Country of the World Hungary

About the country Hungary, its location, size, population, leaders and rulers.

NATIONS AND THEIR RULERS

HUNGARY

NITTY-GRITTY

Lay of the Land: Landlocked in east central Europe, Hungary is a stomach-shaped nation with a gently undulating terrain. Lake Balaton in the west is central Europe's largest inland body of water. The Great Hungarian Plain, the bread-basket of the nation, runs from the east bank of the north-south leg of the Danube River eastward to the Carpathian foothills.

Size: 35,919 sq. mi. (93,030 sq. km.).

Population: 10.7 million.

Who Rules: The supreme organ of government is the unicameral National Assembly whose 352 members elect the Presidential Council (executive branch) and the procurator-general (judicial branch). The council also sits as a legislature whenever the assembly is not in session.

Who REALLY Rules: The Politburo of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' (Communist) party serves as the chief conduit for orders from Moscow.

The Roman Catholic Church has long been a thorn in the side of the Communist government. Over 65% of Hungarians profess that faith, and few have been willing to renounce it, despite official harassment.