Human Rights Watch Report Reveals Tripling of Elderly Poverty in Hungary Since 2018

Alarming Rise in Elderly Poverty

A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), titled 'Inadequate Pensions for Older People in Hungary,' has brought to light a significant increase in poverty among the elderly population in Hungary. Published on January 14, 2026, the report indicates that the at-risk-of-poverty rate for individuals aged 65 and over has nearly tripled, escalating from 6.3 percent in 2018 to 16.1 percent in 2023. This alarming trend underscores a growing crisis where hundreds of thousands of older Hungarians are struggling to meet basic needs.

Inadequate Pensions and Soaring Costs

The HRW report attributes the surge in elderly poverty primarily to inadequate pensions that have failed to keep pace with rapidly rising living costs. According to the findings, Hungary's social security system is not adequately ensuring older people's rights to an adequate standard of living, including access to sufficient food, medicine, and energy. The situation has been exacerbated by significant inflation since 2018, which 'skyrocketed in 2022 and 2023,' with food price increases in Hungary surpassing those in other European Union countries.

Many older individuals on fixed incomes are reportedly forced to choose between purchasing food, medicine, or heating their homes. Official data cited in the report reveals that by the end of 2024, more than two-thirds of age-related pension recipients received amounts below the monthly gross minimum wage, which stood at approximately 266,800 HUF (€676). Furthermore, nearly a quarter of all pensioners, totaling around 471,000 people, received pensions below the official income poverty threshold of 173,990 HUF (€441).

Structural Issues and Gender Disparity

The report points to 'longstanding structural problems with the Hungarian pension and social security system' as a root cause of the escalating poverty. The Hungarian pension system operates as a compulsory social insurance scheme, funded by contributions from current workers and general revenue, with old-age pensions generally available at 65 years, or after 40 years of eligibility for women.

A notable disparity highlighted is the disproportionate impact on women. Higher numbers and proportions of older women receive pensions below the poverty thresholds, with nearly one-in-five older women facing the risk of poverty, compared to 12 percent of older men.

Calls for Urgent Reform

Kartik Raj, senior Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that 'Hungary's insufficient social security system forces many older people to choose whether to spend their meager pensions on food, medicine, or heating, and which essential item to do without.' HRW has urged the Hungarian government to undertake an immediate review of pension levels, particularly increasing the lowest pensions, to ensure that all older people in the country can enjoy their right to social security and an adequate standard of living.

While the Hungarian government has previously implemented measures such as a '13th month pension' since 2024 and partial price controls on certain food items, the HRW report suggests these have not adequately addressed the systemic issues. The government had also pledged pension system reforms as part of its 2023 Recovery and Resilience Plan, focusing on sustainability and adequacy.