Press release, 13.11.2025.

Independence, transparency, openness

The trends of poverty indices did not change in merit

The management of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO) had a meeting with Members of Parliament Tamás Mellár and Bence Tordai regarding poverty (EU-SILC-) data. The present data revision is not a Hungarian particularity, it has been conducted simultaneously in a coordinated way in the member states of the European Union by using data of new censuses. Hungary decided about the revision in 2023. The poverty data revision of the HCSO, concluded in the fall of 2025, did not change in merit the trends of poverty indices: the proportion of those at risk of poverty or social exclusion changed every year within the +1,1 and -0.9 percentage point statistical margin of error. Both the original data series and the re-weighted data have been validated by Eurostat. Their quality was and is ensured. Several misleading statements have been circulating in the last weeks in the media which lack objectivity and valid professional foundation. These statements represent group- ideological or political interests, irreconcilable with the moral and ethical principles of scientific research. The HCSO is committed to transparency, professional integrity as well as independence and is open to meaningful dialogue.

Members of Parliament Tamás Mellár and Bence Tordai were the guests of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office in the meeting addressing data on poverty and their revision. The management and professionals of the HCSO presented the background of the EU-SILC survey as well as the process of revision. Poverty data revision took place in the past years in 14 EU member states with the coordination of Eurostat. Eurostat verified and approved all HCSO data, before and after revision, as such both earlier and past-revision data represent a reliable basis for social, economic, political as well as scientific decisions. These are the official statistical data in Hungary as well as in the European Union.

It has been confirmed that – contrary to the news published in the media – the revision was independent from the media coverage, it was pre-planned and conducted based on the professional recommendations of Eurostat. By using the new survey data, the revision increased the accuracy of data but did not change in merit the national trend of the indices on poverty. There was only a minor rearrangement between groups: the poverty of youth slightly worsened, that of pensioners, however, got better. Considering the overall picture, the proportion of those at risk of poverty or social exclusion did not increase in 2023, on the contrary, it lessened, meaning that an improvement took place compared to 2022. Hungary, by this (compared to the pre-revision data), came before other three countries in the EU ranking, and continues to stay well below the EU 21 percent average (with 1.7 percentage points). At present Hungary is on the 13th place in Europe considering the index of those at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Based on the data, the statement that child poverty doubled is also erroneous, as the revision highlighted that the number of children living in poor households lessened by 82 thousand between 2018 and 2023, while pre-revision data showed a decrease by 52 thousand.

Professionals indicated that neither the media, nor researchers did not mention certain components of the complex index, however a real picture regarding poverty is only obtained by the simultaneous analysis of the 3 dimensions. For example, when considering severe financial and social deprivation Hungary showed the third largest decrease among the EU member states in the last 15 years. Very low work intensity significantly lessened as well: meaning the proportion of households where the working age members spent only one-fifth of their work-time at work.

The HCSO would like to emphasize once again that it conducts its activity in the service of common good, free from political influence, solely on the ground of professional considerations, according to its legal authorization and the standards of the international statistics and professional ethics. The basic values of the Office are transparency and openness to meaningful, constructive dialogue. In light of all these, following the SILC-data revision the HCSO held a press conference on 29 September 2025 presenting the results to the public and organized on the same day a professional forum for researchers; today talked about the topic with the above-mentioned Members of Parliament.

Hungarian Central Statistical Office

H-1024 Budapest, Keleti Károly u. 5-7. Tel./Phone: (+36-1) 345-6000
Postacím/Postal address: P.O.Box 51 Budapest H-1525
http://www.ksh.hu