Hungary faces demographic decline and desertification risks

Hungary faces significant long-term challenges regarding its population and environmental stability. Demographer Pál Péter Tóth warned at the 64th Economist Assembly in Eger that the country's population could plummet to just 5.2 million by the year 2100. This decline is expected to result in an aging society with a shrinking economically active workforce, making natural population replacement increasingly difficult.

Tóth noted that current trends suggest birth rate increases alone may not reverse the decline seen since 1980. He also emphasized that migration remains a critical factor often overlooked in policy discussions.

Simultaneously, environmental concerns are rising. László Gajdos, the minister responsible for the living environment, stated that without changes to water management, one million Hungarians could live in desert-like conditions within ten years. Current legislation focuses heavily on flood protection and rapid water drainage, whereas the minister argues for a shift toward water retention and conscious usage to combat drought and climate change.