The online version of the British newspaper The Telegraph is running a series of essays this week, all dedicated to Europe’s demographic crisis. Countries across the Old Continent all face the existential problem of low birth rates and, thus, aging populations.
Political Director to the Prime Minister of Hungary Balázs Orbán was among the distinguished experts who shared his views on the matter with The Telegraph. Hungary’s Fidesz government, in power since 2010, has been quite a success story on that front: the country’s birth rate rose from just 1.25 births per woman in 2010 to 1.52 by 2022, above the EU average.
As Balázs Orbán points out in his piece, all this took place while the liberal elite across the world vehemently argued that mass migration is the answer to the demographic challenges. They did so despite the misgivings of their respective constituencies. Mr Orbán cites a 2024 poll by the prestigious American polling firm Gallup, per which 55 per cent of Americans want to see a decrease in immigration—the highest since 1995. He goes on to share that around 10 per cent of the EU population and 14.3 per cent of the US population are already foreign-born.
That is why Hungary chose to invest in extensive family support programmes instead. Mr Orbán writes:
‘The only true solution is to support families and encourage higher birth rates among the domestic population. Surveys show that many people, even in wealthy countries, have fewer children than they actually desire…Good family policy does not force women into out-of-date roles but creates an environment where starting a family is compatible with personal and professional ambitions. In Hungary, family policy is based on a comprehensive approach that supports women’s career goals alongside motherhood. As a result, the gender pay gap for mothers has been virtually eliminated.’
‘Good family policy does not force women into out-of-date roles but creates an environment where starting a family is compatible with personal and professional ambitions’
He then cites three specific policies the Fidesz-KDNP government has implemented that lead to the country’s rising birth rate.
Mothers get paid maternity leave from the state for three years after their child’s birth. These payments equal their gross salaries before the leave for the first six months, thus they will see a pay increase right after giving birth. Mothers under 30 are exempt from personal income tax, while all mothers with two or more children are set to become income tax exempt by 2029.
In addition, couples who are married and are either expecting or have a child can seek an interest-free loan of up to €30,000; if they have three children, that loan will be entirely forgiven. The government provides low-interest, fixed-rate housing loans for families. Families with three or more children can take advantage of loans reaching up to €127,000. Also, the government offers non-repayable financial grants of up to €37,500 for families relocating to rural areas.
‘Overall, Hungary has implemented more than 30 family support measures. These are not isolated initiatives, but parts of a cohesive strategy, called the comprehensive family life model, which is based on three pillars: First, increase family incomes so that people have the financial base to start and raise families. Second, support housing, because having a home is fundamental to starting a family. Third, ensure long-term financial security for women,’ Balázs Orbán sums up.
He also highlights in his piece that the government’s commitment to the support of Hungarian families is enshrined in the country’s constitution, referring to Article L of the Fundamental Law of Hungary, which states that ‘Hungary shall protect the institution of marriage as the union of one man and one woman established by voluntary decision, and the family as the basis of the survival of the nation’ and that ‘Hungary shall support the commitment to have children’.
Mr Orbán ends his piece with a bit of a warning to all, writing:
‘Population collapse threatens all Western civilization. Supporting families and securing demographic sustainability is not only a national interest—it is a cause for all who care about the future of our civilization.’
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