Hungary - Country facts
Location
Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Background
Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. 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 in 2004.
Climate
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Population
10,006,835 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Map of Hungary
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