survey

Hungarians think Americans, Russians benefit from the war in Ukraine

Budapest Hungary people citizen street competitiveness eu

Fully 60 percent of Hungarian respondents said in a recent Nézőpont survey they thought Russia was benefitting from the war in Ukraine, while 75 percent said the United States was reaping profits from the war.

Nézőpont asked 1,000 adults between September 21 and 29 about which countries they thought to be the beneficiaries of the war in Ukraine, the pollster told MTI on Friday.

Nézőpont said it was surprising that irrespective of political affiliation, Hungarians in general were in agreement that both Russia and the US were gaining from the war.

Hungary government support Ukraine
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More than half of restaurants may close in Hungary by early 2023

Hungary waiter New York Café

According to a new survey, 70 percent of Hungarians save on food and energy at home, 55 percent save on entertainment and 60 percent no longer go out to restaurants. This, coupled with a steady rise in prices, could lead to the closure of around half of Hungary’s restaurants by the beginning of next year.

People save money on everything they can

Most people save money on food and cultural and entertainment programmes. In the hospitality sector, the most severe downturn is expected in January, with experts fearing mass restaurant closures, according to atv.hu. More than 70 percent of the population save money on food and energy at home, according to a survey by Groupama Insurance. 60 percent of respondents said they no longer go out to restaurants, while 55 percent have given up cultural programmes or other forms of entertainment.

Half of the catering establishments might close

According to the president of the catering industry association, there are some catering establishments that are experiencing a 10-20 percent drop in turnover. However, the significant drop will be seen in 1-2 months.

“This year, we can perhaps not expect such a significant drop in turnover, as everyone wants to celebrate this year in peace and quiet, and especially the end of the year in this way, and the major closures and the drop in turnover can be expected from January, based on the opinions of the professional circles”,

said László Kovács, president of the Hungarian Hospitality Industry Association.

People are postponing renovating their homes

According to him, more than 50 percent of restaurants could close by early 2023. And the Secretary General of the National Retail Federation told atv.hu that purchases of industrial goods have also fallen. The Groupama survey also showed that some people are postponing their home renovation. According to the expert, this hurts the second-hand housing market the most.

This will result in houses in poorer condition

“The more people postpone renovating their homes, the worse the condition of the properties will be, and in the second-hand housing market we are getting properties in worse condition for almost the same money,” said László Balogh, economic expert at ingatlan.com. László Balogh added that although postponing an energy renovation may seem like an efficient way to save money in the short term, modernisation can significantly reduce monthly utility bills.

Featured image: illustration

egg, food, gastronomy
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Survey: Hungarians reject EU plans to ‘finance Ukraine’

War in Ukraine

Fully 53 percent of Hungarians reject European Union plans to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction after the war, and 69 percent reject EU member states funding social care and pensions during the war, according to a survey conducted by the Századvég Foundation.

The survey was conducted among 1,000 Hungarian adults in November, after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposed a “21st century Marshall plan for Ukraine” in an article published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Setting up a platform to aid the reconstruction of the war-torn country has been on the EU’s agenda since March, Századvég noted.

Fully 79 percent rejected paying Ukrainian wages from EU monies during the conflict, the think-tank added.

Also, Hungarians were opposed to donating military aid to the country, with 78 percent rejecting the training of Ukrainian armed forces in the EU, while 81 opposed the EU or member states purchasing arms for the country. Fully 72 percent were against “Hungarian taxpayers funding Ukraine,” Szazadveg said.

March 15 Hussar Március Huszár Felvonulás
Read also Hungarians’ greatest fears revealed

Tens of thousands of Hungarian teachers participate in ministry survey

teacher school class learning

Several tens of thousands of teachers have participated in an online survey organised by the interior ministry, and their responses will be used as a guideline for the government when planning future wage hikes for teachers, the ministry said on Thursday.

The majority of teachers want teachers who work in poor areas with disadvantaged children to receive priority when it comes to wage planning, and they also expressed agreement with linking pay increases to performance assessments.

The pay rises are contingent on the successful outcome of an agreement to unlock Hungary’s European Union funding, the ministry said, adding the planned increases would be the biggest made since the post-communist transformation.

Participation in the survey was voluntary and submissions were anonymous, the ministry said.

budapest hungary danube winter snow
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Hungarians’ greatest fears revealed

March 15 Hussar Március Huszár Felvonulás

Hungarians see human trafficking as a bigger problem than the coronavirus pandemic, and they anticipate that the number of people exploited by traffickers growing in the coming years, according to a recent survey by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

According to the representative survey conducted in the summer of 2022 by IOM Hungary, the Trauma Centre and the National Police Headquarters, 20 percent of Hungarians have knowledge of a case of human trafficking in their immediate surroundings. Among young people with only elementary education, the group most vulnerable to trafficking, that number was 28 percent, IOM said.

The most vulnerable group listed sexual exploitation as the third largest problem after economic issues and cost-of-living problems. Work exploitation was fifth on their list.

Among the whole population, human trafficking was considered a more pressing problem than the war in Ukraine, the Covid pandemic, migration, housing and education, IOM said. Fully 48 percent of respondents said they expected the number of victims to grow in the coming years.

Goulash soup, Hungarian, traditional, food
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The survey also probed people’s knowledge of the types of exploitation and forms of recruiting. Most respondents mentioned the trafficking of children, sexual exploitation and organ trade. The smuggling of illegal migrants across borders, which IOM considers people smuggling and not human trafficking, was the fourth most often mentioned.

IOM said only 34 percent of respondents were familiar with the concept of domestic slavery, where the victim is forced to work without pay around the house. Work exploitation, the most frequent form of exploitation in Hungary, was seen as relatively rare.

The survey, conducted in the framework of an anti-trafficking campaign, showed similar results to its 2018 counterpart. In 2022, 39 percent of respondents said the problem did not appear in the media often enough.

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Hungarians want peace, according to a survey

hungary_peace

Most Hungarians, 92 percent, want to see an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war and have the sides engage in peace talks, according to a survey conducted this month by the Századvég Foundation and released to MTI on Thursday.

Századvég gauged the opinion of Hungarians on a sample of 1,000 adults.

As the prospect of ending the war “has not drawn closer”, it is not surprising that the opinion of respondents has remained clearly negative about leading politicians involved directly or indirectly in the war, Századvég said.

This month, fully 67 percent of respondents expressed a negative opinion about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, compared with 68 percent in September while those seeing Russian President Vladimir Putin in a negative light increased to 72 percent from last month’s 68 percent. US President Joe Biden was seen negatively by 67 percent, up from 64 percent, the survey said. Fully 63 percent of respondents were at the opinion that Biden and his administration were in favour of continuing the war.

Századvég said the rejection of “Brussels’ policy of sanctions” by Hungarians was reflected in their opinion about the president of the European Commission with 55 percent seeing Ursula von der Leyen in a negative light compared with 50 percent in September.

“In Hungary, the government’s policy corresponds to a consistent stance of people supporting peace,” Századvég said, noting that 84 percent of the survey’s respondents expressed the opinion that “Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán supported a peaceful settlement to the armed conflict”.

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What will be Hungary’s favourite healthy food?

Healthy food

Another round of the “What does the country eat?” gastronomy survey is about to begin. This time, they are looking for the best healthy food and how healthy Hungarians eat. Competitors include the pineapple burger and vegetable patty.

What does the country eat?

What’s the country eating? Hungary’s biggest gastronomy survey. Previously there was a cake survey, a barbecue survey and an international favourites survey. This time, the most popular healthy foods among Hungarians are being sought.

The competition runs from 1 October until 30 November. There are dozens of healthy dishes to choose from, and you can add to the list if you don’t find a favourite. The research not only sheds light on the most popular healthy foods, but also reveals how Hungarians diet and what proportion of the country has food sensitivities.

BambaMarha ood
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Pineapple burger, chia pudding and many more

Among the dishes are chicken breast with colourful vegetables, pineapple hamburger, chia pudding, stews, grilled fish and vegetable soup, says sokszinuvidek.hu. In the questionnaire, the healthy lifestyle questionnaire also includes sugar consumption, adequate fluid intake and exercise.

The answers show how much Hungarians eat and live healthily. “The research not only asks questions, but also gives a lot of recipes and advice to those who are just starting to adopt a healthy lifestyle,” said Krisztina Ratkai, the research’s initiator.

The research is sponsored by the health and lifestyle website EgészségKalauz.hu and the Hungarian Dietetic Association (MDOSZ), which recently produced the Hungarian nutritional recommendation OKOSTÁNYÉR. This proposal replaces 12 points of a more than 30-year-old nutritional recommendation, based on the latest international scientific findings and legislation, taking into account Hungarian dietary habits.

Goulash soup, Hungarian, traditional, food
Read alsoCan you guess the 3 favourite dishes of Hungarians?

Can you guess the 3 favourite dishes of Hungarians?

Goulash soup, Hungarian, traditional, food

Some Hungarian dishes are undoubtedly among the strangest in the world. However, not all Hungarians are keen on these special dishes: many prefer simple, familiar dishes. Tadam.hu has carried out a representative survey on certain eating habits of Hungarians. Here are the results!

Survey on the eating habits of Hungarians

The representative research of Tadam.hu surveyed 500 Hungarian consumers in the second half of the year 2021. Their aim was to get to know certain eating habits and favourite foods of Hungarians. It revealed that the average Hungarian eats three meals a day and typically consumes hot meals once a day, rtl.hu reports.

The responses showed that 58.6 percent of Hungarian households do not follow a special diet. Of those who do avoid some ingredients, most avoid sugar, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. According to the survey, 17 percent of households follow a reduced sugar intake, followed by 15 percent of lactose- and dairy-free diets, while reduced carbohydrate intake is the third most common dietary pattern.

Only 8 percent of households have a gluten-sensitive person, and only 4.4 percent have a vegetarian and 1.1 percent a vegan diet. The research also shows that only one fifth of people surveyed can estimate how many calories they consume. On average, this is estimated at 1985 Kcal/day.

54 percent of the respondents eat three meals a day on weekdays. A surprising result is that nearly 20 percent of Hungarians eat only twice a day on weekdays. 54 percent of the respondents eat three meals a day on weekdays. A surprising result is that nearly 20 percent of Hungarians eat only twice a day on weekdays. The five meals recommended by many dieticians and nutritionists are only taken by 33 out of 500 people.

Favourites dishes of Hungarians

The top list of main dishes is as follows:

  1. fried chicken breast fillet
  2. fried loin
  3. fried cheese

These are followed by meatballs and fried cauliflower. All in all, it seems like four of the five favourite Hungarian dishes are fried.

Read alsoBad news for dental tourism: care is getting more expensive in Hungary

Hungary named the country with the 10th lowest divorce rate across the world

Couple-divorce-Hungary
The study by confused.com analysed OECD data by country to reveal the countries with the lowest divorce rates across the world.
 
You can view the research in full HERE. 
 

The countries with the lowest divorce rates

 

Rank

Country

Divorces per 1,000 people

1

Malta

0.5

2

Republic of Ireland

0.7

2

Mexico

0.7

4

Slovenia

0.8

5

Italy

1.1

6

Romania

1.2

7

Bulgaria

1.3

7

Croatia

1.3

9

Poland

1.4

10

Hungary

1.5
 
 
Looking just at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, Malta is where couples are most likely to stay together. Here, the divorce rate is just 0.5 per 1,000 people. Divorce was only legalised in Malta in 2011, and rates are at their lowest since. There was an initial boom in 2012 when there were 1.1 divorces per 1,000 people, but this steadily declined and is now 0.5. That’s around 3.5 times lower than in the UK.
 
 
The Countries With The Most Marriages
The countries with the most marriages. Source: confused.com
 
There are 2 countries tied in second place, the first of which is the Republic of Ireland, with a divorce rate of 0.7 per 1,000 people. One of the possible reasons for this is that couples must prove that they’ve been living apart for 4 years before getting divorced. This obviously makes it harder for couples to get divorced, which could mean they’re less likely to do so.
 
Also with a divorce rate of 0.7 per 1,000 people is Mexico. While the divorce rate in Mexico remains low, it has been increasing over the last 2 decades or so. The rate increased from 0.4 per 1,000 people in 1993 to 1.3 in 2019, before dropping to 0.7 in 2020. This change in 2020 is likely to have been influenced by the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Further study insights:

  • The country with the most marriages is Cyprus, with 8.9 marriages per 1,000 people.

Budapest traffic no cars
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Government close institute revealed Hungarian attitudes towards sanctions

Budapest party tram nr 4-6

Every second Hungarian is of the opinion that European Union sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia, while only 12 percent believe the opposite, a survey by Nézőpont Institute released on Friday shows.

The results of phone interviews of 1,000 people from Oct. 3 to 5 show that 32 percent believe the sanctions equally hurt Europe and Russia.

Among left-wing supporters, 24 percent said the sanctions hurt Europe more, while 28 percent said they hurt Russia more, while 43 percent said both sides suffered equally.

At the same time, among supporters of the ruling parties, seven out of ten people said the sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia; only 2 percent said they hurt Russia more than Europe and 23 percent said they harmed both sides equally.

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Labor market potential: Hungary in the bottom group

Labor market Hungary

The Warsaw Enterprie Institute has developed a Labor Market Power Indicator for the Three Seas countries, which takes into account the demographic structure of the societies, their competencies and the business environment. Hungary is ranked 10th. Which country is ranked highest? Here is their report.

New phenomenon: Labor Market Power Indicator

The result of the clash between declining labor supply and low productivity growth will be global competition for people among the countries around the world. Countries that can offer companies a better demographic structure, a better-educated workforce, greater ability to attract immigrants and lower employment costs will avoid stagnation. 

Our Labor Market Power Indicator takes into account all the factors mentioned above. Its final score, placed on a 100-point scale, is meant to be a proxy for how particular countries are performing and a predictor of how they will handle themselves economically. We have included only the Three Seas states.

The Three Seas region is a recently (2015) established initiative of 14 European Union countries:
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia and Slovenia. They cover the territory spanning between the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea
and the Adriatic Sea – three seas from which the initiative takes its name.

Hungary development motorway building bridge worker
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Pragmatics was the decisive factor. On the one hand, we are connected with the Three Seas countries not only by history, culture or religion, but also by common economic interests. We wish that this 12-part bloc would be economically as strong and consolidated as possible; that economic growth in the Czech Republic, or Estonia, would at the same time be good news for Poland, or Romania.

For this to happen, however, further economic integration according to the best possible patterns is needed. Our indicator, which highlights the differences between the Three Seas countries, is intended to be helpful in finding such patterns. Our Indicator is based on pillars that take into account data from a set of all European Union countries – the evaluation with its help of the Three Seas countries is therefore placed in a broader, pan-European context.

Read the full report HERE.

Key findings

  • The richest is not the best. Austria, the richest country in the Three Seas Initiative, is not the strongest in terms of labour market potential. It took a mere 8th place.
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  • Poland better than Austria, but only in the middle of the ranking – in 6th place. We are negatively impacted mainly by demographics and the lack of English proficiency among the elderly. Our strengths include a large percentage of people of working age and, among other things, relatively low labor costs.
  • There’s nothing like the Czech Republic. The country with the greatest potential of the labour market turns out to be the Czech Republic.
  • Wealth is not strongly correlated with labour market potential. Admittedly, countries with the lowest PPS GDP close the list, but low GDP does not automatically determine a low ranking place. An example is Slovakia, which has the second lowest GDP PPS in the group and was ranked 3rd in the Indicator.

Budapest among the best cities for digital nomads!

Budapest best places for digital nomads

For years, people have been travelling the world to find new and exciting ways to work. And now, with the advent of technology and the internet, there’s never been a better time to join the ranks of the digital nomad population.

Digital nomads work remotely and can work from anywhere, enjoytravel.com writes. So where are the best places in the world to do this? They’ve looked through hundreds of lists and blog posts looking for the top locations for digital nomads. They considered factors like the cost of living, the ease of obtaining visas, and co-working spaces! And here’s what they came up with, the world’s top 6 cities for digital nomads.

1. Bali, Indonesia

According to CNN Travel, Bali’s low cost of living, great weather, and beautiful beaches, combined with plenty of co-working spaces and super fast internet speeds, rank it as one of the best places in the world to work remotely. The cost of living (and thriving) in Bali is around $500-1300 per month. As an added bonus, this Indonesian island has now announced a 5-year visa for digital nomads, allowing them to live and work there tax-free for as long as they choose. When it comes to coworking spaces in Bali, there is tough competition, but the ones most people inevitably hear about through the grapevine are Dojo Bali, Kinship Studio, and Tribal Bali.

2. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads, and it’s particularly popular amongst Australians. It has some great things to offer, including lots of great food, vibrant culture, and beautiful scenery! It’s also a popular place for entrepreneurs to start new businesses, and the start-up scene is quite active here. Chiang Mai is home to lots of co-working spaces, most of which are located on Nimmanhaemin Road, like Punspace. In Chiang Mai, you could get by very comfortably for under $1000 a month. However, we suggest you skip town during the burning season (mid-March to May).

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3. Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is an autonomous Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, 350 kilometres (217 mi) west of mainland Portugal. The airport has direct flights from dozens of European cities, including London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and many more. In 2021, the Digital Nomad Village in Madeira opened, attracting a rush of digital nomads from all around the work. While in Madeira, we recommend checking out Praça do Município, a beautiful square in the centre of the city with lots of shops and restaurants. There are also many excellent hiking trails to explore on this island paradise.

4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – dubbed the “Paris of the Orient” by the French – is another popular destination for digital nomads. You’ll find WiFi almost everywhere here, and there are tonnes of co-working spaces to choose from if you want to get some work done while you’re in the city, such as The Hive Saigon and The Vibes. The cost of living in Saigon is quite low, and you can live on less than $700 a month if you spend wisely and cook your meals at home. Of course, many ex-pats opt to eat out as there are lots of cheap dining options in the popular backpacker district around Pham Ngu Lao Street, and there’s so much to do, see, and experience in and around the city!

Budapest tourism Hungary coronavirus basilica
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5. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is another great option for digital nomads. It has a very laid-back atmosphere with lots of great food and culture! There are lots of cafes and restaurants in Lisbon where you can get work done during the day and then kick back and relax at night. Another bonus of Lisbon is that there are so many transport links available – you can take the train or bus to any part of the country! Although technically not a digital nomad visa, many remote workers take advantage of Portugal’s D7 visa, which allows them to stay in the country for up to 24 months at a time (renewable). Some of Lisbon’s best co-working spaces are 42. Park, Work & Co, and Lisbon Hub.

6. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is another popular city to visit as a digital nomad. It is known for its affordable living costs, friendly locals, and lovely atmosphere. Its proximity to Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava is certainly a plus. The best districts to stay in Budapest for digital nomads are Újlipótváros and Óbuda, and nomads recommend Kino Café and Magvető Café for getting to work while enjoying delicious food and coffee! Recently, Hungary launched the White Card for digital nomads, allowing travellers to stay in the country for a year. At $1,460 a month, the cost of living is low, and the internet speed of 40 MBPS is superb.

Budapest among the least sustainable destinations in Europe

Budapest traffic no cars
New research reveals Budapest is the 8th least sustainable destination in Europe. 

The study by Bounce analysed a number of European cities on factors such as sustainable hotels, public transport use, air quality and Michelin green star restaurants to reveal the least sustainable travel destinations in Europe.

The top 10 least sustainable destinations in Europe

Rank

Location

Eco-Friendly Hotels

Air Pollution /100

Light Pollution (μcd/m2)

Green Energy Performance (% of Green Energy Consumption)

Carbon Footprint (Metric Tonnes CO2)

% who walk, cycle, or use public transport to work

Michelin Green Star Restaurants

Sustainable score /10

1

Rotterdam,

Netherlands

1.9%

67

9,350

0.25%

11.1

52.5%

0.0%

1.48

2

Athens,

Greece

6.7%

69

9,730

0.18%

10.8

40.6%

0.0%

1.64

3

Belgrade,

Serbia

2.6%

59

8,550

0.12%

5.4

52.0%

0.0%

2.75

4

Dublin,

Republic of Ireland

1.1%

40

7,260

0.11%

9.1

65.6%

0.0%

2.91

5

Sofia,

Bulgaria

1.1%

60

3,060

0.22%

5.2

56.0%

0.0%

3.54

6

Prague,

Czech Republic

5.9%

54

5,050

0.36%

9.9

74.4%

0.0%

4.02

7

Ostrava,

Czech Republic

0.0%

52

2,720

0.36%

2.3

54.5%

0.0%

4.07

8

Budapest,

Hungary

3.7%

43

5,590

0.24%

5.8

70.4%

0.0%

4.23

9

Warsaw,

Poland

4.8%

34

9,180

0.10%

7.5

83.6%

0.0%

4.34

10

Manchester,

United Kingdom

2.6%

26

7,660

1.67%

9.5

56.3%

0.0%

4.34
 
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The lowest-scoring city on our list is Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with a sustainable score of 1.48 out of 10. Rotterdam scores poorly for its green energy performance (0.25%) and high air pollution (67 out of 100). The city also has a high carbon footprint (11.1t CO2). One of the main causes of Rotterdam’s air pollutants is the continent’s largest seaport, based in the city. It was found to be the most polluting port in Europe, producing 13.7 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Ranking as the second least sustainable destination for tourists is Athens, Greece, with a sustainable score of 1.64 out of 10. Athens scores poorly for its green energy performance (0.18%) and high air pollution levels (69 out of 100). The city likewise ranks the lowest for its total low-impact transport usage (40.6%), with the majority of city dwellers traveling by their car.

Ranking in third place is Serbia’s capital Belgrade, with a sustainability score of 2.75 out of 10. Belgrade has a high level of air pollution (59 out of 100) and a low number of eco-friendly hotels (2.6%). Over the last few years, Belgrade has become one of the most polluted cities in Europe. Factors that contribute to this title include the methods in which people heat their homes, with both firewood and coal being common choices.

Hungary’s premium real estate market drastically transforming

budapest real estate

The Hungarian premium real estate market is changing: the rate of foreign investors in Budapest decreases, but they are still very active around Lake Balaton. Here is the analysis of the Duna House, a Hungarian real estate agency. They say that more and more English, Dutch and Belgian nationals would like to buy real estate in Hungary, which is a new trend.

Duna House told MTI, the Hungarian News Agency, that demand is growing for houses and apartments with the most modern technical solutions. Meanwhile, fewer people would like to buy real estate only in the premium category because of its size but needing urgent revamp. Their analysis says that owners of such apartments should consider renting out their apartments during the swiftly changing economic environment.

Károly Benedikt, the leading analyst and PR expert of the Duna House, said that the Hungarian luxury real estate market moves on a wide palette. There are modern, newly built apartments and modernized ones not older than five years, having solar panels, state-of-the-art technical solutions, and heat pumps. Furthermore, some homes are in the premium category because of their excellent location and size, but they have outdated technical equipment.

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Duna House reported a growing demand for premium apartments in Budapest, in the suburbs and around Lake Balaton. They expect an increase in supply in this sector. But selling non-modernized apartments will become harder, Duna House added.

Some real estate owners in that category decide to rent their apartments, which can generate an acceptable profit. For example, an apartment worth 250 million HUF can be rented for 1 million HUF/month.

During the pandemic, the number of potential foreign buyers decreased significantly in Budapest and the agglomeration’s premium real estate market. Currently, most Hungarians would like to buy apartments in that category. Meanwhile, Lake Balaton remained popular among German, Swiss and increasingly English, Belgian and Dutch buyers. Around Lake Balaton, demand for houses and apartments with 3-4 rooms is still high.

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Survey: Hungarians consider energy sanctions dangerous for Europe

Natural Gas Refinery Gas Supply

In mid-September, the Nézőpont Institute conducted a survey in which a thousand Hungarians were asked about European sanctions policy.

Hungarians believe that energy sanctions are a threat to Europe, according to the latest research by the Nézőpont Institute, the findings of which were published on Wednesday. The survey, which was conducted in mid-September by telephone among 1,000 people, found that a two-thirds majority (66 percent) think that sanctions are hurting Europe more than Russia, and they also disagree with sanctions on the energy market, VG.hu reports.

Only 22 percent said they did not agree with the statement that the sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia, it added. Some 62 percent said it would be a mistake to extend the sanctions to gas imports, 58 percent said they disagreed with the oil embargo, and only 27 percent supported it, Nézőpont said. Only 12-15 percent said they had no opinion on the issue of sanctions, it added.

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2/3rd of the Hungarians want euro instead of forint

forint euro bills

Eurobarometer surveyed in the 27 member states of the European Union. They asked the residents which issues they regard as their country’s two most important problems. Interestingly, 59% of the Hungarians chose inflation in the first place. That is probably why the rate of Hungarians preferring to use forint instead of euro increased considerably.

According to 24.hu, the second most strong concern of the Hungarians was the rising energy prices and the economic crisis. The Eurobarometer did a similar survey in February when the two most important problems of the Hungarians were inflation and healthcare. By July, the emerging economic crisis preceded healthcare. Interestingly, in the EU27, the energy supply was the second most important problem, which is only fourth place in Hungary.

The popularity of the euro changed significantly in Hungary. In February, 61% of the Hungarians would support replacing the forint with the euro. That rate rose to 67% by July, probably because of the soaring prices and inflation. That rate increased in other EU member states alike but only by an average of 3%. Thus, the Hungarian data is outstandingly high.

Viktor Orbán leaked speech EU Hungary
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In Hungary, Eurobarometer asked more than 1,000 people. 57% of the EU residents were satisfied with the EU’s response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Regarding their home country, the satisfaction rate was 55%. In Hungary, these numbers were 61% and 69%. 

Based on the survey results, Hungarians are still afraid of the war and that it might spread to Hungary. Meanwhile, Europeans are concerned about a possible nuclear war, an option Hungarians are not so worried from.

European Commission EU funds Hungary Ursula von der Leyen
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Hungarians see Russia sanctions triggering European economic decline

Budapest party tram nr 4-6

Fully 83 percent of Hungarians agree with the view that EU sanctions against Russia would result in Europe’s precipitous economic decline next year, according to a survey by the Századvég Foundation.

The think-tank’s interviews of 1,000 people released on Friday suggested that only 13 percent of Hungarians do not expect sanctions to mar Europe’s economy. Some 68 percent of people expressed an poor opinion of the European Union’s punitive measures against Russia, while 25 percent found them effective, Századvég said.

Fully 79 percent agreed with the statement that Brussels’ existing sanctions on energy and planned further sanctions could play a major role in the steep rise in fuel and energy prices and inflation, Szazadveg added.

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Heights, spiders, thunderstorms? Hungarians’ deepest fears revealed

Spider fear survey Hungary (2)

Ever wondered if anyone shares your deepest fears? Whether it’s anxiety about being alone, heights, spiders or even thunderstorms, chances are you’re not the only one.

Interested in identifying which phobias are the most common, the experts at PsychicWorld.com collated a seed list of the 15 most well-known phobias and analysed Google search findings in order to find out the most common phobia in Hungary.

Key Findings:

  • The most common phobia in Hungary is trypophobia, with an average search volume of 5,200 searches a month. Whether it’s pancakes, sponges or honeycomb, people with this phobia fear small holes, particularly when they appear in clusters.
  • Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and arachnophobia (fear of spiders) rank in second and third place, with 1,000 and 600 average searches per month respectively.
  • Hungary’s least searched-for phobia is hemophobia, or fear of blood, with only 20 monthly searches.

Read also: Did you know? Flight tickets are the cheapest in Hungary in the region

The most common phobias in Hungary

Ranking

Phobia

Phobia meaning

Average Monthly Search Volume

1

Trypophobia

fear of holes

5,200

2

Agoraphobia

fear of open spaces

1,000

3

Arachnophobia

fear of spiders

600

=4

Acrophobia

fear of heights

400

=4

Claustrophobia

fear of confined spaces

400

=6

Mysophobia

fear of germs

100

=6

Thanatophobia

fear of death

100

8

Trypanophobia

fear of needles

80

=9

Cynophobia

fear of dogs

60

=9

Social Phobia

fear of social situations

60

=11

Ophidiophobia

fear of snakes

50

=11

Astraphobia

fear of thunderstorms

50

13

Monophobia

fear of being alone

40

14

Aerophobia

fear of flying

30

15

Hemophobia

fear of blood

20

*= signifies a joint ranking

Fireworks air show Budapest national day
Read alsoInternational institute: Hungary among the world’s most peaceful states

The most common phobias in Europe

Ranking

Phobia

Phobia meaning

Average monthly search volumes per country

1

Trypophobia

fear of holes

2,991

2

Agoraphobia

fear of open spaces

2,810

3

Arachnophobia

fear of spiders

877

4

Acrophobia

fear of heights

679

5

Claustrophobia

fear of confined spaces

665

6

Thanatophobia

fear of death

286

7

Trypanophobia

fear of needles

240

8

Mysophobia

fear of germs

229

9

Cynophobia

fear of dogs

197

10

Social Phobia

fear of social situations

182

11

Aerophobia

fear of flying

177

12

Ophidiophobia

fear of snakes

165

13

Monophobia

fear of being alone

149

14

Astraphobia

fear of thunderstorms

110

15

Hemophobia

fear of blood

103

Methodology

  1. PsychicWorld.com sought to discover the most common phobias in Europe and the US.
  2. ​A comprehensive seed list of popular phobias was compiled utilising multiple websites, including: Verywell Mind, MedicineNet, Money Inc, The International Psychology Clinic and Knowinsiders. Only phobias that appeared more than once across the different articles were taken into consideration.
  3. A refined list of 15 phobias was created.
  4. Following, a complete list of all 44 countries in Europe was extracted from Worldometer. The following countries were omitted from the research, due to lack of data: Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino. Out of 44 European countries in total, data was collected and amalgamated for 40.
  5. Average monthly search volumes for each phobia across all countries were then gathered utilising the search analytics tool Ahrefs. Search volumes for keyword variations, such as: fear of heights, fear of spiders and fear of flying were also collected for US and UK searches in order to obtain accurate results.
  6. All phobias were then ranked based on the number of countries they had appeared in, so that the most common phobia could be determined.
  7. All data was collected on 25/8/22 and is subject to change.