Shocking ranking: Hungary is one of the poorest European countries?

According to Qubit, the first indicator, healthcare, reveals that Budapest, with a 4.6% satisfaction rate, seems to rank the lowest regionally in terms of satisfaction with access to proper healthcare. In contrast, the Southern Great Plain (Szeged region), Southern Transdanubian region (Pécs region) and the Central Transdanubian region (Székesfevérvár region) perform the best. In Central Hungary, which ranks second-worst for healthcare availability, dissatisfaction rates in 2022 have risen compared to 2018, increasing from 1.3% to 3.1%. This dissatisfaction percentage is 4.6% in Budapest, compared to 0.6% in the Southern Great Plain region, which matches the standards of Austria or Luxembourg. It is important to note that the idea of receiving sufficient healthcare does not necessarily refer to its quality.

Regarding the number of doctors per 100,000 residents, the results are grim. While the overall parameter decreased by 1% in the EU, the northern region of Hungary experienced a 10% drop between 2019 and 2020.

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In the realm of education, Eurostat found that in Hungary, the number of high school students participating in practical education has hiked, especially in the highly industrialised region of Western Transdanubia (Győr region). The results also place all eight Hungarian regions in the top 10 list of regions with the fastest-growing number of students receiving practical education. Among individuals aged 25-34 who received a diploma in 2022, Northern Hungary ranks last, while Budapest tops the list with an encouraging 55% placing the city among the top 10 in Europe.

Labour market data reveals low unemployment rates but high employment rates, with a low number of workers in high-value-added sectors. Regionally, Budapest and Pest county perform the best, but when comparing the number of men versus women aged 20-64 who are active in the workforce, men are present in higher numbers in all regions.

The indicator that ultimately placed Hungary in fourth place when measuring poverty is living conditions. Material deprivation is assessed by considering whether at least seven out of the thirteen listed items are missing. These items include being able to afford a one-week vacation annually, covering unexpected expenses, replacing used furniture, eating out once a month with friends or family, having an adequate diet, owning a car without financial strain, replacing worn clothing, setting aside money for personal expenses weekly, having no housing debt, having proper heating, having personal internet access and owning at least two pairs of shoes suitable for every season. Based on regional data, Western Transdanubia ranks highest, with only 8.7% of the population qualifying as living in poverty, while Northern Hungary ranks last at 30%. Among EU countries, only Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece rank lower than Hungary in terms of poverty.

Lastly, from an economic standpoint, although Hungary has somewhat caught up to European GDP standards, income is still considered low. The lowest annual income per person in Hungary is 6,200 euros, registered in Northern Hungary, while Budapest has the highest average income, at 12,700 euros per person.

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