Hungary

General Information

Capital

Budapest

Population

10,075,034 (July 2002 est.)

Currency

forint (HUF)

Location

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Languages

Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Holidays

St. Stephens Day, 20 August

A Closer Look

Background

Hungary was 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 announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily shifted toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary developed close political and economic ties to Western Europe. It joined NATO in 1999 and is a frontrunner in a future expansion of the EU.

Climate

temperate cold, cloudy, humid winters warm summers

Independence

1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

Constitution

18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system

Geography

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling plains hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Land Area

92,340 sq km

Water Area

690 sq km

Total Area

93,030 sq km

Land Boundaries

2,171 km

Border Countries

Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Yugoslavia 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)