How educated are Hungarians? A look at the latest data
Hungary has seen a significant rise in education levels over the past two decades, according to the latest census data. In 2022, one in four Hungarians aged 15 and above had completed higher education—a remarkable jump from just 12% in 2001. The total number of university or college graduates doubled to 1.8 million during this period.
In addition to this, roughly one-third of the population had finished secondary school with a school-leaving exam (érettségi), while the proportion of those with only a primary school education dropped to 23%. This marks steady progress in national education levels. However, regional differences remain striking.
How many Hungarians have a degree?
The highest concentration of degree holders is found in Budapest and its surrounding areas, as well as in major university towns like Szeged, Pécs, and Debrecen. Similarly, regions around Lake Balaton and Lake Velence also showed above-average growth in the number of diploma holders. In contrast, several rural towns and villages, especially in northeastern counties like Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, still have high proportions of residents with only primary education or less. In some small settlements, over half the population had not completed secondary school.
A notable portion of the adult population (20%) held vocational qualifications without an érettségi. These individuals were most commonly found in western counties like Tolna and Veszprém, and in eastern regions such as Békés County.
The data also reveal an ageing education gap: in areas where the population is older, lower education levels are more prevalent. This trend contributes to stark contrasts between more urbanised, youthful regions and ageing, less educated rural areas, NövekedĂ©s writes based on the Hungarian Statistical Office’s NĂ©pszámlálási Atlasz.
Hungarians’ language skills
Language skills among Hungarians have also improved over the past decade. English is now the most commonly spoken foreign language, with every fourth person in the country reporting some level of proficiency. The number of English speakers has grown by 53% since 2011. German remains the second most spoken foreign language, understood by 1.2 million people. Other commonly spoken languages include Russian, French, and Romanian.
Overall, the statistics highlight both encouraging progress and ongoing challenges. While Hungary has made great strides in raising educational attainment and foreign language knowledge, regional and generational inequalities persist. Bridging these gaps remains a key task for the country.
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