Hungary

Economy & industry overview

Hungary is an upper-middle-income, open economy in Central Europe and a member of the European Union and OECD, with a nominal GDP of approximately USD 223 billion in 2024. The economy is heavily oriented toward manufacturing and exports, with machinery and equipment accounting for over half of merchandise exports; key trading partners are primarily other EU member states, especially Germany. Core industries include automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, electronics, food processing, energy (oil and gas), chemicals, and financial services. The Budapest Stock Exchange is the third-largest in Central and Eastern Europe by market capitalisation, dominated by a handful of large-cap names in banking, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Hungary attracts significant foreign direct investment owing to its EU membership, skilled labour force, and strategic location in the heart of Europe.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$222.90B
GDP growth real, annual	2.2%
Inflation annual	4.4%
Population people	9.6M
GDP per capita USD	$23,292
Market cap total listed, USD	$66.00B
Market cap / GDP	29.6%
Unemployment	4.5%
Listed companies	156
Exchange	Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank (World Development Indicators, 2024), IMF World Economic Outlook (2024), FocusEconomics Hungary Profile, Budapest Stock Exchange (bse.hu, November 2025 data), CEIC Data – BSE Market Capitalisation, Wikipedia – Budapest Stock Exchange, Wikipedia – Economy of Hungary, Trading Economics – Hungary, European Commission Economic Forecast for Hungary, Statista – Hungary Unemployment Rate, OECD Economic Surveys: Hungary 2024.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Budapest Stock Exchange
Code	BSE
Website	bse.hu
Currency	HUF

Local broker access

Hungarian equities listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) can be accessed by international investors through: (1) local Hungarian brokers and banks (e.g., OTP Bank Brokerage, Erste Befektetési Zrt., Concorde Securities); (2) major European online brokers that provide access to the BSE via Xetra; (3) US-based international brokers such as Interactive Brokers, which offer direct BSE access; (4) US-traded ETFs providing Hungary exposure; and (5) ADRs for select companies. The BSE uses the Xetra electronic trading platform. Settlement is T+2. Dividends are subject to Hungarian withholding tax (15%), which may be reduced by applicable double-tax treaties.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only. Not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Hungary is an EU and Schengen member state. EU/EEA citizens have freedom of movement and the right to reside and work without a visa. Non-EU nationals require a residence permit; the Guest Investor programme is the primary investment-based pathway. Budapest is the administrative and economic centre. The official language is Hungarian; English is widely spoken in business contexts. Hungary has a flat personal income tax rate of 15%.