2025 country profile

How democratic is
Hungary?

Hungary scores 49.9 out of 100 and ranks 105 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public reasoning. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

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DEMOCRACYS SCORE

49.9out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank105 of 179

10-year change−14.2

25-year change−29.0

Source-bound range41.7–57.2

Weakest areaReasoning

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Hungary, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

A new state body investigated government critics

The Sovereignty Defense Office pursued anticorruption organizations and investigative media through inquiries Freedom House characterizes as arbitrary. Such investigations can discourage scrutiny even without banning an organization. The issue is whether the state uses oversight powers to protect the public or to burden those holding officials accountable.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Hungary fell 14.2 points, from 64.1 to 49.9 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Public reasoning contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments less favorably.

Area score: 52.4 → 30.0
Approx. contribution to overall change: −5.4 points

Another important influence

Elections

The evidence rates electoral choice, voting rights, political organization, and the space for open debate less favorably.

Area score: 61.7 → 42.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.1 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2017–2018−4.2 points
The overall score fell from 62.6 to 58.4. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−2.8 points
The overall score fell from 58.3 to 55.5. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−2.0 points
The overall score fell from 52.4 to 50.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 64.1 in 2015. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Public reasoning	52.4	30.0	−22.4	−5.4
Elections	61.7	42.1	−19.6	−4.1
Political equality	73.0	61.7	−11.3	−2.1
Rights and checks	75.1	66.7	−8.4	−1.5
Participation	59.9	53.9	−6.0	−1.2

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

42.1

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

66.7

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

53.9

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

30.0

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

61.7

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Hungary score table

Download Hungary CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	49.9	41.7–57.2	42.1	66.7	53.9	30.0	61.7
2024	50.4	42.4–57.9	44.4	66.1	53.9	30.0	62.6
2023	52.4	44.0–59.6	43.4	67.0	56.2	35.8	63.1
2022	53.5	44.8–60.7	44.7	68.2	58.9	35.8	63.5
2021	54.0	46.2–61.7	45.0	70.5	58.9	35.4	64.2
2020	55.5	47.4–63.1	46.0	70.5	60.7	39.7	63.9
2019	58.3	50.5–66.0	46.6	72.4	61.0	48.4	65.2
2018	58.4	50.5–66.1	48.1	72.7	61.5	46.5	65.6
2017	62.6	55.2–70.2	55.5	75.2	63.2	48.2	73.3
2016	63.8	56.5–71.8	61.3	75.1	63.7	48.3	72.4
2015	64.1	57.1–72.0	61.7	75.1	59.9	52.4	73.0
2014	64.8	57.8–72.8	66.9	75.8	60.4	49.9	73.0
2013	66.7	60.0–74.7	73.8	75.9	62.1	49.9	73.8
2012	70.2	63.6–77.7	77.3	78.7	65.8	53.9	77.3
2011	70.6	63.6–78.1	77.8	80.9	66.3	53.0	77.3
2010	72.1	66.0–79.9	80.8	82.8	66.7	54.6	77.5
2009	78.4	73.0–84.4	85.0	90.6	69.5	67.9	80.1
2008	78.4	73.3–85.1	85.0	90.5	69.9	67.6	80.3
2007	77.9	73.1–84.8	85.0	90.4	69.5	66.1	79.9
2006	77.4	72.3–84.2	83.1	89.8	69.9	65.1	80.2
2005	78.5	73.4–85.4	84.3	89.7	70.2	69.2	80.2
2004	79.2	74.1–86.0	84.3	90.5	71.0	69.2	82.0
2003	78.6	73.5–85.4	84.3	90.5	68.2	69.2	82.0
2002	78.7	73.6–85.4	84.2	90.0	69.0	69.2	82.4
2001	78.8	73.5–85.3	83.9	89.6	69.8	69.2	82.4
2000	78.9	73.6–85.4	83.9	89.6	70.2	69.2	82.4
1999	79.2	74.1–85.8	83.9	89.6	70.6	70.8	81.8
1998	80.7	75.5–87.0	84.0	90.4	71.0	75.1	83.7
1997	81.0	75.6–86.9	84.4	90.4	71.5	75.1	84.4
1996	79.9	74.6–85.9	84.4	90.3	66.6	75.1	84.4
1995	80.0	74.7–86.0	84.4	90.3	67.1	75.1	84.4
1994	80.0	75.0–86.5	84.2	90.3	67.5	75.0	84.1
1993	80.1	75.2–86.6	84.3	90.3	67.5	75.0	84.3
1992	80.8	75.9–87.1	84.3	90.3	67.5	77.2	85.8
1991	80.8	75.9–87.1	84.3	90.3	67.5	77.2	85.8
1990	79.9	74.9–86.0	79.9	89.9	66.9	77.9	86.1
1989	47.7	39.7–54.6	26.5	49.6	39.7	46.4	84.6
1988	35.6	28.8–42.3	16.7	38.3	21.5	33.3	82.5
1987	32.0	25.2–38.3	15.0	34.9	19.2	24.3	82.2
1986	31.2	24.2–37.1	14.5	34.5	19.2	21.6	82.2
1985	30.9	24.1–36.9	14.1	33.8	19.2	21.6	82.2
1984	30.6	24.0–36.7	13.6	32.9	19.2	21.6	82.2
1983	30.7	24.1–36.9	13.6	32.9	19.2	21.6	82.6
1982	30.7	24.1–36.9	13.6	32.9	19.2	21.6	82.6
1981	30.6	23.9–36.7	13.6	32.9	19.2	21.6	82.0
1980	30.7	24.1–36.8	13.4	32.9	19.2	21.6	83.4
1979	29.8	22.8–35.6	13.1	32.4	19.1	18.5	83.4
1978	29.8	22.8–35.6	13.1	32.4	19.1	18.5	83.4
1977	29.8	22.8–35.6	13.1	32.4	19.1	18.5	83.4
1976	29.8	22.8–35.6	13.1	32.4	19.1	18.5	83.4
1975	29.7	22.6–35.3	13.1	32.2	19.1	18.5	83.4
1974	29.8	22.6–35.3	13.2	32.2	19.1	18.5	83.4
1973	29.8	22.6–35.3	13.2	32.2	19.1	18.5	83.4
1972	29.8	22.6–35.3	13.2	32.2	19.1	18.5	83.4
1971	30.1	23.2–35.9	13.1	32.4	19.1	19.8	83.4
1970	30.4	23.4–36.2	13.1	32.1	19.1	21.5	83.4
1969	29.8	23.2–35.7	13.0	31.5	17.8	21.5	82.4
1968	29.6	23.1–35.5	13.0	30.4	17.8	21.5	82.5
1967	26.1	19.5–31.1	12.9	30.2	17.8	8.5	82.6
1966	26.1	19.4–31.0	13.0	30.2	17.8	8.5	82.6
1965	24.6	18.3–29.4	13.0	29.9	17.8	5.0	82.7
1964	23.6	17.2–27.8	13.0	29.7	15.8	3.9	83.0
1963	22.4	16.1–26.6	12.7	27.4	15.8	2.7	82.6
1962	22.4	16.1–26.5	12.4	28.1	15.8	2.7	82.6
1961	22.5	16.4–26.4	12.2	27.2	15.8	2.7	84.6
1960	22.4	16.3–26.3	12.2	26.9	15.8	2.7	84.6
1959	22.1	15.9–26.0	12.1	25.7	15.8	2.7	83.7
1958	21.2	15.2–25.0	11.9	24.9	15.8	2.0	82.0
1957	20.9	15.0–24.7	11.8	23.3	15.8	2.0	82.0
1956	23.7	17.4–28.4	11.9	22.6	15.8	7.9	82.0
1955	24.3	17.7–28.9	13.7	23.3	15.8	7.9	82.0
1954	25.3	18.5–30.0	18.1	23.3	15.8	7.9	82.0
1953	24.8	18.3–29.6	15.3	22.6	15.8	8.6	82.0
1952	20.8	14.8–24.6	11.8	22.6	15.8	2.0	82.0
1951	20.8	14.8–24.6	11.8	22.6	15.8	2.0	82.0
1950	20.7	15.0–24.7	11.8	22.3	15.8	2.0	82.0
1949	23.6	17.6–28.2	12.2	27.0	28.0	2.4	78.1
1948	38.0	31.5–44.3	19.0	36.0	37.1	37.2	68.6
1947	44.2	37.9–50.6	21.1	41.8	37.2	60.2	69.5
1946	44.1	37.9–50.8	22.2	40.8	37.6	58.9	68.8
1945	23.3	17.1–28.0	16.0	19.8	30.9	5.9	59.2
1944	23.4	16.4–28.6	20.0	29.3	31.0	6.6	39.3
1943	36.8	29.0–44.0	25.4	56.2	43.1	23.1	41.5
1942	37.3	29.2–44.3	25.7	58.0	43.1	23.1	41.9
1941	37.3	29.3–44.4	25.9	57.9	43.1	23.1	41.9
1940	37.8	29.9–45.1	28.4	58.8	43.1	23.1	40.6
1939	40.0	32.3–47.3	29.6	62.3	43.8	27.7	41.2
1938	42.2	33.8–49.2	31.0	63.1	43.3	35.4	41.2
1937	43.2	35.8–50.9	31.4	63.4	43.3	37.1	43.8
1936	44.8	36.5–51.8	31.6	64.6	43.3	42.9	44.5
1935	44.7	36.2–51.6	31.7	64.8	43.3	42.4	44.1
1934	44.4	36.5–51.6	32.1	64.6	43.3	41.8	43.3
1933	44.8	37.2–52.2	32.1	64.6	43.3	43.5	43.3
1932	44.7	37.4–52.3	31.8	64.6	43.3	43.5	43.3
1931	44.7	37.5–52.5	32.0	64.6	43.3	43.5	42.9
1930	44.8	37.1–52.2	31.5	64.6	43.3	43.5	44.3
1929	44.2	36.9–51.9	31.3	64.7	40.7	43.5	43.9
1928	44.2	36.9–51.9	31.3	64.7	40.7	43.5	43.9
1927	44.2	37.1–52.0	31.3	64.7	40.7	43.5	44.0
1926	44.8	37.7–53.0	34.7	65.2	40.7	43.5	42.7
1925	44.5	37.0–52.2	34.4	65.2	40.7	43.5	41.3
1924	44.5	36.9–52.1	34.3	65.2	40.7	43.5	41.3
1923	41.9	33.5–49.0	33.7	64.7	40.7	32.7	41.3
1922	39.9	32.0–47.0	31.7	63.8	40.7	26.6	41.3
1921	38.4	30.5–45.1	28.4	59.4	40.4	26.6	41.3
1920	37.5	29.8–44.0	27.0	55.9	40.4	26.6	41.6
1919	25.3	18.8–30.3	16.2	30.1	28.2	9.1	53.2
1918	45.1	37.3–53.0	38.7	57.8	39.8	55.7	35.8

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Hungary Democracy Score, 1918–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#103Jordan50.8 #104Gabon50.4 #106Zanzibar49.9 #107India49.1

All rankings

How democratic isHungary?

Hungary, 1975–2025

A new state body investigated government critics

Public reasoning

Elections

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Hungary score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Hungary?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.