**Population Census 2022: HCSO publishes new results<br/><br/>According to the 2022 census, Hungary's population is 9 million 604 thousand people. The population of large cities has generally decreased, while that of their catchment areas has typically increased. The number and size of dwellings has also increased, with fewer people per dwelling. The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO) presented the latest results of the 2022 census at a press conference.** The population of Hungary at the reference date of last year's census, 1 October 2022, was 9 million 604 thousand, 334 thousand fewer than at the last census in 2011. Budapest had 1.7 million inhabitants, nearly 47 thousand fewer than 11 years ago. Debrecen was the most populous of the rural towns, with 200 thousand inhabitants, but it also saw a decrease of 12 thousand. While the population of large cities has generally decreased, their catchment areas have tended to increase. The population also increased in the north-west of the country and around Lake Balaton. More than one third of the settlements in Hungary have fewer than 500 inhabitants. According to final housing data, Hungary's housing stock now stands at 4.6 million dwellings, 21% of which are in Budapest, 52% in rural towns and 27% in villages. Nearly two thirds of the occupied dwellings are of brick construction, while 13-13% are of adobe or panel construction. Thirty-one percent of occupied dwellings have two bedrooms, 32 percent have three bedrooms, and 29 percent have four or more bedrooms. The average floor area of dwellings is 82 square metres, 4 square metres more than in 2011. The share of large apartments continued to rise, with those with a floor area of more than 100 square metres accounting for 28 per cent. There are 237 occupants per 100 dwellings, 11 fewer than in 2011. 98 percent of occupied dwellings have piped water. The public sewerage network has expanded significantly, while the proportion of households using domestic sewerage has fallen to less than half. The number of households that also use electricity for heating has increased more than fivefold since the last census, to 357 thousand. The increasing importance of sustainability is reflected in the spread of modern energy solutions. There are 165 thousand dwellings in buildings with solar panels, 68 thousand dwellings use heat pumps for heating and 28 thousand dwellings have solar collectors for hot water. During last year's census, HCSO collected 1.8 billion different data items. Thanks to full digitisation and the use of administrative databases, the processing of this huge amount of data has been significantly accelerated compared to previous paper censuses. The processing of census data will be completed in the autumn. This is when the office will publish the detailed data for all topics, said Dr Gabriella Vukovich, President of the HCSO. The data can be retrieved from the [census information database](https://nepszamlalas2022.ksh.hu/en/database) on the HCSO website according to individual needs. In addition, the most important characteristics are also published in the form of traditional tables. The data can also be used in map form, added Marcell Kovács, Census Project Manager.

**At a press conference, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO) presented the preliminary results of the 2022 census. On 1 October 2022, the reference date of the census, Hungary's population was 9 million 604 thousand people, and the number of dwellings was 4 million 593 thousand. The processing of the questionnaires received during the census is ongoing, with preliminary settlement data expected to be published in the second quarter and final results from the autumn.** Only two and a half months after the end of the data collection period, HCSO published the first results of the census. Based on the census data, the population of Hungary is 9 million 604 thousand people and 4 million 593 thousand dwellings have been registered nationwide," said Marcell Kovács, Head of the Census, at a HCSO press conference. He added that in the period between the last two censuses, both the number of births and deaths fluctuated. The year 2011 marked the lowest point in the birth statistics, however, the last few years were characterized by an increasing desire to have children, the total fertility rate rose from the historical low of 1.23 in 2011 to over 1.5. It will help the data to be processed quickly, as the 2022 census was the first to be fully electronic. From 1 to 19 October, the questionnaire could be filled in online and then, at the enumerator stage and during the replacement census, enumerators digitally recorded the data collected during the interview. The early publication of the results will also be facilitated by the fact that the missing data will be filled in from state databases," said Gabriella Vukovich, President of the HCSO. The use of state databases and the practice of generating census data from administrative data sources is particularly important because 2022 was planned to be the last traditional census in Hungary in terms of the data collection method. For the next census, the HCSO will extract data exclusively from administrative sources, in line with the current practice in several countries," the HCSO President outlined the outlook for the future. The data collected during the census will form part of the national data assets and will be available to all users in aggregate form, subject to data protection rules. The results of the census provide a reliable basis for preparing economic, social and spatial development decisions affecting the whole country, individual municipalities and the surrounding area. They also provide important information on local supply, service and infrastructure needs, but also help businesses to use the results to plan their activities, such as opening a new shop or factory or expanding their local services, with greater confidence and awareness of the data.

**The third and final stage of Census 2022 has been completed. 4.6 million housing and 9.2 million personal questionnaires were received by the deadline, and the final results will be determined by HCSO using state databases. This year's census is expected to be the last traditional census in Hungary. For the next census, it is planned that the data will be extracted by the statistical office exclusively from administrative sources.** Census 2022 closed on 28 November. Including those who participated in the replacement census and who fulfilled their obligation to provide data by contacting the municipal clerk last week, a total of 4.6 million housing questionnaires and 9.2 million personal questionnaires were received by the census system - the latter representing 96 percent of the estimated expected population. HCSO will replace the missing data from state databases. This is the first census in which the statistical office has been given such extensive powers to make the data more accurate: it can use state databases to cross-check the information provided in the census with administrative data and fill in missing data where necessary. This year's census was also a first in that it was the first time that the census was fully electronic. Between 1 and 19 October, everyone was able to fill in the questionnaire independently, and during the enumerator phase and the replacement census, enumerators recorded the interview data on a tablet. In the online phase of the census, a total of 7 million personal questionnaires were received from 3.2 million addresses in just under three weeks. This was the first time that HCSO was able to reach so many people via the Internet, and this ratio is outstanding even in an international comparison in such a short time. The first results of the census will be available in the first quarter of 2023, with the publication of detailed data expected in autumn 2023.