Despite government attempts, number of births in Hungary at historic low again: here is why

The number of births in February fell by 9.1 percent, while deaths were down by 0.7 percent compared with the same month the previous year, according to Central Statistical Office (KSH) preliminary data. That means 5,653 children were born. The previous historic low was 6,000 in Hungary’s modern history.

Number of births at record low

According to G7, the reason behind the falling number of births is the economic difficulties. Between 2010 and 2021, the total fertility rate increased from 1.25 to 1.61. G7 says the reason was the economic growth in Hungary and Europe. The 2010 low rate was because of the financial crisis hitting Hungary in 2008 and 2009.

However, because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the fertility rate started to fall steeply. Furthermore, G7 suggests that the increasing family allowances (and the rising e.g. property prices) only resulted in bringing forward childbearing, but did not make becoming a mother or father more attractive. However, reserves have been depleted, so a further decrease is inevitable. Consequently, the difference between births and deaths is brutally high, and Hungary is becoming emptier. Additionally, lots of people left the country to work for higher salaries in Western Europe, which is why segments of the Hungarian economy, especially the traditional manufacturing industry and the construction sectors, need guest workers from Asia.

• Read HERE how Hungary would like to attract Asian guest workers

Number of marriages decline

Fully 5,653 children were born and 10,934 people died compared with February 2024. Marriages declined by 14 percent in the period, KSH said in a statement on Friday. As 2024 was a leap year, the current period is a day shorter than last year, so the birth rate adjusted for the leap day was 5.8 percent lower than the same month last year, while the death rate was 2.8 percent higher.

The natural population decrease was 5,281 people, up 10 percent from February last year, but 14 percent higher than the previous year, taking into account the leap day.

KSH data show that 2,042 couples tied the knot, down 14 percent. With the leap day, the rate of decline was 10 percent. In January-February, 12,043 children were born, 6.5 percent fewer than the same period the previous year. The number of births adjusted for leap day effects was 5 percent lower in Jan-Feb than in the same period the previous year.

Far from the reproductivity level

The estimated total fertility rate per woman was 1.34, compared to 1.40 a year earlier, MTI wrote (and 1.61 in 2021). PM Viktor Orbán talked about the importance of raising that rate to 2.1, the replacement fertility level. It seems that we are far from that, and the trend just keeps worsening.

According to the Hungarian News Agency, fully 23,886 people died, 3.5 percent fewer than in the same period the previous year. Taking into account the leap day, the number of deaths in January-February was 5.2 percent higher than the previous year. Fully 3,646 couples got married, 9.7 percent fewer than the same period a year earlier. Adjusted for the leap day, marriages declined by 7.9 percent.

Read also:

• A Hungarian region struggles with the lowest life expectancy at birth in Europe – read more HERE
• Devastating news: life expectancy at birth in Hungary low, Romania may soon precede Hungary