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Hungarian natural demographic decline highest in Europe
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A Central Statistical Office publication reveals demographic trends in Hungary. From fewer births to an ageing population, there are significant differences when it comes to districts of the country, as well as within the European Union.
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (Központi Statisztikai Hivatal, KSH) conducts its census every ten years in Hungary. The latest, though, originally planned for 2021, had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore was held a year later, between October and November of 2022.
Evaluation of the data has now been completed, and the Statistical Office’s recent publication, TÉR-KÉP 2022, reveals lots of information about the demographic trends in Hungary. TÉR-KÉP 2022 provides short analyses of the demographic processes in Hungary and the European Union.
Hungary’s population is in a decline
At the time of the census, the population of Hungary stood at 9 million 604 thousand people. This means a drop of 334 thousand souls since the previous, 2011 survey. A similar decline characterised most districts in the country. It was mostly in Budapest and its neighbouring regions, in the county of Győr-Moson-Sopron and near Lake Balaton where the number of inhabitants grew.
Demographic changes, KSH highlights, are influenced by the rates of births and deaths, as well as migration. Therefore, besides the age composition of the population, labour market opportunities also explain these developments.
There are slightly more women in the country: for every 1,000 men, the census found 1,078 women.
When it comes to the fertility rate, figures are not too bright, either
Compared to 2021, in 2022, there were 4.9 percent fewer births in the country, amounting to 88.5 thousand fewer children being born. Overall, the fertility index fell to 1.52 from 1.59 a year prior.
The index represents how many children women who are of childbearing age (meaning between the ages of 15-49) have in their lifetime on average in any given country. The total fertility rate of a population, mfor.hu writes in their analysis of the KSH figures, has to be around 2.1 for a population to be sustainable.
In Hungary, no county reached the critical 2.1 level: closest came Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén counties with 1.85 and 1.88 indexes, respectively. Comparably, in Budapest, this number was only 1.16.
Fewer births contribute to an ageing population
As for the ages of Hungarians, generally speaking, we are faced with an ageing demographic. Those 65 and older outnumber those who are younger than 15. 14.5% of the Hungarian population is between 0-14 years old, while 20.6%, almost 2 million people, is over 65. The majority, 54.5%, of Hungarians are in the 25-64 age group.
Now imagine Hungary in 10 or 20 years. Full of asian people replacing the old remaining Hungarians. The government will not taking them out, they are required. Exactly what orban was trying to avoid. But well, i guess Fidesz pockets are full for now.