Hungary

Overall construction activity

In 2025 the construction output was 20,97 billion EUR (8 344,3 billion HUF) at current prices. The volume of construction output was 2,8% higher than a year earlier. Within this total, the construction of buildings increased by 5,5%, while civil engineering output decreased by 0,9%. The volume of new contracts was 1,8% higher in 2025 year-on-year, of which contracts for buildings decreased by 7,2%, while contracts for civil engineering works grew by 11,6%. Construction value added in 2025 increased by 3,0% compared with the previous year. Construction contributed 0,2 percentage points to GDP growth.

At the end of December, the volume of contracts held by construction enterprises was 48,9% higher than in December 2024; within this total, the volume of contracts for building construction fell by 8,5%, while civil engineering contracts grew by 84,9%.

The number of employees in the sector in 2025 was 372 000, which represents 7,97% of all employees in the national economy as a whole. The number of self-employed workers was 86 277 in 2025, 1,8% more than a year earlier.

The average monthly gross earnings of full-time employees in the construction industry in 2025 were HUF 554 732 (EUR 1 394,11), which is 21,3% lower than the average monthly gross earnings of the national economy as a whole. Compared to the previous year, the average monthly gross earnings growth in the construction industry was 9.3%. 

Housebuilding

In 2025, 12 062 new dwellings were built, 9,3% fewer than a year earlier. The number of dwellings to be built on the basis of construction permits and simple declarations issued was 28 081, 37,0% more than in 2024. In the capital 14,0% fewer dwellings were built than in 2024; in towns of county rank 26,0% fewer, and in villages 6,6% fewer. The number of dwellings put to use increased (by 8,9%) only in smaller, non-county-rank towns. While its share decreased slightly, nearly one third of new dwellings were built in Budapest.

The share of dwellings built by natural persons decreased from 38,0% to 36,0%, while the share built by enterprises increased from 61,0% to 64,0% compared to the previous year.

51,0% of dwellings put into use in new residential buildings are in detached houses, 39,0% in multi-dwelling buildings, and 6,5% in residential complexes. The share of dwellings built for sale was 64,0%, and that of dwellings built for owner-occupation was 34,0%; this ratio shifted towards those built for sale by 3,0 percentage points. Compared to 2024, the number of permitted dwellings increased by 56,0% in towns of county rank (similar to the capital), by 18,0% in other towns, and by 13,0% in villages.

Compared to last year, the number of permits increased in every region. The highest increase was in Southern Great Plain (76,0%), Budapest (56,0%), and Central Transdanubia (49,0%).

Non-residential construction

The number of planned non-residential buildings to be constructed was 2 975, 16,0% fewer than a year earlier.