It is about a third the size of NZ (93 030km2) but with more than twice the population (10.0 million).
Magyars first controlled the Carpathian Basin in 895CE. The Magyar people came originally from east of Urals. They brought with them their unusual (Finno-Ugric) language - a magyar nyelv. Over the thousand years they grew to a large power (at times controlling over three times the current land area).
They also suffered a series of losses and defeats such as the Turkish invasions and taking the wrong side in WWI and WWII. It was the loss in 1918 that stripped two thirds of the land, mineral resources, and people (many of whom still speak Hungarian). Losing WWII also led to 45 years under the control of Russia.
Hungary trades mostly with the EU countries. Germany is Hungary's single most important trading partner. Hungary's main exports are machinery and transport equipment, consumer goods, agricultural products, chemicals, apparel, textiles, iron and steel, and wine.
The three largest cities are the current capital, Budapest (1 740 041), Debrecen (207 594) in eastern Hungary and temporary capital in 1848-9 and 1944-5, and Szeged (170 052) in the south where the best paprika comes from.
In winter Hungary averages -4°-3° and in summer 15°-27°.
