These Hungarian regions face security concerns and grapple with growing fear

Hungary, a country generally known as a safe place for both travellers and locals, grapples with varying levels of fear and security concerns across its diverse regions. Recent data from 2023 sheds light on a complex landscape where perceptions of safety vary significantly from one geographical area to another. Let’s delve into the intricacies of fear and security concerns in Hungary and unravel the disparities prevalent across its regions.

Northern Hungary

Despite its overall reputation for safety, Hungary witnesses notable differences in the sense of security among its regions. According to Pénzcentrum, the latest data reveals that while most Hungarians feel fairly or very safe, there are regions where this sentiment has declined between 2022 and 2023. Firstly, fear and dread seem to have established a stronghold in Northern Hungary, emerging as the region with the highest proportion of people feeling somewhat threatened. In 2023, 20.4% of the population expressed a heightened sense of apprehension, indicating a concerning trend. Although this percentage has decreased, Northern Hungary retains the lowest overall sense of security in the country.

Budapest and Transdanubia

In a previous article, we addressed concerns regarding the sense of security among Budapest’s residents, notably the unease felt during night strolls. In contrast to the situation in Northern Hungary, the capital has witnessed an uptick in residents feeling somewhat apprehensive. The data indicates that 17.6% of Budapest’s population experiences a sense of threat, highlighting a shift in perceptions between 2022 and 2023. In stark contrast to the concerns in Northern Hungary and Budapest, almost every region in Transdanubia maintains a high level of safety. Residents in these areas report feeling fairly or very safe, making Transdanubia a bastion of security compared to the rest of the country.