What is the population of Budapest?
Budapest has a city population of 1,741,041. That is the population within the city's own boundary, not its wider metropolitan area. City population, GeoNames.
47.498, 19.040
About Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, with 1.75 million residents and 3.3 million in the metro area. Created in 1873 by unifying Buda, Pest, and Óbuda, the 'Pearl of the Danube' is renowned for its stunning architecture, thermal baths, and ruin bars. The city offers grandeur comparable to Paris or Vienna at a fraction of the cost.
Metro population
1,768,000
0.021% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
−0.15%
Archive estimateDensity
3,368/km²
525 km² metro area
Key Facts
Country
Region
Budapest
Founded
1873
Leadership
Gergely Karácsony
Coordinates
47.498, 19.040
Record updated
29 July 2026
Entry edited, not measured
City population, GeoNames. GeoNames publishes no year for its population figures, so “record updated” is when the entry was last edited — not the date the population was measured. Elevation is modelled from a digital elevation model rather than surveyed, so it is approximate.
Nearby Cities
All 89 in HungaryClosest listed cities by great-circle distance from the city centre.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
City-proper population against the fifteen largest cities in the dataset.
| Name | City population |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24.9M |
| Beijing | 19M |
| Shenzhen | 17.5M |
| Guangzhou | 16.1M |
| Kinshasa | 16M |
| Istanbul | 15.7M |
| Lagos | 15.4M |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 14M |
| Chengdu | 13.6M |
| Lahore | 13M |
| Mumbai | 12.7M |
| São Paulo | 12.4M |
| Mexico City | 12.3M |
| Karachi | 11.6M |
| Tianjin | 11.1M |
| Budapest | 1.74M |
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Budapest Liszt Ferenc International AirportBUD
18 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
The area has been settled since Celtic times and was the Roman city Aquincum. Magyars arrived in the 9th century. Under Habsburg rule, the city flourished architecturally. The 1848 revolution and 1956 uprising against Soviet rule are defining historical moments. Post-1989 transformation has made Budapest a tourist and business destination.
Economy
Budapest generates about 40% of Hungary's GDP. Key sectors include tourism, services, automotive (Audi, Mercedes nearby), pharma, IT, and shared services centers. The city has attracted significant foreign investment. Cost of living is lower than Western Europe, attracting digital nomads. The government's EU tensions create some business uncertainty.
Culture
Budapest's culture combines Austro-Hungarian grandeur with distinctive Hungarian elements. Thermal baths (Széchenyi, Gellért) fed by 123 hot springs are iconic. Ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter define nightlife. Hungarian cuisine (goulash, paprikash) is hearty. Classical music, operetta, and a famous nightlife scene thrive. The city is hauntingly beautiful.
Transportation
Budapest has the oldest metro on continental Europe (M1, UNESCO). Four metro lines, extensive trams, and buses serve the city. Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport connects to European destinations. Trains connect to Vienna, Prague, and other capitals. The city is walkable. Trams along the Danube are scenic.
Current Challenges
Budapest faces EU tensions over rule of law issues, housing affordability pressure from tourism and foreign investment, brain drain of young professionals, infrastructure maintenance needs, and periodic flooding risk from the Danube. Air pollution and traffic are concerns. Political polarization affects civic life.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Buda Castle
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath
- Fisherman's Bastion
- Chain Bridge
- St. Stephen's Basilica
- Ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter
- Gellért Hill and Citadel
- Heroes' Square
What Budapest Is Known For
- Thermal baths
- Parliament building
- Ruin bars
- Danube views
- Architecture
- Goulash
Universities
- Eötvös Loránd University
- Budapest University of Technology
- Corvinus University
Sports Teams
- Ferencváros
- MTK Budapest
- Újpest FC (football)
- FTC water polo
Interesting Facts
- Budapest has more thermal springs than any other capital city
- The Parliament Building has 691 rooms and 20 km of stairways
- Rubik's Cube was invented in Budapest
- The oldest underground metro in continental Europe is Budapest's M1
- Budapest's ruin bars started in abandoned Jewish Quarter buildings
- Hungarians invented the ballpoint pen, holography, and vitamin C discovery here
Population Trend in Hungary
No free source publishes city population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 9,337,880 |
| 1960 | 9,983,374 |
| 1970 | 10,315,143 |
| 1980 | 10,695,367 |
| 1990 | 10,381,281 |
| 2000 | 10,190,600 |
| 2010 | 9,979,129 |
| 2020 | 9,749,457 |
| 2030 | 9,449,115 |
| 2040 | 9,067,617 |
| 2050 | 8,725,347 |
| 2060 | 8,397,581 |
| 2070 | 8,042,274 |
| 2080 | 7,784,774 |
| 2090 | 7,612,096 |
| 2100 | 7,460,743 |
Budapest Population FAQ
Where is Budapest?
Budapest is in Budapest, Hungary. Its coordinates are 47.498, 19.040.
How big is Budapest compared with other cities in Hungary?
It is the 1st largest of the 89 cities listed in Hungary, holding 18.3% of the national population.