Here is how heating and food poverty actually affect Hungarians across the country

Across Europe, millions of people are increasingly struggling to meet basic living needs that were once considered self-evident, such as heating their homes adequately and maintaining a balanced diet. And this form of poverty is a bigger and bigger concern in Hungary as well.

Hungarians are one of the most affected people in the European Union

Rising energy prices, falling real incomes and widening social disparities have combined to create a new form of everyday hardship. Hungary is among the countries most affected, with heating and food insecurity impacting a significant proportion of the population.

According to recent analyses discussed by CHART by Pénzcentrum, the European Union average shows that 9.2% of citizens cannot afford to heat their homes properly. However, this figure masks sharp regional differences.

In parts of southern Europe, including central Greece, around one in five people regularly live in cold homes during winter. By contrast, some regions of Poland report almost no heating-related deprivation, highlighting the role of housing quality, energy costs and effective support systems.

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Poverty in Hungary is, unfortunately, not an unknown phenomenon

Hungary’s situation is notably worse than the EU average. Estimates indicate that 12–14% of the population struggle to maintain adequate indoor temperatures, meaning roughly every eighth person faces serious financial pressure just to keep warm. This widespread vulnerability is largely structural rather than temporary.

A major contributing factor is Hungary’s ageing and energy-inefficient housing stock. Many homes suffer from poor insulation, outdated windows and obsolete heating systems, making them highly sensitive to rising utility costs. As a result, even small increases in energy prices can place an unbearable burden on households with limited incomes.