Pest is a county (vármegye) in central Hungary. It covers an area of 6393.14 km2, and has a population of 1,339,090 (2023). It surrounds the national capital Budapest and the majority of the county's population (65.2%/790,995 in 2009) live in the suburbs of Budapest. It shares borders with Slovakia and the Hungarian counties, , , , , and. The River Danube flows through the county. The capital of Pest County is Budapest, although Budapest is not part of Pest County. Starting 2018, they also constitute different NUTS:HU level 2 regions, as previously Pest County has lost catch-up aids from the European Union because of the high development of Budapest.

History

The present county Pest was formed after World War II, when the former county Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun was split in two parts (the other part is within present-day ). Pest County also existed in the early days of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary (11th century). Its territory comprised approximately the north-eastern part of present Pest County. It was combined with adjacent Pilis county before the 15th century. More information can be found at the entry of former Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun county.

Demographics

In 2015, it had a population of 1,226,115 and the population density was 192/km2.

Ethnicity

Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Germans (approx. 25,000), Roma (20,000), Slovaks (6,000), Romanians (4,000) and Serbs (1,500). Total population (2011 census): 1,217,476 Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 1,090,882 persons: Approx. 178,000 persons in Pest County did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.

Religion

Religious adherence in the county according to 2011 census:

Economy

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the county was 13.8 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 10.3% of Hungary's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,000 euros or 56% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 69% of the EU average.

Regional structure

Politics

The Pest County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 44 counselors, with the following party composition:

Presidents of the General Assembly

Municipalities

Pest County has 1 urban county, 47 towns, 17 large villages and 122 villages. (ordered by population, as of 2011 census) municipalities are large villages.

Gallery

International relations

Pest County has a partnership relationship with: