Transport

Every year the Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary is the first detailed tabular publication comprising all themes, which provides information on socio-economic processes in the previous year according to preliminary data. Its regional chapter presents the different regions, while its international chapter allows for comparisons of major data primarily on member states of the European Union. The interpretation of figures is supported by methodological description and while orientation by several charts.

The first quarter of 2020 saw a sharp decline in freight performance, partly as a result of measures caused by the coronavirus epidemic (such as plant shutdowns). In addition, other processes, such as tightening road freight regulations in the European Union and a stagnating automotive industry, also affected the sector’s performance. A greater setback was seen in international relations, with road freight transport being the most affected. Bus transport showed the most significant decline in interurban passenger transport performance. Our international airports also recorded declining passenger traffic. Fewer cars were registered for the first time than a year earlier.

In March 2020 the passenger traffic at Hungary’s border crossing points already showed the restrictions put in place due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic. A total of 2.0 million people crossed Hungary’s external Schengen borders; the traffic had almost halved compared to a year earlier. The limitations mainly affected the leaving Hungarian and the entering foreign citizens.

In the 1st-3rd quarters of 2019 the performance increase of the Hungarian economy continued. The growth was a result on one hand of the performance of the industry, construction and certain service divisions (e.g. commerce, tourism), on the other hand of the strengthening of the consumer and investment activity. Beside the price level increase real earnings surpassed the previous year’s level. Due to fewer live births and basically unchanged death numbers natural decrease was higher than in the 1st-3rd quarters of 2018.

The yearbook presents the demographic, socio-economic trends and the characteristics of the environment, as well as their changes over time in Hungary. The main indicators are illustrated in time series or regional comparisons by charts and maps; the interactive versions of these are available on our website. Spatial disparities among counties and regions as well as international indicators are presented in separate chapters. The volume appears with an internet annex containing the publication in PDF format, all tables in Excel format suitable for further processing as well as the Glossary also in Excel format.