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Before you start the journey, let us take you on a little information about the country. Hungary is a kidney-shaped country lying in the centre of Europe sharing borders with seven neighbours: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Yugoslavia, Croatia and Slovenia. There are three basic topographies: the low-lying regions of the Great Plain in the east, centre and south-east, and the Little Plain in the north-west;
the northern mountain ranges, which include Hungary's highest peak (the 1015-metre-high Kekesteto); and the hilly regions of Transdanubia in the west and south-west Full country name: Republic of Hungary
Area: 93,030 square kilometres
Total length of the state borders: 2,216.8 km
Highest peak: Kékes (1014 m)
Lowest point: Gyálarét (78 m)
Main rivers: Duna (Danube) (length in Hungary: 417 km), Tisza (length in Hungary: 596 km), Lajta, Rábca, Rába, Zala, Dráva, Ipoly, Zagyva, Sajó, Hernád, Bodrog, Szamos, Hármas-Körös and Maros
Largest lakes: Balaton (596 square kilometres), Velencei-tó (26 square kilometres), Fertő tó (southern part, 75 square kilometres)
Geographic regions: Alföld (Great Plain), Kisalföld (Small Plain), Nyugat-Magyarországi peremvidék or Alpokalja (Western Hungary or Lower Alps), Dunántúli-dombság (Transdanubia hills), Dunántúli-középhegység (Transdanubia mountain range) and Északi-középhegység (Northern mountain range). Population (1 February 2001) : 10,197,119 persons
Density of population (31 January 2001) : 109.6 residents/square kilometre
Main national and ethnic groups: Hungarian, Croatian, German, Roma, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovene.
Official language: Hungarian
Capital: Budapest
State form: republic
President of Republic: Ferenc Madl
Administration structure: 19 counties and the capital city
Urban population: 64.6 per cent
Employment (2000): agriculture 6.5 %, industry 33.7 %, other 59.7 %
Main religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant (Calvinist and Lutheran), Greek Catholic, Jewish and Orthodox
Largest cities: (31 January 2001) Budapest (1,775,203 residents), Debrecen (211,038 residents), Miskolc (184,129 residents), Szeged (168,276 residents), Pécs (162,502 residents) and Győr (129,415 residents)
Transport network (31 December 1999): railways 7,768 km (2,530 km electrified), roads 30,267 km
Per capita GDP (gross domestic product, 2000): USD 4,528*, EUR 4,940 (*calculated at the official medium exchange rate of the National Bank of Hungary)
Major industries: mining, metallurgy & agriculture, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Major trading partners: Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia
Member of EU: Yes |
