UK	4.10
30	Hungary	4.20
31=	Croatia	4.30
31=	Poland	4.30
31=	New Zealand	4.30
34	Belarus	4.40
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		2023 %₇₀
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₁
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₁
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₂
	...
23	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	28.7%₇₃
24	Croatia	28.9%₇₁
25	Kosovo	29.0%₇₄
26=	Hungary	29.2%₇₁
26=	Kazakhstan	29.2%₇₁
28	Maldives	29.3%₇₅
29	Albania	29.4%₇₂
30	Iraq	29.5%₇₆
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Hungary had the 3rd-lowest income inequality in the 1980s, beaten only by Finland and Croatia.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #Hungary #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_hungary #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)₅₇
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₇
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
12=	France	11
12=	Belgium	11
14	Austria	12
15	Hungary	14
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20	Australia	18
21=	Vietnam	18
22	Bulgaria	19
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27	Ireland	22
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₇₇
Pos.		Higher is better %₇₇
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
12	Cuba	40
13	Slovenia	35
14	Bulgaria	34
15	Hungary	32
16	Norway	31
17	S. Korea	30
18	Finland	28
19	Russia	27
20	Australia	25
21	Taiwan	24
22=	New Zealand	22
22=	Canada	22
24	Latvia	20
25=	Ukraine	20
25=	Mongolia	20
27	Austria	18
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₈:

Christian	81%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	18.6%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 81.2% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (32%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 81.5% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 14% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)₇₉.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on Hungary₈₀. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 6%. More people don't know what to believe (27%). Even more people believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (29%). Also, 3% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 13% believe in reincarnation.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Since 2010, the Fidesz party has let Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reduce and reverse religious tolerance in Hungary, with privileges given to specific churches at the expense of others, encouraging prejudice, intolerance and division₃₀.

Links: