Hungary's Population Continues to Shrink

According to preliminary data, 7,398 children were born and 11,342 people died in Hungary in January 2023, the country’s Central Statistical Office reports.

In the last twelve months, i.e. between February 2022 and January 2023, the number of births diminished by 3.4%, that of deaths by 14% and the number of marriages by 12% compared to the [still pandemic] period one year earlier.

In January 2023:

• A total of 7,398 children were born, 12% or 783 more than a year earlier.
• 11,342 people lost their lives, 14% less or 1,864 fewer than in January 2022.
• The natural decrease was 3,944, as opposed to 6,591 in January 2022.

1,230 couples got married, which was 45% less or 996 fewer than in January 2022.

Between February 2022 and January 2023:

• 89,183 children were born, 3.4% less or 3,117 fewer than in the previous twelve months.
• The total fertility rate was estimated at 1.54 per female, compared to 1.58 calculated for the previous twelve months.
• There were 133,836 deaths, 14% less or 21,169 fewer than in the previous twelve months.
• The number of births went down to a lower extent than that of deaths, as a result of which the natural decrease was 44,653, which was 29% lower than the value of 62,705 for the previous twelve months.
• 63,104 couples got married, 12% less or 8,369 fewer than in the previous twelve months.

There were 9.2 live births and 13.8 deaths per thousand population. The rate of live births was 0.3 per mille points and that of deaths 2.1 per mille points lower than in February 2021–January 2022, as a result of which the rate of natural decrease lessened by 1.8 per mille points to 4.6 per mille.

The number of infant deaths was 3.4 per thousand live births, which was approximately the same as the value for the previous twelve months. The marriage rate was 6.5 per mille, 0.8 per mille points lower than in the period a year earlier.