46 Facts About Hungary

Hungary is a Central European country that is landlocked.

It has a land area of 93,028 square kilometres.

Budapest is the country's capital and largest city.

Hungary's official language is Hungarian.

The Forint is the country's official currency (HUF).

Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia are its seven neighbouring countries.

Hungary was founded in the late 9th century by Hungarian grand prince rpád in the Honfoglalás ("homeland-conquest").

Hungary was formerly a part of the Roman Empire, after which 'the Huns' - the country's people at the time - gave the country its name - Hungary.

It is one of Europe's oldest countries. Hungary's land area is slightly smaller than that of the state of Indiana. Hungary is also one of the 50 countries with the highest industrial carbon dioxide emissions in the world.

Hungarian is the direct descendant of the Huns' language. It is not a language of the Indo-European family. Many Hungarians speak English, German, French, or (since World War II) Russian in addition to their native language.

Following World War II, Communist rule became prominent in the country. By the late 1980s, the country owed $18 billion, the most in Europe per capita.

Hungary became a member of NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

The country has over 1500 spas with Roman, Greek, and Turkish architecture.

Hungary is well-known for producing Nobel Prize winners. There have been 13 such winners. They have received Nobel Prizes in all categories except 'Peace.' However, all of the Nobel Prize winners left the country.

Education receives nearly 5% of its GDP, resulting in a 99% literacy rate. Hungary has approximately 77 higher education institutions, including 10 universities and nine technical schools. In 2017, there were 91 males for every 100 females in the country.

Every time Hungary has competed in the Olympics, they have won gold medals. In terms of gold medals won, Hungary ranks second only to Finland in terms of population size. The Budapest Grand Prix, Eastern Europe's only Formula One race, debuted in August 1986.

It is one of the world's top thirty tourist destinations.

They have had a university since 1367, and the University of Pecs is their oldest.

The Sziget Festival is Europe's largest cultural and musical festival. Another such festival is the Budapest Spring Festival, which attracts musicians and artists from all over the world. In 2003, the cost of staying in Hungary ranged between $93 and $204 per day.

Hungarians write their surname first, followed by their first name. Confused? In this formal manner, they introduce themselves. People call each other by their first names, but in public, they use the last name first.

Hungary is known as a wine country because it has 22 distinct wine regions and eight grape varieties.

Budapest, Hungary's capital, has the most thermal springs in the world. Every day, 70 million litres of thermal water rise to the earth's surface. These hot springs are beneficial to health and have been used as medicinal baths since the Romans. Budapest is located in the country's north central region.

Budapest's Hungarian parliament is the world's third largest parliamentary building and the tallest structure in the capital city. It is also one of Europe's oldest legislative structures.

In Hungary, you cannot name your child unless the government approves it. They have a long list of names, and if your preferred name is not on the list, fill out the form for approval with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Research Institute for Linguistics.

In October 1989, Hungary became a democratic republic.

The day of the foundation of the Hungarian State, August 20, is a national holiday in Hungary.

The highest point is Kékes in the Mátra Mountains at 1,014 m (3327 ft), and the lowest point is the Tisza River at 78 m (256 ft) above sea level. Balaton, with an area of 601 square kilometres, is the largest lake.

Hungarians have also made significant contributions to mathematics.

Hungary invented the BASIC programming language, the telephone exchange, and the electric motor.

Their water polo team is the best in sport history. Their 15 Olympic medals are proof.

They are also excellent football players! Ferenc Puskás is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Hungary ranks third in the world in terms of total smokers, trailing only Greece and Bulgaria.

Hungary issued the world's highest denomination notes, with a face value of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Hungarian pengos (one quintillion pengo) in 1946.

Hungary collects the highest VAT rate in the world, at 27%.

Hungary also has the highest female suicide rate and the highest cancer death rate.

Hungary also has one of the world's oldest metro railways, dating back to 1896.

Hungary's largest export partner is Germany.

Franz Liszt of Hungary was widely regarded as the greatest pianist of all time. In addition, he was a well-known and influential composer, piano teacher, and conductor. In 2011, Hungary renamed Budapest International Airport in his honour to commemorate his 200th birthday. It is the busiest hub for both domestic and international flights.

Hungarians are said to be the only people who can enter a revolving door from behind and emerge on the other side.

Red pepper powder is very popular among Hungarians.

Johnny Weissmuller, best known for his role as Tarzan in 1930s and 1940s films, was born in Hungary.

Harry Houdini, the world-famous escape artist, was also born in Budapest, Hungary.

The discoverer of vitamin C, Albert Szent-Györgyi, was also born in Hungary.

The original Dracula, Béla Lugosi, was also Hungarian.

László Cseh of Hungary was one of three swimmers who received the most medals in a single Olympic swimming race. Michael Phelps (USA) and Chad le Clos were the other two swimmers (South Africa). On August 12, 2016, all three swimmers took 51.14 seconds to complete the Men's 100 m butterfly at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was the first time a three-way tie had occurred in an Olympic swimming event.

Hungarians are intelligent people. They have created some of the most well-known and useful inventions in history. Hungarian inventions include the helicopter, ballpoint pen, and Rubik's cube.