Poverty has decreased, happiness has increased, but large families and Roma have fared poorly

In 2025, 1.7 million Hungarians faced poverty or social exclusion, a decrease of 119,000 from the previous year. The Central Statistical Office reported a significant drop in severe deprivation cases, from 787,000 to 633,000. However, relative income poverty increased slightly, affecting 1.32 million people. The report highlighted rising poverty among large families and Roma communities, with the latter seeing an increase from 64.5% to 71.1%. Despite a rise in average net income to 249,000 HUF, income inequality remains high, with the richest fifth earning 4.9 times more than the poorest. Spending on basic needs accounted for 56.3% of total expenditures, and overall happiness ratings improved slightly, reflecting a complex socio-economic landscape.