Slovakia vs. Hungary
Introduction
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, backlash to language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) encouraged the strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. The new state was envisioned as a nation with Czech and Slovak branches. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state created by and allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009. | 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. |
Geography
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Europe, south of Poland | Central Europe, northwest of Romania |
| Geographic coordinates | 48 40 N, 19 30 E | 47 00 N, 20 00 E |
| Map references | Europe | Europe |
| Area | total: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km | total: 93,028 sq km land: 89,608 sq km water: 3,420 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire | slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,587 km border countries (5): Austria 105 km, Czechia 241 km, Hungary 627 km, Poland 517 km, Ukraine 97 km | 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 |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters | temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers |
| Terrain | rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south | mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m mean elevation: 458 m | highest point: Kekes 1,014 m lowest point: Tisza River 78 m mean elevation: 143 m |
| Natural resources | lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land | bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land |
| Land use | agricultural land: 40.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.2% (2018 est.) other: 19.7% (2018 est.) | 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.) |
| Irrigated land | 869 sq km (2012) | 1,721 sq km (2012) |
| Environment - current issues | air pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests; land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices; water pollution | 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 |
| 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, 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-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 |
| Geography - note | landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys | 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 |
| Total renewable water resources | 50.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 104 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border | a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations |
Demographics
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,436,066 (July 2021 est.) | 9,728,337 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 15.13% (male 423,180/female 400,128) 15-24 years: 10.06% (male 280,284/female 266,838) 25-54 years: 44.61% (male 1,228,462/female 1,198,747) 55-64 years: 13.15% (male 342,124/female 373,452) 65 years and over: 17.05% (male 366,267/female 561,120) (2020 est.) | 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.) |
| Median age | total: 41.8 years male: 40.1 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) | total: 43.6 years male: 41.5 years female: 45.5 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | -0.08% (2021 est.) | -0.29% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 9.1 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.72 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 12.88 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | 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.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 78.07 years male: 74.56 years female: 81.82 years (2021 est.) | total population: 76.95 years male: 73.27 years female: 80.83 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.45 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.48 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | <.1% (2018 est.) | <.1% (2018 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak | noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian |
| Ethnic groups | Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Romani 2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 7% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 7-11% of Slovakia's population | 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 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 1,200 (2018 est.) | 3,700 (2018 est.) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.) | 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.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <100 (2018 est.) | <100 (2018 est.) |
| Languages | Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | 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. |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2018) | total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 3.9% of GDP (2017) | 4.7% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 53.8% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 72.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.05% 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: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% 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.) |
| Major cities - population | 437,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2021) | 1.772 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Health expenditures | 6.7% (2018) | 6.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 3.42 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
| Hospital bed density | 5.8 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 7 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 20.5% (2016) | 26.4% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 27.2 years (2019 est.) | 28.3 years (2019 est.) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 47.6 youth dependency ratio: 23 elderly dependency ratio: 24.6 potential support ratio: 4.1 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 46.9 youth dependency ratio: 22 elderly dependency ratio: 30.8 potential support ratio: 3.2 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko etymology: may derive from the medieval Latin word "Slavus" (Slav), which had the local form "Sloven", used since the 13th century to refer to the territory of Slovakia and its inhabitants | 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 |
| Government type | parliamentary republic | parliamentary republic |
| Capital | name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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 name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence and may derive from later transliterations of the 9th century military commander, Braslav, or the 11th century Bohemian Duke Bretislav I; alternatively, the name may derive from the Slovak words "brat" (brother) and "slava" (glory) | 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 |
| Administrative divisions | 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina | 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 |
| Independence | 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) | 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) |
| National holiday | Constitution Day, 1 September (1992) | Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083 |
| Constitution | history: several previous (preindependence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members; amended many times, last in 2020 | 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 |
| Legal system | civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe | civil legal system influenced by the German model |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Zuzana CAPUTOVA (since 15 June 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Eduard HEGER (since 1 April 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Stefan HOLY, Veronika REMISOVA, Richard SULIK (all since 21 March 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of 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 16 March and 30 March 2019 (next to be held March 2024); following National Council elections (every 4 years), the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council election results: Zuzana CAPUTOVA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6% | 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 |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Council or Narodna Rada (150 seats; members directly elected in a single- and multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 29 February 2020 (next to be held March 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - OLaNO-NOVA 25%, Smer-SD 18.3%, Sme-Rodina 8.2%, LSNS 8%, PS-SPOLU 7%, SaS 6.2%, Za Ludi 5.8%, other 21.5%; seats by party - OLaNO-NOVA 53, Smer-SD 38, Sme-Rodina 17, LSNS 17, SaS 13, Za Ludi 12, PS-SPOLU 0; composition - men 120, women 30, percent of women 20% | 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% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit; | 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 |
| Political parties and leaders | Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Alojz HLINA] Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR] Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO] For the People or Za Ludi [Andrej KISKA] Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK] Kotleba-People's Party Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA] Ordinary People and Independent Personalities - New Majority or OLaNO-NOVA [Igor MATOVIC] Party of the Hungarian Community or SMK [Jozsef MENYHART] Progressive Slovakia or PS [Michal TRUBAN] Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO] Together or SPOLU [Miroslav BEBLAVY] We Are Family or Sme-Rodina [Boris KOLLAR] | 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) |
| International organization participation | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Radovan JAVORCIK (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Bridget A. BRINK (since 20 August 2019) embassy: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava mailing address: 5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC 20521-5840 telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861 email address and website: consulbratislava@state.gov https://sk.usembassy.gov/ | 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/ |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia | 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 |
| National anthem | name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; music based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku" | name: "Himnusz" (Hymn) lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL note: adopted 1844 |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks; national colors: white, blue, red | Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen); national colors: red, white, green |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | 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 |
Economy
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Slovakia's economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country's authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. The country's banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign owned. Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force, and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. Exports and investment have been key drivers of Slovakia's robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historical lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is also expected to pick up. Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. The energy sector in particular is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government's attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm the profitability of domestic energy firms while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives. | 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. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $178.513 billion (2019 est.) $174.47 billion (2018 est.) $168.134 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $321.869 billion (2019 est.) $307.778 billion (2018 est.) $291.995 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 2.4% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 3.04% (2017 est.) | 4.58% (2019 est.) 5.44% (2018 est.) 4.45% (2017 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $32,730 (2019 est.) $32,032 (2018 est.) $30,911 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $32,945 (2019 est.) $31,485 (2018 est.) $29,832 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 3.8% (2017 est.) industry: 35% (2017 est.) services: 61.2% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 31.3% (2017 est.) services: 64.8% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 11.9% (2018 est.) | 12.3% (2018 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 19.3% (2015 est.) | lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (2015) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.6% (2019 est.) 2.5% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) | 3.3% (2019 est.) 2.8% (2018 est.) 2.3% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 2.511 million (2020 est.) | 4.414 million (2020 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 3.9% industry: 22.7% services: 73.4% (2015) | agriculture: 4.9% industry: 30.3% services: 64.5% (2015 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 5% (2019 est.) 5.42% (2018 est.) | 3.45% (2019 est.) 3.71% (2018 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 25.2 (2016 est.) 26.1 (2014) | 30.6 (2017 est.) 28.6 (2014) |
| Budget | revenues: 37.79 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 38.79 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 61.98 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 64.7 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical | mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.7% (2017 est.) | 7.4% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | wheat, maize, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, sunflower seed, soybeans, pork | maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, barley, rapeseed, sugar beet, apples, pork, grapes |
| Exports | $113.964 billion (2019 est.) $113.092 billion (2018 est.) $107.518 billion (2017 est.) | $167.99 billion (2019 est.) $158.802 billion (2018 est.) $151.185 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, video displays, broadcasting equipment, tires, refined petroleum (2019) | cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, spark-ignition engines, video displays, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Germany 22%, Czechia 11%, Poland 7%, France 7%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) | Germany 27%, Romania 5%, Italy 5%, Slovakia 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $107.88 billion (2019 est.) $105.67 billion (2018 est.) $100.689 billion (2017 est.) | $159.63 billion (2019 est.) $148.471 billion (2018 est.) $138.773 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum, natural gas, insulated wiring (2019) | cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum (2019) |
| Imports - partners | Germany 18%, Czechia 18%, Poland 8%, Hungary 7%, Russia 5% (2019) | Germany 25%, China 6%, Poland 6%, Austria 6%, Czechia 5%, Slovakia 5%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $115.853 billion (2019 est.) $114.224 billion (2018 est.) | $123.256 billion (2019 est.) $125.29 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 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.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 50.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central, state, local government, and social security funds | 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. |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $3.622 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.892 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $28 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $25.82 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$3.026 billion (2019 est.) -$2.635 billion (2018 est.) | -$392 million (2019 est.) $510 million (2018 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $105.388 billion (2019 est.) | $163.251 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: A (2020) Moody's rating: A2 (2012) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015) | Fitch rating: BBB (2019) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 75.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.8 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 66.1 (2020) | Overall score: 73.4 (2020) Starting a Business score: 88.2 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 71 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 39.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 44.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -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 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 16.1% male: 14% female: 19.7% (2019 est.) | total: 11.4% male: 11.9% female: 10.6% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 54.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 96.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -92.9% (2017 est.) | 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.) |
| Gross national saving | 21.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 22.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 21.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 27.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 26.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 24.8% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 25.32 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 30.22 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 26.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 39.37 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 5.24 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 13.25 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 17.95 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 200 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 16,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 111,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 121,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 1,022 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 2,713 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 9 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 24 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 6.598 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 104.8 million cu m (2017 est.) | 1.812 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 4.672 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 10.39 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 3.52 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 4.984 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 13.37 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 7.644 million kW (2016 est.) | 8.639 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 64% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 131,300 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 152,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 85,880 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 167,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 81,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 58,720 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 38,340 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 82,110 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 675,297 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.41 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 3,048,754 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31.16 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 7,399,534 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.96 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 10,272,694 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .sk | .hu |
| Internet users | total: 4,391,969 percent of population: 80.66% (July 2018 est.) | total: 7,474,413 percent of population: 76.07% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: a modern telecom system; one operator has near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile- and fixed-broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable, and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; operator launched 1Gb/s cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises in 2019; EU funding for development and improvement of e-government and online services; regulator prepared groundwork for 5G services in 2020 (2021) (2020)domestic: four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services; a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 136 per 100 teledensity (2019) international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services; connects to DREAM cable (2017) 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: 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 |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 1,585,092 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29.12 (2019 est.) | total: 3,189,689 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.6 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 2 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 50 privately owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 32 privately owned radio stations | 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 |
Transportation
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 3,580 km (2016) standard gauge: 3,435 km 1.435-m gauge (1,587 km electrified) (2016) narrow gauge: 46 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2016) broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge (2016) | 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) |
| Roadways | total: 56,926 km (includes local roads, national roads, and 464 km of highways) (2016) | total: 203,601 km (2014) paved: 77,087 km (includes 1,582 km of expressways) (2014) unpaved: 126,514 km (2014) |
| Waterways | 172 km (on Danube River) (2012) | 1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2011) |
| Pipelines | 2270 km gas transmission pipelines, 6278 km high-pressure gas distribution pipelines, 27023 km mid- and low-pressure gas distribution pipelines (2016), 510 km oil (2015) | 5874 km gas (high-pressure transmission system), 83732 km gas (low-pressure distribution network), 850 km oil, 1200 km refined products (2016) |
| Ports and terminals | river port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube) | river port(s): Baja, Csepel (Budapest), Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Mohacs (Danube) |
| Airports | total: 35 (2013) | total: 41 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 19 (2019) over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 | 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) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 15 (2019) 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 | total: 21 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2013) under 914 m: 11 (2013) |
| Heliports | 1 (2019) | 3 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 | 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) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | OM | HA |
Military
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdusné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie) (2021) | 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 |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2004; women are eligible to serve (2019) | 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005); 6-month service obligation (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.71% of GDP (2019) 1.23% of GDP (2018) 1.11% of GDP (2017) 1.12% of GDP (2016) | 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) |
| Military - note | Slovakia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 | 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 |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic have approximately 13,000 active duty personnel (6,000 Land Forces; 4,000 Air Forces; 3,000 other, including staff, special operations, and support forces) (2020) | the Hungarian Defense Forces have approximately 25,000 active duty troops (20,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Slovakian military consists mostly of Soviet-era platforms; since 2010, it has imported limited quantities of equipment from China, Czechia, Italy, Russia, and the US (2020) | 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) |
| Military deployments | 240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (Jan 2021) | 160 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 150 Iraq (counter-ISIS coalition); 430 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of 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, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rules | 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 |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy | 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 |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | stateless persons: 1,532 (2020) | 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 |
Environment
| Slovakia | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 32.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.43 megatons (2020 est.) | 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.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 293.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 231.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 31.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 624.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.358 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 518.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.784 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 135,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.6% (2015 est.) | 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.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
