History of Hungary in Timeline

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, situated in the Carpathian Basin. It shares borders with Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria. Its population is around 9.6 million, mainly consisting of ethnic Hungarians and a Romani minority. The official language is Hungarian. Budapest is the capital and largest city, serving as the primary cultural and economic hub. The country lies within the Danube River drainage basin and is characterized by lowland plains.

1913: Completion of the Largest Medicinal Bath in Europe

In 1913, the largest medicinal bath in Europe was completed in Modern Renaissance style and located in the Budapest city park.

June 1916: Brusilov Offensive

In June 1916, the Brusilov offensive saw fighting on the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary.

October 1918: Dissolution of Union with Austria

In October 1918, Hungary's union with Austria was dissolved.

November 1918: Armistice Signed

In November 1918, Austria-Hungary signed a general armistice in Padua.

1918: Aster Revolution

In 1918, the Aster Revolution brought Mihály Károlyi to power as prime minister in Hungary.

March 1919: Establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic

In March 1919, communists led by Béla Kun ousted the Károlyi government and proclaimed the Hungarian Soviet Republic (Tanácsköztársaság).

August 1919: Romanian Occupation of Budapest

In August 1919, Romanian troops occupied Budapest and ousted Béla Kun's government.

November 1919: Horthy Enters Budapest

In November 1919, rightist forces led by Miklós Horthy entered Budapest.

January 1920: Horthy Proclaimed Regent

In January 1920, parliamentary elections were held, and Horthy was proclaimed regent of the reestablished Kingdom of Hungary.

June 1920: Treaty of Trianon Signed

On June 4, 1920, the Treaty of Trianon was signed, establishing new borders for Hungary and resulting in significant territorial and population losses.

1920: Treaty of Trianon

In 1920, the Treaty of Trianon established Hungary's current borders, resulting in the loss of 71% of its historical territory, the majority of its economy, 58% of its population, and 32% of its ethnic Hungarians.

1938: First Vienna Award

In 1938, the Nazis rewarded Hungary's pro-Germany foreign policy in the First Vienna Awards, peacefully restoring ethnic-Hungarian-majority areas lost after Trianon.

1939: Territory Regained from Czechoslovakia

In 1939, Hungary regained further territory from Czechoslovakia through force.

February 1940: Record Low Temperature

On 16 February 1940, a record low temperature of −35 °C (−31.0 °F) was recorded at Miskolc in Hungary.

November 1940: Hungary Joins Axis Powers

On 20 November 1940, Hungary formally joined the Axis powers.

June 1941: Hungary Enters World War II

On June 26, 1941, Hungary formally entered World War II as an Axis power, declaring war on the Soviet Union after unidentified planes bombed Kassa, Munkács, and Rahó.

1941: Participation in Invasion of Yugoslavia

In 1941, Hungary participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia, gaining some of its former territories in the south.

1941: Jewish Population

In 1941, there were over 800,000 Jews living within Hungary's borders.

January 1943: Catastrophic Losses at the River Don

In January 1943, the Second Army suffered catastrophic losses at the River Don, leading the government to seek a secret peace pact with the Allies.

March 1944: German Occupation of Hungary

On March 19, 1944, German troops occupied Hungary to guarantee Horthy's compliance after learning of the planned defection.

July 1944: Deportation of Jews

Between 15 May and 9 July 1944, over 434,000 Jews were deported from Hungary during the Holocaust.

October 1944: Horthy Ousted, Szálasi Installed

In October 1944, as the Soviet front approached, German troops ousted Horthy and installed a puppet government under Szálasi's fascist Arrow Cross Party.

February 1945: Budapest Surrenders

On 13 February 1945, Budapest surrendered to Soviet forces.

1945: End of Holocaust

It is estimated that just over 564,000 Hungarian Jews were killed between 1941 and 1945 during the Holocaust in Hungary.

1947: Paris Peace Treaties

Through the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties, Hungary was again reduced to its immediate post-Trianon borders.

1948: Political Purges

From 1948, many freethinkers, democrats, and Horthy-era dignitaries were secretly arrested and extrajudicially interned in domestic and foreign gulags.

1949: Rákosi Era Begins

From 1949, Mátyás Rákosi de facto ruled Hungary, initiating the Stalinisation of the country.

1953: De-Stalinisation and Ascent of Imre Nagy

After Stalin's death in 1953, the Soviet Union pursued a programme of de-Stalinisation, leading to the deposition of Rákosi and the ascent of Imre Nagy to the premiership.

May 1955: Hungary Joins Warsaw Pact

In May 1955, Hungary joined the Warsaw Pact.

December 1955: UN Membership

In December 1955, Hungary became a member of the United Nations.

October 1956: Soviet Intervention in Hungarian Revolution

In October 1956, revolutionary militias sprung up against the Soviet Army and the ÁVH, the Soviets suffered heavy losses, and most Soviet troops withdrew from Budapest. But on November 4, reinforcements entered the country from the Soviet Union.

October 1956: Start of 1956 Revolution

On 23 October 1956, following the firing on peaceful demonstrations, protesters took to the streets in Budapest, initiating the 1956 Revolution.

1956: Rákosi's Government

From 1948 to 1956 under the Rákosi government approximately 350,000 officials and intellectuals were imprisoned or executed.

1956: Failed Revolution

In 1956, Hungary experienced a failed revolution against Soviet influence, after which it remained a repressed member of the Eastern Bloc.

1956: Lowest Suicide Rate Since 1956

In 2013, the number of suicides declined greatly from 4,911 in 1983 to 2,093 which was the lowest since 1956.

June 1958: Execution of Imre Nagy

In June 1958, Imre Nagy was secretly tried, found guilty, sentenced to death, and executed by hanging.

1959: International Mathematical Olympiad

Since 1959, Hungary ranks fourth in the all-time medal count at the International Mathematical Olympiad, with 336 total medals.

1963: General Amnesty Granted

In 1963, the government granted a general amnesty. János Kádár proclaimed a new policy line, allowing people to tacitly accept the socialist regime without professing loyalty to the party.

1968: New Economic Mechanism Introduced

In 1968, the New Economic Mechanism introduced free-market elements into Hungary's socialist command economy, contributing to Hungary being referred to as "the happiest barrack" within the Eastern bloc.

1980: Peak Population

Hungary's population peaked at 10.8 million in 1980.

1980: Hungarian Cosmonaut in Space

In 1980, Bertalan Farkas became the first Hungarian astronaut, representing Hungary as the seventh nation in space as part of the Interkosmos program.

1983: Suicide Statistics in Hungary

In 1983, the number of suicides in Hungary was 4,911.

1985: Peak of Cardiovascular Deaths

In 1985, cardiovascular deaths in Hungary peaked with 79,355 deaths.

1986: Hungarian Grand Prix joins Formula One World Championship

Since 1986, the Hungarian Grand Prix has been a round of the Formula One World Championship.

March 1989: Round Table Talks Begin

In March 1989, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party began Round Table Talks with opposition groups, marking a key step in the transition from communism.

1989: Peaceful Transition to Democracy

As part of the Revolutions of 1989, Hungary peacefully transitioned into a democratic parliamentary republic.

1989: Decline and Reform

By 1989, the year Kádár died, living standards had declined, the Soviet Union was in decline, and a new generation of reformists saw liberalization as the solution to economic and social issues.

1989: Improved Neighbour Relations

Since 1989, Hungary has improved neighbour relations by signing treaties with Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine, renouncing territorial claims and laying the foundation for constructive relations.

May 1990: Free Elections Held

In May 1990, free elections were held, leading to the election of the Hungarian Democratic Forum and József Antall becoming the first democratically elected prime minister since World War II.

1990: Accident Deaths in Hungary

In 1990, deaths from accidents dropped from 8,760 in Hungary.

1991: Economic Recession

In 1991, Hungary experienced a severe economic recession due to the removal of state subsidies, rapid privatization, and the ongoing Yugoslav Wars.

1994: Partnership for Peace

In 1994, Hungary joined the Partnership for Peace program, actively supporting IFOR and SFOR missions in Bosnia.

1994: Socialist Party Wins Elections

In 1994, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party's legal heir, won the elections, marking an abrupt shift in the political landscape.

1996: Grouping into Regions

Since 1996, the counties and city of Budapest have been grouped into seven regions for statistical and development purposes.

1997: 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships

In 1997, Hungary hosted the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

1997: OSCE Chairman-in-Office

In 1997, Hungary served as the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office.

1998: Political Shift

In 1998, the governing party was ousted and the opposition elected, continuing a trend of abrupt shifts in the political landscape.

1999: Hungary Joins NATO

In 1999, Hungary joined NATO as part of its integrationist agenda.

2000: 2000 World Fencing Championships

In 2000, Hungary hosted the World Fencing Championships.

2001: Purchase of JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Aircraft

In 2001, Hungary decided to buy 14 JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft for about 800 million EUR as a significant move for modernization.

2001: 2001 World Allround Speed Skating Championships

In 2001, Hungary hosted the World Allround Speed Skating Championships.

2002: Political Shift

In 2002, the governing party was ousted and the opposition elected, continuing a trend of abrupt shifts in the political landscape.

2004: Hungary Joins the European Union

In 2004, Hungary joined the European Union, furthering its integration into Western structures.

2005: Bibliotheca Corviniana Inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register

In 2005, items from the Bibliotheca Corviniana were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

2006: 2006 European Aquatics Championships

In 2006, Hungary hosted the European Aquatics Championships.

2006: Nationwide Protests Erupt

In 2006, major nationwide protests erupted after Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány admitted his party "lied" to win the recent elections.

July 2007: Record High Temperature

On 20 July 2007, a record high temperature of 41.9 °C (107.4 °F) was recorded at Kiskunhalas in Hungary.

2007: Joined the Schengen Area

In 2007, Hungary joined the Schengen Area.

2007: Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship

In 2007, the parliaments of Hungary and Poland jointly declared 23 March as "The Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship".

2007: Unified Command Structure

Since 2007, the Hungarian Armed Forces has been under a unified command structure.

January 2008: Police and Border Guards Merger

In January 2008, Hungary's police and border guards merged into a single national corps due to Hungary's accession to the Schengen Treaty.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

During the 2008 financial crisis, Hungary's unemployment rate reached 11%.

2008: 2008 World Interuniversity Games & Modern Pentathlon Championships

In 2008, Hungary hosted the World Interuniversity Games and the World Modern Pentathlon Championships.

2009: Hungary Men's National Ice Hockey Team Qualified

In 2009, the Hungary men's national ice hockey team qualified for their first IIHF World Championship.

2010: Researchers per million inhabitants

In 2010, Hungary counted 2,131 full-time equivalent researchers per million inhabitants.

2010: 2010 ITU World Championship Series and UEFA Futsal Championship

In 2010, Hungary hosted the ITU World Championship Series and the UEFA Futsal Championship.

2010: Viktor Orbán Elected

In 2010, Viktor Orbán's national-conservative Fidesz party was elected to a parliamentary supermajority, leading to sweeping governmental and legal changes.

2010: Orbán's Election and Democratic Backsliding

Since Orbán's election in 2010, Hungary has undergone democratic backsliding and has been characterized as an illiberal democracy.

2011: Language Statistics

According to the 2011 census, 9,896,333 people (99.6%) speak Hungarian in Hungary, of whom 9,827,875 people (99%) speak it as a first language, while 68,458 people (0.7%) speak it as a second language.

2011: Census Results

According to the 2011 census, there were 8,314,029 (83.7%) ethnic Hungarians, 308,957 (3.1%) Romani, 131,951 (1.3%) Germans, 29,647 (0.3%) Slovaks, 26,345 (0.3%) Romanians, and 23,561 (0.2%) Croats in Hungary.

2011: EU Council Presidency

In 2011, Hungary held the presidency of the Council of the European Union for half a year.

2011: 2011 IIHF World Championship

In 2011, Hungary hosted the IIHF World Championship.

2011: Government Programme to Increase Birth Rate

In 2011, the conservative government began a programme to increase the birth rate among ethnic Magyars by reinstating three-year maternity leave and boosting the availability of part-time jobs.

January 2012: New Constitution in Force

On 1 January 2012, the new Constitution of Hungary went into force along with a new electoral law.

2012: Defense Spending Increase Pledge

In 2012, the Hungarian government pledged to increase defense spending to 1.4% of GDP by 2022.

2012: Constitutional Reform

In 2012, the Hungarian political system was reformed under the Fundamental Law of Hungary.

2012: Adult Smokers Percentage

In 2012, the proportion of adult smokers declined to 28% in Hungary.

2012: UNESCO Memory of the World Register

Until 2012 three individuals—Csoma, János Bolyai and Tihanyi—were included in the UNESCO Memory of the World register as well as the collective contributions Tabula Hungariae and Bibliotheca Corviniana.

July 2013: Municipalities in Hungary

In July 2013, Hungary had 3,152 municipalities, including 346 towns and 2,806 villages, covering the entire country. Budapest has a special status and is not included in any county, while 23 towns have county rights.

2013: 2013 World Fencing & Wrestling Championships, European Judo & Karate Championships

In 2013, Hungary hosted the World Fencing Championships, the World Wrestling Championships, the European Judo Championships, and the European Karate Championships.

2013: Health Statistics in Hungary

In 2013, cardiovascular disease accounted for 49.4% of all deaths in Hungary, while deaths from accidents dropped to 3,654, and the number of suicides declined to 2,093, which is 21.1 per 100,000 people. The proportion of adult smokers also declined to 19% in 2013.

2014: Researchers per million inhabitants

In 2014, Hungary counted 2,651 full-time equivalent researchers per million inhabitants.

2014: 2014 World Masters Athletics Championships

In 2014, Hungary hosted the World Masters Athletics Championships.

2014: Tourism in Hungary

In 2014, Hungary saw 12.1 million international tourists.

2014: Global Competitiveness Report 2014

In 2014, Hungary's higher education and training was ranked 44 out of 148 countries in the Global Competitiveness Report.

2014: Ethnic Minorities Vote on Nationality Lists

Since 2014, voters of ethnic minorities in Hungary are able to vote on nationality lists, with provisions for preferential mandates and nationality spokesmen in the National Assembly.

2015: Births to Unmarried Women

In 2015, 47.9% of births in Hungary were to unmarried women. Life expectancy was 71.96 years for men and 79.62 years for women.

2015: Budapest's Gross Metropolitan Product

In 2015, Budapest had a gross metropolitan product of more than $100 billion, making it one of the largest regional economies in the European Union.

2015: Export Economy and Trade Surplus

In 2015, Hungary had more than $100 billion in exports, with a trade surplus of $9.003 billion. 79% of exports went to the EU, and 21% was extra-EU trade.

2015: Development Aid Donor

In 2015, Hungary was the fifth largest OECD non-DAC donor of development aid in the world, representing 0.13% of its Gross National Income.

2015: Foreign Direct Investment

In 2015, Hungary's inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was $119.8 billion, with more than $50 billion invested abroad. Key trading partners included Germany, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, France, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

2015: Public Debt

In 2015, Hungary's public debt was 75.3% of GDP, significantly below the EU average.

2015: Hungary Qualified for Second World Championship

In 2015, the Hungary men's national ice hockey team qualified for their second world championship in the top division.

2016: Cyber Security and Foreign Troops

In 2016, the Hungarian National Cyber Security Centre was reorganized and the Hungarian military had about 700 troops stationed in foreign countries.

2016: Armed Forces Personnel

In 2016, the Hungarian armed forces had 31,080 personnel on active duty, with a planned military spending of $1.21 billion, about 0.94% of the country's GDP.

2016: Hungaroring Track Resurfaced

In early 2016, the Hungaroring track was completely resurfaced for the first time.

2017: 2017 World Aquatics & Judo Championships, and European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship

In 2017, Hungary hosted the World Aquatics Championships, the World Judo Championships, and the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship.

2017: Employment Rate and Unemployment Rate

In 2017, Hungary's employment rate was 68.3%, and the unemployment rate was 4.1%. The service sector employed 63.2% of the workforce, industry contributed 29.7%, and agriculture 7.1%.

2017: Deteriorated Relations with Ukraine

Since 2017, Hungary's relations with Ukraine have rapidly deteriorated over the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

2018: Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners

As of 2018, thirteen Hungarian scientists have been recipients of a Nobel Prize.

2018: First Gold Medal in Winter Olympics

In 2018, Hungary won its first gold medal in Winter Olympics in men's short track speed skating with a team of four: Csaba Burján, Shaolin Sándor Liu, Shaoang Liu, and Viktor Knoch.

2019: International Visitors

In 2019, Hungary had 24.5 million international visitors, marking it as a popular tourist destination in Europe.

June 2020: Net-Zero Emissions Target

In June 2020, Hungary passed a law binding itself to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

2020: UEFA Euro 2020 matches in Budapest

In 2020, Hungary hosted 4 matches in the UEFA Euro 2020, held in the Puskás Ferenc Stadium.

2020: R&D Spending

In 2020, Hungary spent 1.61% of its GDP on civil research and development.

2021: Hungary's Population

In 2021, Hungary's population was 9,689,000, according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

April 2022: Parliamentary Election

In April 2022, the Hungarian parliamentary election resulted in a victory for the Fidesz–KDNP alliance, preserving its two-thirds majority.

2022: Defense Spending Target

By 2022, the government pledged to increase defence spending to 1.4% of GDP.

2022: International Scrutiny

In 2022, Hungary faced increased international scrutiny over rule of law concerns, especially regarding the international sanctions against Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Hungary's PISA Ranking

In 2022, Hungary ranked slightly above the OECD average in maths and science in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

2022: Religious Affiliation

The 2022 census showed that 42.5% of the Hungarians were Christians. A large plurality of the population (40.1%) did not declare a religious affiliation, while 16.1% declared themselves explicitly irreligious.

March 2024: Free Transport on MÁV

From March 2024, transport on the Hungarian railway MÁV will be free for people aged 65 and over and under 14 years of age.

2024: Global Peace Index

According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Hungary is the 14th most peaceful country in the world.

2024: Next EU Council Presidency

In 2024, Hungary is scheduled to take on the presidency of the Council of the European Union again.

2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2025, Hungary was ranked 36th in the Global Innovation Index.

2026: Extension of Hungarian Grand Prix Deal

In 2016, the Grand Prix's deal was extended for a further five years, until 2026.

2030: National Energy Strategy

Hungary also extended its National Energy Strategy 2030 to look even further, adding an outlook until 2040 that prioritises carbon-neutral and cost-effective energy while focusing on reinforcing energy security and energy independence.

2040: National Energy Strategy Outlook

Hungary extended its National Energy Strategy 2030 to look even further, adding an outlook until 2040 that prioritises carbon-neutral and cost-effective energy while focusing on reinforcing energy security and energy independence.

2050: Net-Zero Emissions Target