According to K&H Bank’s ‘Secure Future’ survey, the proportion of middle-aged people who are most financially vulnerable has fallen to a historic low in Hungary, and Hungarians’ financial resilience has improved significantly over the past year, the bank said in a statement sent to MTI on Sunday.
Last year, 42% of the population would have been able to live off their savings for no more than one month without income; this year, that figure has dropped to 30%, the lowest rate since the survey began. At the same time, the proportion of those with savings sufficient for at least half a year rose from 37% to 43%.
On average, respondents estimated that they could cover their expenses for about eight months without an income. This suggests that the financial resilience of middle-aged adults has improved; in other words, in the event of an unexpected job loss, a prolonged illness, or other temporary life circumstances, a larger proportion of them now have savings that can help them get through difficult periods.
At the same time, significant differences can be observed among various social groups. Women’s financial reserves remain more limited: 40 percent of women could support themselves for no more than one month on their savings, while among men, this figure is only 20%.
According to the study, people in their fifties have the strongest financial foundation; among them, the proportion of those who could live off their accumulated savings for more than two years is the highest – 14 percent, compared to the average of 9%. On average, people living in rural villages could maintain their standard of living for less than seven months without income, while for residents of Budapest and county seats, this period approaches ten months. Those with higher levels of education could also cover their expenses for an average of ten months without income, while for those with lower levels of education, this period is around seven months. 48% of those with lower incomes could survive on their savings for no more than one month; among middle-income earners, this figure is 29%, while among higher-income earners, it is 21%.
"One of the most important lessons from the survey is that long-term savings can provide significant protection even in unexpected situations. Those with retirement savings could finance their living expenses for an average of 14 months without income, while those without such savings could do so for an average of seven months," Pálma Székely, head of the sales and life insurance division at K&H Insurance, was quoted in the press release.
The goal of the K&H Secure Future survey is to present quarterly changes in the sense of security among the population aged 30–59 years. The survey includes 500 respondents each quarter, and their composition – based on gender, age, region, and type of settlement – is representative of the Hungarian population aged 30–59 years. The most recent survey was conducted between April 27 and May 5, 2026.
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