Pray for Hungary
Budapest and the Parliament building on the banks of the Danube.
Photo: Kilyann Le Hen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Hungary
The capital is Budapest. People speak Hungarian. The largest faith is Christianity.
Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.
Prayer briefing for Hungary
Last updated October 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.
Current events
Hungary is going through a time of great political change after the April 2026 election. In July parliament passed a constitutional amendment that ended the term of President Tamás Sulyok, and in August it elected a new president. In September the Prime Minister said the government plans a new constitution, to be approved by referendum, and a new electoral law.
We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.
Leadership and politics
Hungary is a parliamentary republic. The Prime Minister is Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party won a two thirds majority in April 2026, ending 16 years of Fidesz government. The President is András Baka, a former Supreme Court chief and European human rights judge, elected in August. Supporters say the reforms restore the rule of law, while Fidesz, now in opposition under Viktor Orbán, boycotted the vote to remove the former president and opposed it.
We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.
Economic health
Growth is expected to pick up to about 1.8% in 2026 after a weak 2025. Unemployment is about 4.5% and inflation is expected to ease to about 3%. The budget deficit is expected to widen to about 6% of GDP.
We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.
Social and cultural issues
Most people are Hungarian, and the 2022 census counted about 200,000 Roma, though other estimates are higher. The number of Ukrainians living in Hungary has grown because of the war. Muslim groups report that verbal insults are frequent, especially against women who wear headscarves. Roma families and people living in poverty are among the most vulnerable.
We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.
Spiritual landscape
In the 2022 census about 40% of people did not answer the question on religion. Of those who did, about half were Catholic, about 16% Reformed and about 3% Lutheran. The number of Catholics has fallen from about 5 million in 2001 to about 2.9 million in 2022. Christians are found in Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran churches across the nation.
We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.
Religious freedom
A 2011 law created tiers of churches, with only a few dozen established churches receiving the fullest state support. The US State Department reports that smaller groups, such as the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship, lost status and faced financial difficulties, and that Muslim and Jewish communities report hostility at times. Holocaust denial is a crime, and believers are free to worship.
We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.
Historical wounds
The Ottoman invasion of the 1500s split Hungary, and after World War I the Treaty of Trianon in 1920 took about two thirds of its land and people. In World War II many Hungarian Jews were deported and killed. The 1956 revolution was crushed by Soviet tanks, and communist rule lasted until 1989.
We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.
Let us pray together
Our Father, we come to You together for Hungary. In this time of change, give the nation peace, calm and unity. Give wisdom, integrity and justice to the Prime Minister, the President and all in authority, and help government and opposition seek the good of all. Provide for families burdened by the cost of living, and give honest stewardship of all that the nation has. Protect the Roma, the poor, refugees and every minority, and make Hungarians one in Your love. Awaken hope and a living faith in Jesus in every town and church. Protect every believer and every community of faith, and keep them free to worship safely. Heal the deep wounds of Trianon, the Holocaust and 1956, and lead Hungary in forgiveness and hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sources
- AP via KTLA: Magyar announces ministers after landslide election win (April 2026)
- Euronews: Hungarian parliament removes President Tamás Sulyok from office (July 2026)
- Oman Observer: parliament approves Andras Baka as president (August 2026)
- Informat.ro (Agerpres): Hungary to adopt new constitution and electoral law (September 2026)
- European Commission: economic forecast for Hungary (May 2026)
- Hungarian Foreign Ministry: the history of Hungary
- Aleteia: Hungarian census finds drop in Catholicism (October 2023)
- US State Department: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, Hungary
More ways to pray
PrayerCast shares short prayer videos for the nations. Watch its video for Hungary and pray along.
Watch the PrayerCast video for Hungary
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