Hungary vs. Romania
Introduction
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | 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. | The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007. |
Geography
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Europe, northwest of Romania | Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine |
| Geographic coordinates | 47 00 N, 20 00 E | 46 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Map references | Europe | Europe |
| Area | total: 93,028 sq km land: 89,608 sq km water: 3,420 sq km | total: 238,391 sq km land: 229,891 sq km water: 8,500 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana | twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,106 km border countries (7): Austria 321 km, Croatia 348 km, Romania 424 km, Serbia 164 km, Slovakia 627 km, Slovenia 94 km, Ukraine 128 km | total: 2,844 km border countries (5): Bulgaria 605 km, Hungary 424 km, Moldova 683 km, Serbia 531 km, Ukraine 601 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 225 km |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| Climate | temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers | temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms |
| Terrain | mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border | central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Kekes 1,014 m lowest point: Tisza River 78 m mean elevation: 143 m | highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 414 m |
| Natural resources | bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land | petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 58.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 48.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.) forest: 22.5% (2018 est.) other: 18.6% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.) forest: 28.7% (2018 est.) other: 10.6% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,721 sq km (2012) | 31,490 sq km (2012) |
| Environment - current issues | air and water pollution are some of Hungary's most serious environmental problems; water quality in the Hungarian part of the Danube has improved but is still plagued by pollutants from industry and large-scale agriculture; soil pollution | soil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions | controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, while the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria |
| Total renewable water resources | 104 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 212.01 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations | urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania |
Demographics
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,728,337 (July 2021 est.) | 21,230,362 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 14.54% (male 731,542/female 689,739) 15-24 years: 10.43% (male 526,933/female 492,388) 25-54 years: 42.17% (male 2,075,763/female 2,044,664) 55-64 years: 12.17% (male 552,876/female 636,107) 65 years and over: 20.69% (male 773,157/female 1,248,658) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 14.12% (male 1,545,196/female 1,463,700) 15-24 years: 10.31% (male 1,126,997/female 1,068,817) 25-54 years: 46.26% (male 4,993,886/female 4,860,408) 55-64 years: 11.73% (male 1,176,814/female 1,322,048) 65 years and over: 17.58% (male 1,516,472/female 2,228,555) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 43.6 years male: 41.5 years female: 45.5 years (2020 est.) | total: 42.5 years male: 41 years female: 44 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | -0.29% (2021 est.) | -0.38% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 8.72 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.39 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 12.88 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 11.99 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 9.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 76.95 years male: 73.27 years female: 80.83 years (2021 est.) | total population: 76.3 years male: 72.88 years female: 79.94 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.48 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.38 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | <.1% (2018 est.) | 0.1% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian | noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian |
| Ethnic groups | Hungarian 85.6%, Romani 3.2%, German 1.9%, other 2.6%, unspecified 14.1% (2011 est.) note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5-10% of Hungary's population | Romanian 83.4%, Hungarian 6.1%, Romani 3.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.2%, other 0.7%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5-11% of Romania's population |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 3,700 (2018 est.) | 19,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 37.2%, Calvinist 11.6%, Lutheran 2.2%, Greek Catholic 1.8%, other 1.9%, none 18.2%, no response 27.2% (2011 est.) | Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <100 (2018 est.) | <500 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children |
| Languages | Hungarian (official) 99.6%, English 16%, German 11.2%, Russian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, French 1.2%, other 4.2%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Hungarian is the mother tongue of 98.9% of Hungarian speakers (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): A World Factbook nélkülözhetetlen forrása az alapveto információnak. (Hungarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.1% female: 99% (2015) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.1% female: 98.6% (2018) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2018) | total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 4.7% of GDP (2017) | 3.1% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 72.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 54.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 95.3% of population rural: 71.5% of population total: 84.3% of population unimproved: urban: 4.7% of population rural: 28.5% of population total: 15.7% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.772 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2021) | 1.794 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Health expenditures | 6.7% (2018) | 5.6% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
| Hospital bed density | 7 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 26.4% (2016) | 22.5% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 28.3 years (2019 est.) | 26.9 years (2019 est.) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 46.9 youth dependency ratio: 22 elderly dependency ratio: 30.8 potential support ratio: 3.2 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 53.3 youth dependency ratio: 23.8 elderly dependency ratio: 29.5 potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Hungary local long form: none local short form: Magyarorszag former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic etymology: the Byzantine Greeks refered to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the "Oungroi," a name that was later Latinized to "Ungri" and which became "Hungari"; the name originally meant an "[alliance of] ten tribes"; the Hungarian name "Magyarorszag" means "Country of the Magyars"; the term may derive from the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes, the Megyer | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania etymology: the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century |
| Government type | parliamentary republic | semi-presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Budapest geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the Hungarian capital city was formed in 1873 from the merger of three cities on opposite banks of the Danube: Buda and Obuda (Old Buda) on the western shore and Pest on the eastern; the origins of the original names are obscure, but according to the second century A.D. geographer, Ptolemy, the settlement that would become Pest was called "Pession" in ancient times; "Buda" may derive from either a Slavic or Turkic personal name | name: Bucharest geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy" |
| Administrative divisions | 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 cities with county rights (megyei jogu varosok, singular - megyei jogu varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros) counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala cities with county rights: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg capital city: Budapest | 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea |
| Independence | 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established) | 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) |
| National holiday | Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083 | Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) |
| Constitution | history: previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following the collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by parliamentary committee, or by Parliament members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament members and approval by the president; amended several times, last in 2018 | history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania's counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or - if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 |
| Legal system | civil legal system influenced by the German model | civil law system |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Janos ADER (since 10 May 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in first round or simple majority vote in second round for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 March 2017 (next to be held spring 2022); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held on 10 May 2018 (next to be held by spring 2022) election results: Janos ADER (Fidesz) reelected president; National Assembly vote - 131 to 39; Viktor ORBAN (Fidesz) reelected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 134 to 28 | chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Florin CITU (since 23 December 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Dan BARNA and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament election results: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Ludovic ORBAN approved as prime minister with 240 votes |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (199 seats; 106 members directly elected in single-member constituencies by simple majority vote and 93 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by party list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 8 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2022) election results: percent of vote by party list - Fidesz-KDNP 49.3%, Jobbik 19.1%, MSZP-PM 11.9%, LMP 7.1%, DK 5.4%, Momentum Movement 3.1%, Together 0.7%, LdU 0.5%, other 2.9%; seats by party - Fidesz 117, Jobbik 26, KDNP 16, MSZP 15, DK 9, LMP 8, PM 5, Together 1, LdU 1, independent 1; composition - men 174, women 25, percent of women 12.6% | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition men NA, women NA, percent of women NA; note - total Parliament percent of women NA% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Curia or Supreme Judicial Court (consists of the president, vice president, department heads, and approximately 91 judges and is organized into civil, criminal, and administrative-labor departments; Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Curia president elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president of the republic; other Curia judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a separate 15-member administrative body; judge tenure based on interim evaluations until normal retirement at age 62; Constitutional Court judges, including the president of the court, elected by the National Assembly; court vice president elected by the court itself; members serve 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: 5 regional courts of appeal; 19 regional or county courts (including Budapest Metropolitan Court); 20 administrative-labor courts; 111 district or local courts | highest courts: High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN] Democratic Coalition or DK [Ferenc GYURCSANY] Dialogue for Hungary (Parbeszed) or PM [Gergely KARACSONY, Timea SZABO] Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN] Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP [Bertalan TOTH] Momentum Movement (Momentum Mozgalom) [Andras FEKETE-GYOR] Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik [Tamas SNEIDER] National Self-Government of Germans in Hungary or LdU [Olivia SCHUBERT] Politics Can Be Different or LMP [Marta DEMETER, Laszlo LORANT-KERESZTES] Together (Egyutt) | 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance [Dan BARNA and Dacian CIOLOS] Alliance for the Unity of Romanians [George SIMION and Claudiu TARZIU] Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU] Civic Hungarian Party [Zsolt BIRO] Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN] Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP] Greater Romania Party or PRM [Adrian POPESCU] M10 Party [Ioana CONSTANTIN] National Liberal Party or PNL [Ludovic ORBAN] New Romania Party or PNR [Sebastian POPESCU] Our Romania Alliance [Marian MUNTEANU] Party of Liberty, Unity, and Solidarity or PLUS [Dacian CIOLOS] Party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or ALDE [Calin POPESCU TARICEANU] Popular Movement Party or PMP [Traian BASESCU] Romanian Social Party or PSRo [Mircea GEOANA] Save Romania Union Party or Partidul USR [Dan BARNA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcel CIOLACU] United Romania Party or PRU [Robert BUGA] |
| International organization participation | Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKACS (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 email address and website: info@mfa.gov.hu https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cristian GAGINSKY (since 19 June 2021) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 email address and website: washington@mae.ro (chancery) contact@informatiiconsulare.ro (consular section) https://washington.mae.ro/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marc DILLARD (since 30 October 2020) embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4248 email address and website: acs.budapest@state.gov https://hu.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David MUNIZ (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442 email address and website: ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green; the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag; folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red is seen as being for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for the pasturelands that make up so much of the country | three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova |
| National anthem | name: "Himnusz" (Hymn) lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL note: adopted 1844 | name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen); national colors: red, white, green | golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Hungary dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Economy
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Hungary has transitioned from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy with a per capita income approximately two thirds of the EU-28 average; however, in recent years the government has become more involved in managing the economy. Budapest has implemented unorthodox economic policies to boost household consumption and has relied on EU-funded development projects to generate growth.
Following the fall of communism in 1990, Hungary experienced a drop-off in exports and financial assistance from the former Soviet Union. Hungary embarked on a series of economic reforms, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and reduction of social spending programs, to shift from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy, and to reorient its economy towards trade with the West. These efforts helped to spur growth, attract investment, and reduce Hungary's debt burden and fiscal deficits. Despite these reforms, living conditions for the average Hungarian initially deteriorated as inflation increased and unemployment reached double digits. Conditions slowly improved over the 1990s as the reforms came to fruition and export growth accelerated. Economic policies instituted during that decade helped position Hungary to join the European Union in 2004. Hungary has not yet joined the euro-zone. Hungary suffered a historic economic contraction as a result of the global economic slowdown in 2008-09 as export demand and domestic consumption dropped, prompting it to take an IMF-EU financial assistance package.
Since 2010, the government has backpedaled on many economic reforms and taken a more populist approach towards economic management. The government has favored national industries and government-linked businesses through legislation, regulation, and public procurements. In 2011 and 2014, Hungary nationalized private pension funds, which squeezed financial service providers out of the system, but also helped Hungary curb its public debt and lower its budget deficit to below 3% of GDP, as subsequent pension contributions have been channeled into the state-managed pension fund. Hungary's public debt (at 74.5% of GDP) is still high compared to EU peers in Central Europe. Real GDP growth has been robust in the past few years due to increased EU funding, higher EU demand for Hungarian exports, and a rebound in domestic household consumption. To further boost household consumption ahead of the 2018 election, the government embarked on a six-year phased increase to minimum wages and public sector salaries, decreased taxes on foodstuffs and services, cut the personal income tax from 16% to 15%, and implemented a uniform 9% business tax for small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies. Real GDP growth slowed in 2016 due to a cyclical decrease in EU funding, but increased to 3.8% in 2017 as the government pre-financed EU funded projects ahead of the 2018 election.
Systemic economic challenges include pervasive corruption, labor shortages driven by demographic declines and migration, widespread poverty in rural areas, vulnerabilities to changes in demand for exports, and a heavy reliance on Russian energy imports. | Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks. Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest's annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018. An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania's long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $321.869 billion (2019 est.) $307.778 billion (2018 est.) $291.995 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $579.549 billion (2019 est.) $556.442 billion (2018 est.) $532.611 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 4.58% (2019 est.) 5.44% (2018 est.) 4.45% (2017 est.) | 4.2% (2019 est.) 4.54% (2018 est.) 7.11% (2017 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $32,945 (2019 est.) $31,485 (2018 est.) $29,832 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $29,941 (2019 est.) $28,576 (2018 est.) $27,192 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 31.3% (2017 est.) services: 64.8% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 4.2% (2017 est.) industry: 33.2% (2017 est.) services: 62.6% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 12.3% (2018 est.) | 23.8% (2018 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (2015) | lowest 10%: 15.3% highest 10%: 7.6% (2014 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.3% (2019 est.) 2.8% (2018 est.) 2.3% (2017 est.) | 3.8% (2019 est.) 4.6% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 4.414 million (2020 est.) | 4.889 million (2020 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 4.9% industry: 30.3% services: 64.5% (2015 est.) | agriculture: 28.3% industry: 28.9% services: 42.8% (2014) |
| Unemployment rate | 3.45% (2019 est.) 3.71% (2018 est.) | 3.06% (2019 est.) 3.56% (2018 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 30.6 (2017 est.) 28.6 (2014) | 36 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2010) |
| Budget | revenues: 61.98 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 64.7 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 62.14 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 68.13 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles | electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials |
| Industrial production growth rate | 7.4% (2017 est.) | 5.5% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, barley, rapeseed, sugar beet, apples, pork, grapes | maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, barley, grapes, sugar beet, rapeseed, plums/sloes |
| Exports | $167.99 billion (2019 est.) $158.802 billion (2018 est.) $151.185 billion (2017 est.) | $114.311 billion (2019 est.) $110.685 billion (2018 est.) $105.188 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, spark-ignition engines, video displays, broadcasting equipment (2019) | cars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Germany 27%, Romania 5%, Italy 5%, Slovakia 5% (2019) | Germany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019) |
| Imports | $159.63 billion (2019 est.) $148.471 billion (2018 est.) $138.773 billion (2017 est.) | $136.091 billion (2019 est.) $127.553 billion (2018 est.) $117.292 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum (2019) | cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Imports - partners | Germany 25%, China 6%, Poland 6%, Austria 6%, Czechia 5%, Slovakia 5%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) | Germany 19%, Italy 9%, Hungary 7%, Poland 6%, China 5%, France 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $123.256 billion (2019 est.) $125.29 billion (2018 est.) | $117.829 billion (2019 est.) $115.803 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | forints (HUF) per US dollar - 295.3276 (2020 est.) 299.4939 (2019 est.) 283.5923 (2018 est.) 279.33 (2014 est.) 232.6 (2013 est.) | lei (RON) per US dollar - 4.02835 (2020 est.) 4.31655 (2019 est.) 4.0782 (2018 est.) 4.0057 (2014 est.) 3.3492 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 73.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 76% of GDP (2016 est.) note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and national, state, and local government and social security funds. | 36.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $28 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $25.82 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $44.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $40 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$392 million (2019 est.) $510 million (2018 est.) | -$11.389 billion (2019 est.) -$10.78 billion (2018 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $163.251 billion (2019 est.) | $249.543 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: BBB (2019) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019) | Fitch rating: BBB- (2011) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2006) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2014) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 73.4 (2020) Starting a Business score: 88.2 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 71 (2020) | Overall score: 73.3 (2020) Starting a Business score: 87.7 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 72.2 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 44.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) note: Hungary has been under the EU Excessive Deficit Procedure since it joined the EU in 2004; in March 2012, the EU elevated its Excessive Deficit Procedure against Hungary and proposed freezing 30% of the country's Cohesion Funds because 2011 deficit reductions were not achieved in a sustainable manner; in June 2012, the EU lifted the freeze, recognizing that steps had been taken to reduce the deficit; the Hungarian deficit increased above 3% both in 2013 and in 2014 due to sluggish growth and the government's fiscal tightening | -2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 11.4% male: 11.9% female: 10.6% (2019 est.) | total: 16.8% male: 16.3% female: 17.5% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 49.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 90.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -82.4% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 70% (2017 est.) government consumption: 7.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.6% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 27.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 26.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 24.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 18.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 18.1% of GDP (2018 est.) 20.3% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 30.22 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 61.78 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 39.37 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 49.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 5.24 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 11.22 billion kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 17.95 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 4.177 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 16,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 70,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 121,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 145,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 2,713 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 2,076 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 24 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 600 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 6.598 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 105.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 1.812 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 10.87 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 10.39 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 11.58 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 3.52 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 22.65 million cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 13.37 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 8.639 million kW (2016 est.) | 23.94 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 64% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 47% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 152,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 232,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 167,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 198,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 58,720 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 103,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 82,110 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 49,420 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 3,048,754 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31.16 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 3.38 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15.8 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 10,272,694 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 22.671 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .hu | .ro |
| Internet users | total: 7,474,413 percent of population: 76.07% (July 2018 est.) | total: 15,165,890 percent of population: 70.68% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Hungary benefits from a well-developed telecom infrastructure, with adoption of 5G and upgrade of fixed networks to 1Gb/s service; fixed-line subscribership fell as subscribers migrated to mobile for voice and data; effective infrastructure-based competition, with an extensive cable network competing against DSL and expanding fiber sector; high mobile penetration and highest fixed broadband penetration rate in Eastern Europe; government supports private partnership in smart agriculture applications; as part of EU, fully liberalized and open to investment; broadcasting equipment is one of the country's top five imports, plus mobile phones, from China (2021) (2020) domestic: competition among mobile-cellular service providers has led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile-cellular phones, and a decrease in the number of fixed-line connections, 31 per 100 persons, while mobile-cellular is 106 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 (very small aperture terminal) VSAT system of ground terminals note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Romania's telecom sector benefits from infrastructure-based competition; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services; fiber sector is one of strongest in Europe; government secured EU funding to extend broadband to rural areas; operators invest in networks' capacity upgrades; operator testing IoT; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 17 telephones per 100 persons; mobile market served by four mobile network operators; mobile-cellular teledensity over 117 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 40; landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 3,189,689 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.6 (2019 est.) | total: 5,277,700 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24.68 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | mixed system of state-supported public service broadcast media and private broadcasters; the 5 publicly owned TV channels and the 2 main privately owned TV stations are the major national broadcasters; a large number of special interest channels; highly developed market for satellite and cable TV services with about two-thirds of viewers utilizing their services; 4 state-supported public-service radio networks; a large number of local stations including commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations; digital transition completed at the end of 2013; government-linked businesses have greatly consolidated ownership in broadcast and print media | a mixture of public and private TV stations; there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting; there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting |
Transportation
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 8,049 km (2014) standard gauge: 7,794 km 1.435-m gauge (2,889 km electrified) (2014) narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2014) broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge (2014) | total: 11,268 km (2014) standard gauge: 10,781 km 1.435-m gauge (3,292 km electrified) (2014) narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2014) broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge (2014) |
| Roadways | total: 203,601 km (2014) paved: 77,087 km (includes 1,582 km of expressways) (2014) unpaved: 126,514 km (2014) | total: 84,185 km (2012) paved: 49,873 km (includes 337 km of expressways) (2012) unpaved: 34,312 km (2012) |
| Waterways | 1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2011) | 1,731 km (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) (2010) |
| Pipelines | 5874 km gas (high-pressure transmission system), 83732 km gas (low-pressure distribution network), 850 km oil, 1200 km refined products (2016) | 3726 km gas, 2451 km oil (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | river port(s): Baja, Csepel (Budapest), Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Mohacs (Danube) | major seaport(s): Constanta, Midia river port(s): Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River) |
| Merchant marine | total: 1 by type: other 1 (2020) | total: 120 by type: general cargo 11, oil tanker 7, other 102 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 41 (2013) | total: 45 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 20 (2017) over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) | total: 26 (2017) over 3,047 m: 4 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 21 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2013) under 914 m: 11 (2013) | total: 19 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013) under 914 m: 14 (2013) |
| Heliports | 3 (2013) | 2 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 145 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,226,848 (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,908,235 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.71 million mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | HA | YR |
Military
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Hungarian Defense Forces: Land Forces (Army); Air Forces (note - both the air and land components are subordinate to a Joint Forces Combat Command); Logistics Center; Preparation and Training Command (2020) note: the Hungarian Defense Forces are organized into a joint force structure with ground, air, and logistic components | Romanian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Gendarmerie (2021) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005); 6-month service obligation (2019) | conscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.85% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.25% of GDP (2019) 1.01% of GDP (2018) 1.19% of GDP (2017) 1% of GDP (2016) | 2.07% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.84% of GDP (2019) 1.81% of GDP (2018) 1.72% of GDP (2017) 1.41% of GDP (2016) |
| Military - note | Hungary joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997 and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance | Romania officially became a member of NATO in 2004 |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Hungarian Defense Forces have approximately 25,000 active duty troops (20,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2020) | the Romanian Armed Forces have approximately 67,000 active duty personnel (50,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 10,000 Air Force; note: 10-15,000 personnel are considered joint service) (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Hungarian Defense Forces consists largely of Soviet-era weapons, with a smaller mix of more modern European and US equipment; since 2010, Hungary has received limited quantities of equipment from several European countries and the US (2020) | the inventory of the Romanian Armed Forces is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older domestically-produced weapons systems; there is also a smaller mix of Western-origin equipment; Italy, Portugal (second-hand fighter aircraft), and the US are the leading suppliers of armaments to Romania since 2010 (2020) |
| Military deployments | 160 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 150 Iraq (counter-ISIS coalition); 430 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2021) | up to 120 Poland (NATO) (2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules | the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy | major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 5,950 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015) stateless persons: 145 (2020) note: 432,744 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2018); Hungary is predominantly a transit country and hosts 137 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018; 1,626 migrant arrivals in 2017 | stateless persons: 275 (2020) note: 7,988 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2021) |
Environment
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 15.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.25 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 69.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 27.62 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 624.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.358 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 518.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 1.048 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.491 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.16% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.712 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 962,893 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.895 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 277,547 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.7% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
