The 2022 census results are out: here are the most important details
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) has revealed the detailed results of the 2022 census, providing interesting data about the knowledge of languages, ethnicity and religion of Hungarians.
Population and Demography
A total of 9,603,634 people live in Hungary. The gender distribution is nearly equal, with 1,000 men for every 1,078 women. The number of people currently employed has increased from 3.9 million to 4.7 million compared to 2011 when the previous census was held. According to 24.hu, Marcell Kovács, the project coordinator of the census, revealed that the decline in the number of marriages is slowing down, with a 12% increase in marriages under the age of 30. Additionally, 73% of women have at least one child.
Knowledge of Foreign Languages
The number of young English speakers has nearly doubled. More than 50% of people in their 20s speak English, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, as highlighted by G7. Overall, around a quarter of the entire population has some level of English knowledge, marking a significant increase compared to 2011 (16%) and 2001 (less than 10%). German is the second most popular language, primarily spoken by people aged between 30 and 39.
Religion and atheism
There has been a large drop in the Catholic population. The question about religion was optional, with 60% volunteering to answer. Among the respondents, 50% identified themselves as Catholic, 16% as members of the Reformed Church, and only 3.1% belonged to the Lutheran Church. The most noticeable change compared to the previous censuses in 2001 and 2011 is the decrease in the number of Catholic people. In 2001, approximately 5 million people claimed to be Catholic, in 2011 it was 3.7 million, and in the last year, it plummeted to 2.9 million. The Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference expressed gratitude to everyone who identified themselves as Catholic, noting that international tendencies are reflected in the census statistics.
The Hungarian Atheist Association criticised the fact that atheist individuals could not mark their status in the “religion” section of the questionnaire, unlike in 2011 when there was a separate option. They turned to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights who rejected their complaint without investigating the merits, ruling that it was okay that KSH only inquired about the respondents’ religious beliefs. However, as rtl.hu reported, their decision was successfully challenged by the Hungarian Atheist Association: the Metropolitan Court ruled that the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights could not have refused to investigate the complaint and ordered them to conduct a new procedure.
2022 Census on Minorities
There has been a sharp decrease in the Roma population, while the number of Ukrainians has surged. Back in the days, Hungary used to be a multicultural country with multiple minorities, but the Trianon Peace Treaty in 1920 significantly changed the country’s demographics. It is interesting to note that the number of Roma has dropped to slightly more than 200 thousand compared to 2011 when the number was 350 thousand. According to Telex.hu, the Roma population did not actually decrease; many Romas chose not to disclose their origin.
In 2022, more than 142 thousand Germans resided in Hungary, which is around 40 thousand less than 11 years ago. Historically, more German people lived in Hungary, but after the Second World War, many of them were forced to leave the country. The number of Ukrainian people has also considerably risen from 7,396 to 24,609. This increase is not solely attributed to the war between Ukraine and Russia; many Ukrainians had been working in Hungary before Russia’s invasion.
Author: István Hegyesi
Source: g7.hu, telex.hu, 24.hu, katolikus.hu, rtl.hu
If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
please make a donation here
Hot news
Snowstorm alert: Half of Hungary braces for snow and strong winds
Ex-US Ambassador: Trump could broker respect between Putin and Zelensky, praises Orbán’s efforts for peace
Hungary ranks 1st globally for highest cancer death rates, new study finds
Breaking: A groundbreaking step in Hungary’s wage negotiations for 2025
Hungarian deputy PM: ‘Hungary became a world nation’
Top Hungary news: Demolition of Budapest slum, Gyurcsány’s Minecraft server, 100-year-old love letter — 20 November, 2024
2 Comments
Laughable, the statistic’s on Holy Roman Catholics – in Hungary 2011 to 2022 – that factually reflects a Gargantuan decline of Catholics – quite unbelievable.
And to think, it has been “recklessly” sprouted out, NOT from “inside” the corridors – the “Power” rooms of the Vatican City, that the Hungarian Cardinal – Peter Erdo – is Papabile.
2 million less practicing Catholics in Hungary – 2011 to 2022 – under his Cardinalship.
“The church needs to be EVANGELICAL” – words from Pope Francis, which, the “style” of office practiced by Cardinal Erdo – a right of right CONSERVATIVE, from the “old school” pre Vatican 11 school of Rome, under his Cardinalship – the years commencement 2003 – he has been at the Head of the Holy Roman Catholic Church of Hungary – the un-believable continuing loss of “bums on the pews” in Roman Catholic Churches in Budapest, Hungary is SHATTERING.
It would, to an Ancient / Aged Institution already in a Global CRISIS, the thought of a ultra CONSERVATION, sitting in St Peters Chair in Rome, being head of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, the vicar of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City state – Scary.
St. Luke message to us – “For with God – nothing will be Impossible.”
Thanks to this pope the Vatican has joined the religion of the UN and the WEF