# Pest County

Pest (Hungarian: Pest vármegye, pronounced; German: Komitat Pest) is a county (vármegye) in central Hungary. It covers an area of 6,393.14 square kilometres (2,468.41 sq mi), 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 Nógrád, Heves, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Bács-Kiskun, Fejér, and Komárom-Esztergom. 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 Bács-Kiskun). 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

Religion in Pest County (2022 census – of those who declared their religion (58.6%))
In 2015, it had a population of 1,226,115 and the population density was 192/km$^2$.

### 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:
* Hungarians: 1,024,768 (93.94%)
* Germans: 24,994 (2.29%)
* Romani: 20,065 (1.84%)
* Others and indefinable: 21,055 (1.93%)
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:
* Catholic – 445,106 (Roman Catholic – 435,717; Greek Catholic – 9,235);
* Reformed – 134,848;
* Evangelical – 32,564;
* Orthodox – 1,796;
* Judaism – 947;
* Other religions – 26,485;
* Non-religious – 200,430;
* Atheism – 19,869;
* Undeclared – 355,431.

## 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

| № | English and Hungarian names | Area (km$^2$) | Population (2011) | Density (pop./km$^2$) | Seat | № of municipalities |
| 1 | Aszód District Aszódi járás | 298.37 | 37,472 | 126 | Aszód | 11 |
| 2 | Budakeszi District Budakeszi járás | 288.95 | 83,670 | 290 | Budakeszi | 12 |
| 3 | Cegléd District Ceglédi járás | 886.30 | 88,952 | 100 | Cegléd | 12 |
| 4 | Dabas District Dabasi járás | 614.23 | 48,289 | 79 | Dabas | 11 |
| 5 | Dunakeszi District Dunakeszi járás | 103.08 | 78,634 | 763 | Dunakeszi | 4 |
| 6 | Érd District Érdi járás | 184.29 | 116,510 | 632 | Érd | 7 |
| 7 | Gödöllő District Gödöllői járás | 449.66 | 139,826 | 311 | Gödöllő | 15 |
| 8 | Gyál District Gyáli járás | 170.99 | 40,853 | 239 | Gyál | 4 |
| 9 | Monor District Monori járás | 329.81 | 64,016 | 194 | Monor | 12 |
| 10 | Nagykáta District Nagykátai járás | 710.12 | 73,959 | 104 | Nagykáta | 15 |
| 11 | Nagykőrös District Nagykőrösi járás | 349.25 | 27,977 | 80 | Nagykőrös | 3 |
| 12 | Pilisvörösvár District Pilisvörösvári járás | 130.81 | 53,201 | 407 | Pilisvörösvár | 9 |
| 13 | Ráckeve District Ráckevei járás | 417.05 | 35,732 | 86 | Ráckeve | 11 |
| 14 | Szentendre District Szentendrei járás | 326.58 | 77,802 | 238 | Szentendre | 13 |
| 15 | Szigetszentmiklós District Szigetszentmiklósi járás | 211.28 | 110,448 | 523 | Szigetszentmiklós | 9 |
| 16 | Szob District Szobi járás | 438.32 | 24,875 | 57 | Szob | 17 |
| 17 | Vác District Váci járás | 362.19 | 68,234 | 188 | Vác | 18 |
| 18 | Vecsés District Vecsési járás | 119.74 | 47,026 | 393 | Vecsés | 4 |
| Pest County | Pest County | 6,393.14 | 1,217,476 | 192 | Budapest | 187 |

## Politics

The Pest County Council, elected at the 2024 local government elections, is made up of 44 counselors, with the following party composition:
| Party | Seats |
| Fidesz-KDNP | 21 |
| Momentum Movement | 10 |
| Our Homeland Movement | 8 |
| Democratic Coalition | 7 |

### Presidents of the General Assembly

List of presidents since 1990 :
| István Szabó (Fidesz-KDNP) | 2014– |

## Municipalities

Pest County has 1 urban county, 47 towns, 17 large villages and 122 villages.

### City with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)
* Érd (63,631)

### Towns

* Dunakeszi (40,545)
* Cegléd (36,645)
* Szigetszentmiklós (34,708)
* Vác (33,831)
* Gödöllő (32,522)
* Budaörs (26,757)
* Szentendre (25,310)
* Nagykőrös (24,134)
* Gyál (23,338)
* Dunaharaszti (20,473)
* Vecsés (20,088)
* Fót (19,068)
* Százhalombatta (17,952)
* Monor (17,626)
* Göd (17,476)
* Szigethalom (16,886)
* Pomáz (16,622)
* Dabas (16,386)
* Gyömrő (16,250)
* Veresegyház (15,998)
* Pécel (15,168)
* Abony (14,916)
* Pilisvörösvár (13,667)
* Budakeszi (13,502)
* Törökbálint (12,841)
* Biatorbágy (12,484)
* Nagykáta (12,467)
* Albertirsa (12,016)
* Kistarcsa (11,953)
* Maglód (11,738)
* Pilis (11,568)
* Üllő (11,425)
* Isaszeg (11,152)
* Tököl (10,851)
* Budakalász (10,619)
* Kerepes (10,068)
* Ráckeve (9,755)
* Halásztelek (9,200)
* Diósd (9,056)
* Ócsa (8,985)
* Piliscsaba (8,472)
* Sülysáp (8,195)
* Tura (7,774)
* Dunavarsány (7,363)
* Őrbottyán (7,102)
* Aszód (6,258)
* Tápiószele (5,914)
* Zsámbék (5,174)
* Örkény (4,730)
* Nagymaros (4,679)
* Szob (2,794)
* Újhartyán (2,685)
* Visegrád (1,718)

### Villages

* Acsa
* Alsónémedi
* Apaj
* Áporka
* Bag
* Bénye
* Bernecebaráti
* Budajenő
* Bugyi
* Ceglédbercel
* Csemő
* Csévharaszt
* Csobánka
* Csomád
* Csömör
* Csörög
* Csővár
* Dánszentmiklós
* Dány
* Délegyháza
* Domony
* Dömsöd
* Dunabogdány
* Ecser
* Erdőkertes
* Farmos
* Felsőpakony
* Galgagyörk
* Galgahévíz
* Galgamácsa
* Gomba
* Herceghalom
* Hernád
* Hévízgyörk
* Iklad
* Inárcs
* Ipolydamásd
* Ipolytölgyes
* Jászkarajenő
* Kakucs
* Kartal
* Káva
* Kemence
* Kiskunlacháza
* Kismaros
* Kisnémedi
* Kisoroszi
* Kocsér
* Kosd
* Kóka
* Kőröstetétlen
* Kóspallag
* Leányfalu
* Letkés
* Lórév
* Majosháza
* Makád
* Márianosztra
* Mende
* Mikebuda
* Mogyoród
* Monorierdő
* Nagybörzsöny
* Nagykovácsi
* Nagytarcsa
* Nyáregyháza
* Nyársapát
* Pánd
* Páty
* Penc
* Perbál
* Perőcsény
* Péteri
* Pilisborosjenő
* Pilisjászfalu
* Pilisszántó
* Pilisszentiván
* Pilisszentkereszt
* Pilisszentlászló
* Pócsmegyer
* Pusztavacs
* Pusztazámor
* Püspökhatvan
* Püspökszilágy
* Rád
* Remeteszőlős
* Solymár
* Sóskút
* Szada
* Szentlőrinckáta
* Szentmártonkáta
* Szigetbecse
* Szigetcsép
* Szigetmonostor
* Szigetszentmárton
* Szigetújfalu
* Szokolya
* Sződ
* Sződliget
* Tahitótfalu
* Taksony
* Tatárszentgyörgy
* Táborfalva
* Tápióbicske
* Tápiógyörgye
* Tápióság
* Tápiószecső
* Tápiószentmárton
* Tápiószőlős
* Tárnok
* Telki
* Tésa
* Tinnye
* Tóalmás
* Tök
* Törtel
* Újlengyel
* Újszilvás
* Úri
* Üröm
* Valkó
* Vasad
* Vácduka
* Vácegres
* Váchartyán
* Váckisújfalu
* Vácrátót
* Vácszentlászló
* Vámosmikola
* Verőce
* Verseg
* Zebegény
* Zsámbok
municipalities are large villages.

## Gallery

* View of Szentendre
* Grassalkovich Palace in Gödöllő
* Citadel of Visegrád
* Cathedral in Vác
* Zsámbék Premontre monastery church
* Károlyi Mansion, Fót
* Mailáth Mansion in Törökbálint
* Choral Castle, Pomáz

## International relations

Pest County has a partnership relationship with:
| Chongqing Municipality, China Harghita County, Romania Hebei Province, China Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | Masovian Voivodeship, Poland Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia |