Hungary's Population Falls under 9.8 million

The estimated number of the resident population calculated on the basis of the 2011 census and taking into account international migration was 9 million 769 thousand at the end of 2019, according to a February report by the country’s Central Statistical Office. It is the result of a natural decrease of 40,400 people (89,200 live births vs. 129,600 deaths) compared to the end of 2018 – a figure two percentage points better than in the previous year.

Detailed numbers say that 89,200 children were born in 2019, 607 children fewer or 0.7% lower than in 2018. The number of newborns was lower in January-March, June and October, higher in April-May, July, September and November-December and was the same in August, compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. The most significant increase of 8.2% was registered in December and the largest decrease of 5.8% in June.

The estimated total fertility rate was 1.49 per woman, the same as calculated for 2018. Therefore, the intention of childbearing has not changed; the number of live births has declined due to the fall in the number of women in childbearing age.

There were 129,600 deaths, 1.1% lower or 1,445 fewer deceased than a year earlier. The number of deaths increased in January, February and June, while in all other months of the year, fewer people died than in the same months of 2018. The largest increase of 20% was registered in the first month of the year, which may have been due to a flu epidemic that peaked earlier compared to 2018. The most significant decline of 14% was recorded in March, and besides, in December notably fewer people died (8.1% less), too.