Hungary

Summary

Official Name

Hungary

International Conventions

CDE (1964), CPPDCE (2008), CSICH (2006), ECRML (1995), FCPNM (1995), ICCPR (1974), UNCRPD (2007), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

9,769,000

Principal Languages

Hungarian

Literacy Rate

99% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Campbell and King 2011

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Hungary is 20. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 15 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 9 are institutional, 9 are developing, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 4 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 2,930 in Hungary (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Budapest; Pest county. Users: 440 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,290 (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Bulgarian bul: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Budapest counties; Miskolc area. Users: 2,900 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,560 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chakavian ckm: Győr-Moson-Sopron and Vas counties. Users: 12,000 in Hungary (2021 K. Tyran). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Gradišćanskohrvatski jezik, Gradišćei Horvát Nyelv Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Chinese zho: Users: 5,820 in Hungary (2011 census). Status: Unestablished.
Croatian hrv: Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, Pest, Somogy, and Zala counties. Users: 13,700 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 23,600 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). Alternate Names: Hrvatski, Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
English eng: Users: 1,957,800 in Hungary, all users. L1 users: 7,800 in Hungary (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,950,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angol Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 114,000 in Hungary (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Baranya, Békés, Somogy, Tolna, Vas, Veszprém, and Zala counties. Users: 1,795,200 in Hungary, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Hungary (2020 Eurostat). L2 users: 1,760,000 (2018). Ethnic population: 132,000 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Német Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Budapest and Fejér counties. Users: 1,870 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,920 (2011 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Görög Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Hungarian hun: Widespread. Users: 9,780,000 in Hungary (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 12,560,490. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Autonym: Magyar Classification: Uralic
Hungarian Sign Language hsh: Scattered. Users: 10,000 in Hungary (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated deaf signers, assuming 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 9,000 (2021 EUD), 49,000 Deaf (2014 IMB). Total users in all countries: 11,200. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Constitution, Article H(3)). Recognized language (2009, Act CXXV on Hungarian Sign Language and the use of Hungarian Sign Language). Alternate Names: Magyar Jelnyelv, Magyarországi jelnyelv Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Polish pol: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Budapest counties. Users: 3,050 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,730 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Lengyel Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Nógrád county: Hugyag; Csongrád-Csanád county: Szeged (Gurvári dialect). Users: Few speakers. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Central Romani, Romanes, Romungro Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, Békés, and Csongrád-Csanád counties. Users: 54,300 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 309,000 (2011 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Beás, Cigány, Roma Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Romanian ron: Bács-Kiskun, Békés, Budapest, and Csongrád-Csanád counties. Users: 13,900 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 26,300 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Daco-Romanian, Limba română, Româneşte, Rumanian Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 200,000 in Hungary (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 7,380 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 6,170 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Rusyn rue: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county: Komlóska and Mucsony; Budapest and Pest counties. Users: 1,000 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,320 (2011 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Ruthenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Budapest county; Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, and Csongrád-Csanád counties, urban enclaves. Users: 3,710 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 7,210 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Slovak slk: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Zala counties; near Slovak-Hungary border. Users: 9,890 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 29,600 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). Alternate Names: Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Slovene slv: Zala county; near Slovenia border. Users: 1,720 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 2,390 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). Alternate Names: Slovenščina, Slovenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Ukrainian ukr: Budapest and Pest counties. Users: 3,380 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,630 (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Ukrán Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Vietnamese vie: Users: 2,670 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,020 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Major cities. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Hungarian

[hun] 1 (National). De facto national language. 9,780,000 in Hungary (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 12,560,490.

4 (Educational)

Bulgarian

[bul] 4 (Educational). 2,900 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,560 (2011 census).

German, Standard

[deu] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). 1,795,200 in Hungary, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Hungary (2020 Eurostat). L2 users: 1,760,000 (2018). Ethnic population: 132,000 (2011 census).

Croatian

[hrv] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). 13,700 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 23,600 (2011 census).

Polish

[pol] 4 (Educational). 3,050 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,730 (2011 census).

Romanian

[ron] 4 (Educational). 13,900 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 26,300 (2011 census).

Slovak

[slk] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). 9,890 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 29,600 (2011 census).

Slovene

[slv] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). 1,720 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 2,390 (2011 census).

Serbian

[srp] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII). 3,710 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 7,210 (2011 census).

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,957,800 in Hungary, all users. L1 users: 7,800 in Hungary (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,950,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 114,000 in Hungary (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Dispersed). 440 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,290 (2011 census).

Ukrainian

[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). 3,380 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,630 (2011 census).

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 5* (Dispersed).

5 (Developing)

Hungarian Sign Language

[hsh] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Constitution, Article H(3)). Recognized language (2009, Act CXXV on Hungarian Sign Language and the use of Hungarian Sign Language). 10,000 in Hungary (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated deaf signers, assuming 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 9,000 (2021 EUD), 49,000 Deaf (2014 IMB). Total users in all countries: 11,200.

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 5* (Developing). Few speakers.

6a (Vigorous)

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 6a* (Vigorous). 54,300 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 309,000 (2011 census).

6b (Threatened)

Chakavian

[ckm] 6b (Threatened). 12,000 in Hungary (2021 K. Tyran).

Greek

[ell] 6b* (Threatened). 1,870 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,920 (2011 census).

Rusyn

[rue] 6b (Threatened). 1,000 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,320 (2011 census).