Hungarian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Hungary lies in central Europe, divided by the Danube, with Budapest as its capital. Hungarian is unlike its neighbours' languages, belonging to the Finno-Ugric family. Thousands of Hungarians came to Britain as refugees after the 1956 uprising, and many more have arrived since Hungary joined the European Union in 2004.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 642 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hungarian; and 855 residents gave Hungarian as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Hungarian residents work in healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, hospitality, logistics and IT, and Hungarian doctors, dentists and scientists contribute to the city's hospitals and universities. Hungary has produced many inventors, including the creator of the Rubik's Cube.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Hungarian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Goulash, paprika chicken and chimney cake are favourites, and Hungarian folk dance and music, including the dance house movement recognised by UNESCO, are proudly kept alive. National Day on 15 March and St Stephen's Day on 20 August are celebrated with gatherings.

The story of the Hungarian community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.