Development Co‑operation Profiles: Hungary
Table of contents
Hungary’s growing development co-operation programme focuses on economic development, support for crisis situations and scholarships. Its bilateral portfolio includes select partner countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Much of Hungary’s official development assistance (ODA) is channelled multilaterally through European Union (EU) institutions. Hungary’s total ODA decreased in 2024 to USD 190.6 million (preliminary data), representing 0.09% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The International Development Cooperation Strategy for the period 2020-2025 affirms Hungary’s ambition to enhance its international role and increase ODA while pursuing mutually prosperous economic partnerships. The strategy sets thematic priorities in access to water and sanitation, healthcare, education, agriculture, and information technology. A new law on “the Hungary Helps Program” defines objectives and procedures for development co-operation and humanitarian assistance. Hungary’s main partner countries are in the European neighbourhood. Hungary is also deepening its engagement with countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Sustainable water management is a priority for Hungary’s diplomacy, as is protecting minorities and cultural heritage. In its engagement with the European Union, Hungary focuses, among others, on support for the European neighbourhood and migration. Hosting arrangements help foster Budapest’s role as a regional hub for United Nations (UN) organisations and Hungary co-operates closely with the Visegrád 4 states (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and the Slovak Republic). The development co-operation strategy commits Hungary to strengthen inter-ministerial co‑ordination.
The first OECD-DAC Peer Review of Hungary took place in 2023. It praised impressive ODA growth and international efforts for sustainable water management. It also highlighted partnerships with local civil society organisations (CSOs) in fragile contexts. The Peer Review encouraged Hungary to increase the impact of its engagement in partner countries, notably through strategic partnerships, and to balance tensions between domestic and global objectives. It also underlined opportunities for institutional reform to deepen collaboration across institutions and with stakeholders and to strengthen internal systems. Hungary has not yet submitted a management response to the review. Discover insights from Hungary’s 2023 Peer Review and 2019 mid-term review, and learn from Hungary’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Hungary provided USD 190.6 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 183.3 million in constant terms), representing 0.09% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 31.5% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2023. ODA has decreased since 2020. While Hungary had surpassed the 0.25% ODA/GNI target it had set itself to reach by 2025, the sharp drop in 2023 means that Hungary is currently not in line with its commitment. It remains committed to achieving a 0.33% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030 and collectively at the EU level to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Within Hungary’s ODA portfolio in 2023, 90% was provided in the form of grants and 10% in the form of non-grants.2
In 2024, Hungary ranked 32nd among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. In 2023, scholarships in Hungary constituted a large share of Hungary’s bilateral ODA (47.7%) and its strong sectoral focus on education. Hungary is among the DAC members with the highest share of gross bilateral ODA to fragile contexts (42.6%).
Hungary has committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Note: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC Recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Hungary provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 80.4% of total ODA disbursements. Two per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Hungary provided USD 58.3 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, a fall of 41.2% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 53.8 million was core multilateral ODA (19.6% of total ODA), while USD 4.5 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 31.8% of Hungary’s non‑core contributions and 68.2% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The UN system received 24.8% of Hungary’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 1.5 million (10.1%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 14.4 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Hungary’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were UN Secretariat (USD 6.9 million), UNDPO-UN Peacekeeping operations (USD 3.4 million) and the International Organization for Migration (USD 1 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ use of the multilateral system.
In 2023, Hungary’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 221 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 37.9% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 102.4 million, or 46.3% of Hungary’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 2 million in 2023 representing 0.9% of Hungary’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 0% in real terms over 2022.
In 2023, Hungary channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through universities, research institutes or think tanks and the public sector. Technical co-operation made up 38.9% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, CSOs received USD 14.4 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 16.1% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 0% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 6.5% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2022 to 2023, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs decreased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 30.5% to 6.5%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Hungary’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on Asia (excluding the Middle East). USD 67 million was allocated to Asia (excluding the Middle East) and USD 54.4 million to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 26.7% was for Ukraine), accounting respectively for 30.3% and 24.6% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 35.3 million was allocated to countries in Africa. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Hungary’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with its regional focus.
In 2023, 61.3% of gross bilateral ODA went to Hungary’s top 10 recipients. The top 10 recipients are spread across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and vary from year to year, as Hungary does not have a list of key partner countries. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 2.1%, of which 42.4% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Hungary allocated 0.02% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Hungary allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (43.2%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 2.1% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 17.9% of Hungary’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 39.6 million). Additionally, Hungary allocated 21.8% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 48.3 million.
Looking at the distribution of Hungary’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.1 in LDCs, USD 0.2 in lower middle-income countries and USD 1.2 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2024, Hungary provided USD 6 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 60.2% decrease from 2023 in real terms. USD 0 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 99.3% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 94.1 million in 2023, representing 42.6% of Hungary’s gross bilateral ODA. Two per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 0.5% in 2022, while 0.8% was allocated to peace, an increase from 0.1% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, more than half of Hungary’s bilateral ODA was allocated to social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 90.5% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 175.7 million), with a strong focus on support to education (USD 106.8 million), health and population (USD 65.6 million), and water supply and sanitation (USD 2.3 million). ODA for humanitarian assistance totalled USD 6.9 million, with a focus on reconstruction relief and rehabilitation (USD 5 million). Multi-sector amounted to USD 3.9 million (2% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on other macro sectors and economic sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Hungary committed 7.2% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 47% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 14.1million of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 0.3% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Hungary includes gender equality objectives in 11.8% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2022-23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Hungary screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (71.6% in 2022-23).
Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ development finance for gender equality.
In 2022-23, Hungary committed 3.1% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 8.3 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, down from 10.1% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39% in 2022-23. In addition:
Two per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
One per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1.6 million) focused on climate change overall, down from 8.9% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Hungary had a greater focus on adaptation (0.8%) than on mitigation (0.1%) in 2022-23.
One per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1.3 million) focused on biodiversity overall, down from 5.7% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 7.6%).
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Note: Individual Rio Markers should not be added up as this can result in double counting.
In 2023, Hungary:
Allocated 30.4% of its bilateral ODA (USD 67.1 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. Zero percent of bilateral ODA (USD 0 million) went to social protection support.
Did not have a general policy regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA‑funded goods and services. It makes this information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs in developing countries, as well as for addressing global challenges. In 2023, activities reported by Hungary as TOSSD totalled USD 329.1 million, down from USD 766.8 million in 2022. Hungary’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 17 (partnership for the Goals) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
Reforms in 2022 and 2023 have streamlined institutional responsibilities: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is responsible for the planning, co-ordination and implementation of Hungary’s development co-operation and humanitarian assistance policy, while the Hungary Helps Agency is the main implementing agency. The Export-Import Bank Plc. and the Hungarian Export Credit Insurance Plc. (MEHIB) are responsible for tied aid loans. The Tempus Foundation runs the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme. Other line ministries and government entities also engage in development co‑operation activities as implementing and/or financing agencies. An inter-ministerial platform supports co-ordination and facilitates the exchange of information.
Around 150 staff members work at MFAT headquarters and the different agencies on development co‑operation programmes, while economic diplomats in embassies are responsible for links with partner countries.
There is no particular mechanism for consulting stakeholders, but Hungary held consultations with stakeholders on its development co-operation strategy. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the umbrella body, the Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Hungary’s development co-operation. Select features are shown in the table below.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2022 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Hungary: https://doi.org/10.1787/ec7d67f1-en
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: https://nefe.kormany.hu/en
Hungary Helps Agency: https://hungaryhelps.gov.hu/hungary-helps-program-main-page
Summary of Hungary’s International Development Cooperation Strategy for the period 2020-2025: https://nefe.kormany.hu/download/5/a8/a2000/NEFE2025_summary_en.pdf
CSO umbrella organisation HAND – Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid: http://hand.org.hu
Hungary has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2016.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Note by the Republic of Türkiye
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Non-grants include sovereign loans, multilateral loans, equity investment and loans to the private sector.
← 3. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. For more information on this indicator, please see here.
← 4. The use of the recommended minimum criteria for the marker by some members in recent years can result in lower levels of ODA reported as being focused on gender equality.