Government finances offer important information regarding the economic status of a country, within it about the general government sector. As a main rule in the European Union member countries the government sector deficit may be 3% of the GDP at most; government debt ratio maximum 60% of the deficit. In case these conditions - the conditions for introducing the Euro also - are not met by a member state the excessive deficit procedure is launched against that state. Statistics regarding the government sector offer, beside deficit and debt related data, information about sums of revenue and expenditure as well as about their content.
According to Council Directive (EU) 2024/1265 of 29 April 2024 amending Directive 2011/85/EU on requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States, Member States should publish quarterly deficit and debt data calculated in the manner defined in the European System of Integrated National Accounts. Deficit data are generated as a result of HCSO’s compiling quarterly non-financial accounts for the general government, and the source of debt data is data from the financial account compiled by NBH.
Balance of the general government sector in proportion of GDP
Indicator description
Changes in total revenues of organisations classified into the general government sector compared to the same period of the previous year, in a given quarter.
Changes in the revenues of the general government sector
Indicator description
Changes in total revenues of organisations classified into the general government sector compared to the same period of the previous year. We calculate the index based on current HUF-base data.
Changes in total expenditures of organisations classified into the general government sector compared to the same period of the previous year. We calculate the index based on current HUF-base data.
According to preliminary data, the deficit of the general government sector in the 1st half of 2026 was HUF 2,809.5 billion, 6.2% of GDP. The deficit of the 2nd quarter stood at HUF 758.2 billion, 3.3% of GDP.
For Hungary, 2025 once again proved economically two?sided: while output in the productive sectors—industry and agriculture—continued to weaken, services strengthened across almost all areas. Household consumption gained further momentum, supported in large part by the rise in real wages. Based on the available data, employment levels appear to have stabilised at a high level despite the protracted global difficulties.
The yearbook provides an overview of Hungary's demographic, social and economic trends, environmental characteristics and their changes over time, with the help of tens of thousands of data in some 500 tables, charts and maps. Compared to previous years, it is a novelty that the results of time use data collection showing the time use of the population were included in the yearbook, furthermore, that the number of registered organisations and earnings data are also available according to the new NACE Rev. 2.1 structure, alongside the NACE Rev. 2 classification, as well as that the International data chapter is published with more extensive content, various indicators.
According to seasonally and calendar adjusted data, financial corporations as well as households and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) were in a net lending, while non-financial corporations and general government in a net borrowing position in the 1st quarter of 2026. The gross saving rate of households and NPISHs came to 20% and their gross investment rate to 5.3%. The gross profit share of non-financial corporations stood at 36% and their gross investment rate was 30%.
Hungary’s population on 1 January 2024 was 9 million 585 thousand people, with nearly 18% living in the capital city, almost 53% in towns, and 30% in villages. In 2023, Hungary’s trade surplus in goods reached its highest level since 2016 (9.0 billion euros), while the surplus in services also rose to a record high (11.0 billion euros). Both the production volume and average yield of the major arable crops increased; the production of barley reached an unprecedented level of 2.2 million tonnes.
The deficit of the general government sector in Hungary was HUF 4,059 billion, 4.7% of GDP in 2025, based on preliminary data of national accounts. Total revenue of the general government sector was HUF 37,082 billion and its total expenditure HUF 41,141 billion. Compared to 2024, revenues increased by 7.9% and expenditures by 6.7%. The debt of the general government sector – based on data of the National Bank of Hungary – was HUF 64,912 billion, 74.6% of GDP at the end of 2025.
The performance of Hungary’s economy surpassed the previous year’s level by 0.3% in the 1st-3rd quarters of 2025. The increasing performance of the services sector and construction as well as growing consumption had a positive impact on GDP. These impacts however have been subdued by the setback of the industry and agriculture, the continuously subdued investment activity. Retail trade volume continued to rise, foreign demand at accommodation establishments increased, too.
