Hungary, a landlocked realm in Central Europe, converses in the world's most used Uralic language, Hungarian. The current territory has seen a parade of various peoples, from the Celts, Romans, Huns, West Slavs to the Avars, shaping its rich history. The formation of the Hungarian state goes back to the late 9th century AD with the grand Hungarian prince Árpád conquering the Carpathian Basin.

The 15th century witnessed the zenith of its cultural and political prowess, which later, in the 20th century, forged a crucial ally with the mighty Austrian Empire to shape Austria-Hungary. Post the ravages of World War I, Hungary had to cede a significant part of its territory and population. After enduring the turmoil of World War II and a stint as a satellite state of the Soviet Union, Hungary saw a resurrection as a democratic parliamentary republic in 1989 and proudly joined the European Union in 2004.

Despite recent political ruffles and backslides in democracy, Hungary boasts of a high-income economy, universal healthcare and free secondary education. It has made considerable contributions to art, music, literature, sports, science and technology. With nearly 24.5 million international tourists in 2019, Hungary has proven its global appeal. The country sadly remains a testament to its past and a beacon for the future.