Far fewer Hungarians own cars, according to new study

One of Hungary’s most prominent pollsters and research firms, Medián (commissioned by Robert Bosch Kft.), published some insightful statistics today, on how transportation and the role of cars in the lives of ordinary citizens is changing in Hungary. Anyone who has been to Budapest (I just returned from a three week trip) can tell you that driving in the city centre, along the perpetually congested ring road, down Rákóczi út or across the bridges, can be positively nightmarish. In contrast, the trams–which run at speeds of fifty kilometres per hour, or the four metro lines–offer a relatively reliable, if crowded, option.

Trams at Budapest's Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moszkva tér) in June 2016. Photo: Christopher Adam.

Trams at Budapest’s Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moszkva tér) in June 2016. Photo: Christopher Adam.

In a study released today, Medián discovered that most cohorts of Hungarians are buying fewer cars, but the most significant decrease in car ownership is among Hungarians with the highest level of education, and this is especially true in the capital. The proportion of Budapest residents who own at least one car dropped by a significant 9%, compared to the last study conducted in 2009.

Nationally, 44% of Hungarian households own at least one car, representing a 1% decrease from 2009. Only 5% of households have more than one vehicle. But while in 2008, 66% of Hungarians with a university degree owned a car, this proportion has fallen to 62%. In the case of Hungarian with a high school diploma, this proportion decreased from 54% to 53%, and those who did not complete high school, but learned a trade also saw a decrease in car ownership (45% to 42%).

Younger generations of Hungarians (and those with the highest education levels) seem to be using alternative forms of transportation the most. For instance, car ownership between those who are 30 and 39 years of age dropped from 57% in 2010 to 51% in 2016. The only demographic group where car ownership has seen a marked increase is those over sixty years of age, from just 20% in 2008 to 30% in 2016.

Part of this trend undoubtedly has to do with a growing use of bicycles in Budapest, especially among younger Hungarians, and perhaps also the expansion of public transit to include the new, and much awaited M4 metro line, as well as an improved tram network in Budapest. Environmental considerations are a factor too, especially among the more educated Hungarians. But at least one figure suggests that financial realities and belt-tightening may play a role as well in the move away from car ownership–Hungarians are driving older cars than before, with the average age of automobiles in Hungary now reaching over 13 years, compared to just 10 years in 2008.

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