Orban’s Hungary is now officially the poorest nation in the EU
Hungary now ranks last among European Union member states in a vital measure of household welfare—Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) per capita—according to June 18, 2025 data from Eurostat. At just 72% of the EU average, Hungary trails all 26 other countries in terms of what families actually consume, including public services like healthcare and education.
In stark contrast, Luxembourg leads the bloc with 141%, while the Netherlands and Germany stand at 120% and 118%, respectively. Even Poland, a Central European peer, comes in at a much healthier 85% of the EU average, dramatically outpacing Hungary in real living standards by about 13 percentage points.
This glaring gap grows more compelling when set against GDP per capita. Although Hungary’s GDP reaches roughly 77% of the EU average, lifting it above several low-income EU nations, its households nonetheless remain poorer in consumption terms. This discrepancy highlights the fact that economic output isn’t translating into real benefits for Hungarian families.
Behind the numbers lies a painful reality: under Viktor Orbán’s increasingly authoritarian and pro‑Russian Fidesz regime, Hungary has been systematically pillaged. State-owned industries have been hollowed out, public subsidies redirected to political allies, and EU funds commandeered by power networks close to the government. Meanwhile, ordinary Hungarians contend with low real wages, high inflation, brain drain, and a hollowed middle class—classic symptoms of wealth siphoning from citizens into elite pockets.
Adding insult to injury, a new Median poll published June 18 by HVG shows the opposition Tisza party—led by former Orbán insider Péter Magyar—leading Fidesz by 15 points among decided voters: 51% to 36%. Support among under‑40s is even stronger, with 58% backing Tisza, while Fidesz remains stuck with older voters. Three months ago, Tisza’s lead was only nine points.
The political earthquake traced by the polling data is significant not just for internal politics but geopolitically:
Hungary has long been the most vocal Kremlin ally within the EU and NATO, repeatedly vetoing Ukraine support and echoing Russian propaganda.
Now, as public support collapses, so does a key pillar of Putin’s influence inside European institutions.
Fidesz’s plunge in support coincides with the broader economic malaise. GDP growth has stalled, inflation remains among the EU’s highest, and U.S. tariffs threaten exports—yet the government continues to trumpet superficial gains even as households feel none of the benefits.
Hungarians now consume far less than citizens of Poland—a country Orbán used to cite as a benchmark—yet boast a higher GDP. This divergence suggests that Hungary isn’t just slipping behind; it is being held back by design.
Eurostat’s figures, paired with HVG’s poll, deliver a potent message: Orbán’s model—steady macroeconomic figures coupled with authoritarian control and favoritism—has failed. Real wages are stagnant, household living standards deteriorating, and Hungarian voters are increasingly turning away from the regime.
Absent fundamental reforms—transparent allocation of EU funds, stronger rule of law, wage increases, anti-corruption enforcement—Hungary’s slide looks set to continue. The poll signals not just a possible political turnover in 2026, but a decisive shift away from a pro‑Russian, kleptocratic governance model.
If Orbán falls, the consequences will reach far beyond Budapest. It would mark the collapse of Putin’s loudest ally inside Europe and shatter a crucial internal bulwark against EU unity on Russia. More importantly, it could herald the return of genuine prosperity to Hungarian households—where it’s been most desperately needed.
