Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Hungary

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	In Hungary, homelessness is defined as persons without any registered place of residence, except for people whose registered places of residence are accommodation for homeless people. In addition, any person shall be deemed to be homeless who spends nights in public areas or premises not designed for housing purposes.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	The exact number of people experiencing homelessness in Hungary is not known. Estimates are available for the following ETHOS Light groups: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Hungary.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	Hungary does not have a national homelessness strategy. Homelessness is addressed in the National Strategy for Long-Term Care – 2030. Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Registry of users (KENYSZI): Clients of homelessness services are recorded in a registry (Table 6.1) Service Register (MŰKENG): The number of spaces in shelters for people experiencing homelessness is recorded (Table 6.2) Annual Survey of Homeless People: voluntary-based survey conducted by the 3 February Working Group, a civil society organisation (Table 6.3.)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

	Statistical definition
Homelessness	According to the Act III of 1993 on social administration and social services, homelessness is defined as: (1) persons without any registered place of residence, except for persons whose registered places of residence are accommodation for homeless people, and; (2) any person shall be deemed to be homeless who spends nights in public areas or premises not designed for housing purposes.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2025	NA	NA	NA	4 576	3 630	NA	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Flow Included in headline estimate: Children: No Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: The average daily use (per capita) of Night Shelters and Temporary Accommodation for the Homeless in 2025 on national level, based on the available months examined, was 8 206 people, of which 4 576 people received care in Temporary Accommodation and 3 630 people in Night Shelters. The Average for the months of the crisis period (January-March, November-December): during this period, the national average daily use of Night Shelters and Temporary Accommodation was 8 665 people, of which 4 615 people received care in Temporary Accommodation and 4 050 people in Night Shelters.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); KENYSZI database.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Data not available.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	None.
Legal obligations	None.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	Homelessness is addressed in another (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy: National Strategy for Long-Term Care – 2030
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	Yes

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. HUN. Registry of users (KENYSZI)
Description People experiencing homelessness who use the homeless care system are recorded in the registry of users.
Type of count generated Flow (period)	Methods Service‑based method
Lead authority(ies) Hungarian State Treasury	Source(s) of information Service providers record daily usage in the registry.
Scope National level	Depth of data Enumeration
Frequency Ongoing
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources NRSZH Tevadmin Rendszer - Főoldal
6.2. Service register (MŰKENG)
Description The total number of spaces and the number of temporary spaces available to people experiencing homelessness are recorded. This includes spaces in night shelters, temporary and day accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, rehabilitation institutions for people experiencing homelessness and homeless homes.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Service‑based method
Lead authority(ies) Hungarian State Treasury	Source(s) of information Service providers record the number of spaces available for people experiencing homeless in the register.
Scope National level	Depth of data Enumeration
Frequency Ongoing
ETHOS Light groups included: No groups directly counted but provides information on the availability of various types of shelter resources.
Notes and sources National Social Information System (nrszh.hu)
6.3. Annual Survey of Homeless People
Description The 3 February Working Group, a civil society organisation, conducts an annual survey of homeless people, covering those living in institutions, on the streets, in public spaces, and in substandard housing conditions. However, this survey does not show the actual number and distribution of homeless people. Participation in the survey is voluntary, but it has been conducted every year for more than 20 years, so it can show trends.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Voluntary-based individual survey for people who identifies themselves as homeless.
Lead authority(ies) Menhely Alapítvány	Source(s) of information Participation in the survey is voluntary-based data collection.
Scope National level	Depth of data Enumeration
Frequency Annually
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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