Epidemic left strong mark on demographics in 2020

On January 1, 2021, Hungary’s population was 9,730,000, 39,600 less than a year earlier. This population loss was significantly higher than 3,200 in 2019.

In 2020, 92,233 births were recorded and 140,900 deaths, leading to a net loss of 48,667, 20 percent up on the previous year. The number of deaths increased by 8.7 percent, the highest mortality rate in 21 years.

Last year, almost 70 percent of children were born to married couples while 30 percent were born out of wedlock — as against 61-39 percent a year earlier and 56-44 percent two years ago.

Given a decline in immigration, the natural decline of the population was only marginally offset in 2020.

KSH noted an increase in the number of marriages in 2020, while more people repatriated than emigrated.