Hungary
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
65 / 100
Partly Free
Internet Freedom
69 / 100
Partly Free
Since taking power in the 2010 elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Alliance of Young Democrats–Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) party pushed through constitutional and legal changes that have allowed it to consolidate control over the country’s independent institutions.
Research & Recommendations
Hungary
Partly Free
65
100
| PR Political Rights | 24 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 41 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
65
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Since taking power in the 2010 elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Alliance of Young Democrats–Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) party has pushed through constitutional and legal changes that have allowed it to consolidate control over the country’s independent institutions. The Fidesz government has passed laws that hamper the operations of opposition groups, journalists, universities, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are critical of the ruling party or whose perspectives Fidesz otherwise finds unfavorable.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Hungary
Partly Free
69
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 21 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 23 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 25 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
69
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Hungary continued to enjoy high levels of affordable internet connectivity during the coverage period. While the government does not extensively filter content or punish people for online speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office ordered internet providers to block 12 Ukrainian news sites during the coverage period. Despite obstacles introduced by the Orbán government, internet users in Hungary organized online to produce large turnout at LGBT+ events and electoral campaign rallies.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
Hungary
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
43
100
| DEMOCRACY-PERCENTAGE Democracy Percentage | 42.86 100 |
| DEMOCRACY-SCORE Democracy Score | 3.57 7 |
Last Year's Democracy Percentage & Status
43
100
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 1 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The Democracy Percentage, introduced in 2020, is a translation of the Democracy Score to the 0-100 scale, where 0 equals least democratic and 100 equals most democratic.
See the methodology.
OVERVIEW
No score changes in 2024
The full Nations in Transit 2024 narrative report for Hungary will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Nations in Transit 2024 Policy Recommendations
Ensure that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is soundly defeated.
The future of European democracy and security is now inextricably linked to the fate of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and NATO member states must not only invest far more—and more efficiently—in their collective defense, but also provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to roll back Russian advances and build a durable democracy of its own.
Support democratic renewal and reform.
In addition to defending the international order from emboldened autocrats, democratic governments must attend to democratic renewal within Europe, particularly among nascent democracies.
Provide consistent messaging and support to Europe’s aspiring democracies.
Military aggression from autocracies in the region has underscored the dangers of exclusion from democracy-based organizations like the EU and NATO, galvanizing the political will of policymakers in aspiring member states and generating further public pressure to undertake long-sought democratic reforms.
News and Updates
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Policy & Advocacy
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
65
/ 100
Partly Free
Freedom on the Net Score
69
/ 100
Partly Free
Nations in Transit Score
43
/ 100
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
Population: 9,643,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
April 3, 2022
Type of Election
Parliamentary
Internet Penetration
81.69%
Election Year
2022
Vulnerability Index
70
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
