Hungarians are the second most overweight in Europe.
The poor general health condition of Hungarians is having an impact on the country’s economy, the Hungarian Central Bank (MNB) warned in its recent competitiveness report.
Hungary ranked 26th among the 27 EU member states in terms of health in 2023, with a score of 39.3, with only Romania ranking worse, according to the report.
Hungary’s score fell by 2.2 points compared to the previous year, dropping one place in the ranking. The Hungarian score is still well below the regional score of 52.5 and the EU score of 60.7.
According to the MNB, healthcare is part of national wealth and the foundation of a country’s most important resource: human capital. The health of the population is not just a personal and family matter, but also one of the most important issues for the national economy, as health affects a country’s economic performance and competitiveness.
Persistent ill health reduces active time at work and labor productivity, and premature mortality is also a major economic detriment.