Budapest: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Budapest: The unemployment rate in Budapest was 1.9% in 2022 (2.1% for women, 1.6% for men).
- Health in Budapest: The infant mortality rate was 2.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Budapest: An apartment in Budapest cost €142,481 to buy on average in 2024.
- Government and politics in Budapest: Karácsony Gergely (Párbeszéd–DK–MSZP) was elected Lord Mayor (főpolgármester) of Budapest on 9 June 2024 in an extremely close race: the polling-station results give him 47.53% of valid votes and Vitézy Dávid (Vitézy Dávid for Budapest–LMP) 47.49%.
What is the population of Budapest?
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, had 1,671,004 inhabitants (urban agglomeration) on 1 January 2023, according to an official estimate (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Budapest rank among cities in Hungary?
Of the 8 cities the UN table lists for Hungary (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is the largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Budapest?
Women and girls made up 53.2% of residents (888,619 female, 782,385 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Budapest?
Budapest had 1,686,222 residents on 1 January 2024 according to the EU Urban Audit; 12.5% were under 15 and 20.9% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Budapest growing?
The population shrank by 2.4% between 2012 and 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Budapest?
69% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2024 (691 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Budapest?
168,726 students were enrolled in higher education in Budapest in 2024, 100 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Budapest have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Budapest in 2022, 48% had a degree-level education, 45% an upper secondary education and 7% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 48% of people in Budapest were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
Who runs Budapest?
In Hungary, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Council and mayor (polgármester) directly elected for five years. Local services: kindergartens, roads, utilities, local planning, some social care.
How local power works in Hungary
Cities of a similar size in Hungary
- Miskolc 145,248
Up a level: all cities in Hungary · Hungary · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- National Election Office of Hungary (Nemzeti Választási Iroda): Local elections of 9 June 2024: final polling-station results by county (mayors, Lord Mayor, council districts, county and Budapest assembly lists), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ded173cdd985…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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