Southeast Europe

State Romania
MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS
Name (in English, in the dominant language and, if different, in the minority
language): English – Hungarian, Magyar; Romanian – Maghiar, Ungur; Hungarian –
Magyar.
Is there any form of recognition of the minority?
Hungarians are recognised by the Constitution of Romania (henceforth: the
Constitution) (Art. 6). However, there is recognition only of members belonging to the
national minority, not of the community as a whole. The Democratic Alliance of
Hungarians in Romania has been part of the ruling political coalition between 1996-
2000.
Category(ies) (national, ethnic, linguistic or religious) ascribed by the minority
and, if different, by the state: Hungarians are identified as a national minority both by
the minority itself and by the state.
Territory they inhabit: Mainly Transylvania (Western Romania), but there are also
scattered Hungarian communities throughout the country.
Population: According to the latest census (1992) 1,624,959 (7.12% of the total
population) persons identified themselves as Hungarian, while estimated data show that
the number of persons whose native-tongue is Hungarian exceeds 1.8 million
(http://www.rmdsz.ro). 98.7% of Hungarians in Romania live in Transylvania.
Name of the language spoken by the minority:
English - Hungarian; Hungarian - Magyar; Romanian - Maghiara
Is there any form of recognition of the language?
The Constitution provides for the right of persons belonging to national minorities to be
educated in their mother tongue. Also the Law on Public Administration provides for
the use of minority languages in public administration where the minority population
exceeds 20%. The provision however, is scarcely observed except for regions where due
to the large number of Hungarians (over 80% in south-eastern Transylvania, see below)
Hungarian is naturally used in every field of life.
Dominant language of the territory they inhabit: Romanian in most areas. In some
parts of Transylvania Hungarian predominates. In Covasna and Harghita counties
(south-eastern Transylvania) 76.17% and 84.41% of the population respectively, speak
Hungarian.
Occasional or daily use of the minority language: Hungarians in Romania use their
language on a daily basis.
Access to education corresponding to the needs of the minority:
Primary and secondary levels – insufficient in some geographical areas.
Higher – insufficient, particularly with regard to certain subjects / departments (e.g. law,
medicine, public administration).
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