Religion in Hungary

Overview

The medical tourism destination of Hungary is one of the most religiously diverse in Europe.  Its history, marked by the rule of Arpad’s Catholic descendants, Ottoman rule, Turkish influence, and Hapsburg domination, has lent it a unique religious flavor that includes Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Moslem accents.  Not that people in this medical tourism destination have a lot of time for the divine, however.  Barely one third of the population identify themselves as members of any particular organized religion. Among the ones that do, a minuscule percentage admits to participating in rituals and services. 

Roman Catholics

Catholics form the majority of the population in this Eastern European medical tourism hub.  It is followed by roughly half the population and was instated by Stephen I, who was himself crowned by the Pope.  Protestants tried to overthrow Papal influence, but the Hapsburgs managed to retain Catholicism’s control over the Hungarian people.  

Protestantism

Protestantism was bought to the country in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, although its spread was thwarted by the Hapsburg crackdown of the 17^th century. Today, close to 20 percent of the population identify itself as Protestant.  This group is comprised of roughly 16% Calvinists and 4% Lutherans. 

Minorities

Up until the Second World War, Hungary had a huge Jewish population of at least 400,000.  Most of these were annihilated by the Nazis, and today, barely 80,000 Jews remain. In the recent past, however there has been a revival of the religion.  Not so lucky are the Roma, Hungary’s largest ethnic group of around 600,000. Although their living conditions in Hungary are markedly better than in other Eastern European nations, the Roma have been relegated to the fringes, and continue to suffer discrimination and prejudice. Moslems form close to 6% of the population.

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