Date of independence, or formation date: 1918
Date when current borders were established: 1947
National day: Aug 20
Vehicle country identifying code: H
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +1
International telephone dialling code: +36
Internet country identifying code: .hu

Lying at the heart of central Europe, Hungary is landlocked and has borders with seven states. Historically, Hungary has been a cosmopolitan cultural center, and during its years of market socialism was more prosperous than the other Eastern Bloc countries. Economic and political reforms have brought it closer to the EU, which it has been invited to join in the next wave of enlargement in 2004; Hungary has also become a member of NATO. In foreign policy it is particularly sensitive about the treatment of Hungarian minorities in neighboring states.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004