Hungary’s population continued to decline during the first half of 2026, with births once again significantly outnumbered by deaths, according to the latest preliminary figures published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). While both the number of births and deaths fell compared with a year earlier, the country still recorded a natural population decrease of more than 28,000 people in the first six months of the year.
Fewer births and deaths in June
According to KSH, 5,790 children were born in June 2026, down 2.6% (157 births) from June last year. During the same month, 9,167 people died, representing a 3.1% decrease (291 fewer deaths) compared with June 2025.
As a result, Hungary’s natural population decline—the difference between births and deaths—stood at 3,377 people in June, slightly lower than the 3,511 recorded in the same month a year earlier. The number of marriages, however, increased. 4,942 couples married in June, up 8.9% year-on-year.
Population fell by more than 28,000 in first half of the year
According to KSH figures, between January and June 2026, a total of 34,312 children were born, 2.0% fewer than during the same period in 2025. Over the same six months, 62,330 people died, a 4.1% decrease compared with the previous year.
Despite the lower mortality rate, deaths continued to far exceed births, resulting in a natural population decline of 28,018 people. Although still substantial, this was 6.6% lower than the 29,994 recorded during the first half of 2025.
Fertility rate remains low
The figures also show that Hungary’s total fertility rate remained largely unchanged at 1.27 children per woman, slightly below last year’s 1.28.
During the first half of the year, there were 7.3 live births and 13.3 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate stood at 4.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, marginally higher than a year earlier.
Marriages continue to rise
Marriage numbers were one of the few positive demographic indicators. A total of 21,177 couples married between January and June, an increase of 4.4% (895 marriages) compared with the same period in 2025.
On a rolling 12-month basis, from July 2025 to June 2026, 47,477 couples married, also marking a 4.0% increase over the previous 12 months.
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Regional differences
The demographic trends varied across Hungary. Births declined in Budapest and three other regions but increased in four regions, with the strongest growth recorded in Northern Hungary. Budapest experienced the largest decline in births.
Deaths fell in every region except the Northern Great Plain, while the natural population decrease improved across all regions except Budapest. Marriage numbers increased in every region outside the capital, with Northern Hungary recording the strongest growth.
Although mortality continued to decline, the latest figures underline that Hungary’s long-term demographic challenges remain. The number of births is still well below the number of deaths, meaning the country’s population continues to shrink despite modest improvements in some indicators.
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Nothing too exciting in the data, certainly no sign of a bound-back in the births. 5 years now since the mini-boom that was seen by the pro-natalists as a sign of a baby-filled future. 7,719 births in June 2021, 5,790 in June 2026. That’s a 25% reduction. Look’s like we’re heading for about 70,000 births this year. Assuming a life-expectancy of 80 that implies a stable population of 5.6 million (assuming no net migration). Probably the population will hold up better than that, pertly due to inward migration of Hungarians from the surrounding countries.
The TFR remains about 1.3. As I’ve said before: time for a rethink.
Hungary has done it to itself. You ran off a large number of expats who were contributing to the Hungarian economy with their pensions being spent on daily living and fixing up derelict abandoned properties that were going to rack and ruin. about 2 years ago Hungary decided they no longer wanted long term non EU citizens as residents and they cancelled most categories of Residency Permits that retirees fit into deliberately. They only gave one path to remain which was to apply for Permanent Residency and passing a cultural integration test given only in Hungarian. There was no way most of us could pass this test due to the proficiency level the test was given in. I took and failed the test. It was given in at a minimum a B1 level. 25 people took this test and as far as I know that day only 2 or 3 people out of the test class passed. Long term residents were deliberately refused to be considered based upon having been residents for more than 5 years or based upon being over 65 years old. The Hungarian Government complains about tax revenue and population decline and then drives away people and tax revenue by a good number of expats who make considerably more than most Hungarians. The author of this article wrote a couple articles in the past about our plight. I moved to Albania and got residency and Albania is very happy to have me as a resident and for my pension moneys effect of the economy of Albania.
Hungary needs Hungarian babies, not foreign liberal geriatrics who, in real terms, do not contribute all that much to the economy. They don’t work nor do they pay tax on their home countries’ social security payments. Okay, so they go to a cafe or restaurant once in a while, but so do tourists. These people largely ran away from their countries because the results of their voting choices became too much to bear. They came here to tell us how terrible Fidesz is and propagandize about how we should be voting for the same losers that effed up their countries.
Nothing personal, but these are facts.
Albania is a great choice. Enjoy it. I recommend Ksamil. Just don’t lecture the locals about how they need more “liberal democracy” in their lives.
I agree but you missed my point. Have a good day.
Amazing lesson from you stupid Steiner regarding not lecturing locals
Why the heck you dont do that and we have to hear your bullshit all the time??
Another fact since you mentioned Hungary is in need of youth, what the heck you are doing here? you didn’t manage to get a job with Foodora? or Wolt?? shall I make you a recommendatio 🤣🤣
Also, what happened with your lanaguage level? did you pass A0? 🤣🤣🤣
Encourage de-urbanization, encourage kids to want happiness through means other than money, encourage civic duty and pride… – the results will come.
When you gear your society toward making money, then kids come very low on the list of priorities.
This generation has far more than any other in the history of this country, and the human race in general, yet it is the most miserable.
The generation you refer to has nowhere to live. They can barely afford to house themselves, let alone their children. The country needs a council home building program offering long term rents at levels tailored to what people actually earn. The council (or the state) retains ownership of the property.
De-urbanisation is the road to nowhere. Young people would end up staffing corner shops and tilling the land for low wages, yearning to return to the cities where the well paid jobs are to be found. Bringing solid income yielding jobs to rural areas is a multiple generation project and would invariably involve expanding the size of small, presently backward rural towns in order to host successful SME enterprises along with their workforce. Those able to earn a good income through remote work are often already living in cheaper provincial locations and, very likely, are taking advantage of lower housing costs by having children.
It’s now more expensive to house oneself on a local salary in Budapest than in London. Schools are closing in the inner city areas of London because not only are there no children, there is a scarcity of young people as they can’t afford to live there.
And eventually you will be surprised that Steiner is gay and is not married and has no childern but he give ethical lessons regarding birthrates
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Save us from your nonesense please
Decent, polite and well-educated young Hungarian are already gone to Western Europe.
Poor infrastructure, like M1 highway. Pathetic cost of living. Soaring rent. Extremely high tax for middle class.
I’m not sure tax IS extremely high for the middle class. A flat 33.5% deduction on gross salary is less than many countries further west. The more you earn the more, relatively, you benefit from the flat rate tax system. High income earners do best of all.
The people getting shafted are the low wage earners who pay the same percentage of deductions and don’t benefit from any 0% tranche on their initial income (in the UK this is known as the tax free allowance), although the new government plan to reduce these by 6% on minimum wage which is welcome.
I dont really see any problem with shrinking population. Sure, more tax burden for young generation to support the elderly needs. But thats it. There is no shortage of humans here. Nature can+t hold so many humans consuming so much resources. Slow decline in the number of population is good in the long run. Less people consuming the decreasing resources is good – shrinking population is good.
I agree, the worlds population is exploding , lower population less consumption of resources , reduced power usage , Hungary is not alone here europes population is shrinking , maybe let’s try and encourage the return of those Hungarians who have sought to seek better opportunities overseas , and hopefully the eu money we have been robbed of finally gets to Hungary
You say some good things but on the need for Council houses ( or in HU, local govt houses) I disagree.
Govt housing is always used as a means by which local politicians give properties to their mates and families. If the property you live in is not owned by you, people do not look after it. And so on!
Certainly in UK any local authority housing is always given to foreigners, particularly to illegal migrants.
Social housing is fine in theory but in practice it fails to do what is intended to do!