Something old, something new: Hungarian marriage patterns in historical perspective

Marriage patterns are probably the most sensitive to changes in social norms or economic structure, and closely follow the development path of a society. This study investigates the changing trends of nuptiality in Hungary from the late-nineteenth to the early-twenty-first century. With the help of Hungarian historical statistical data, changes are presented from the perspective of broader socioeconomic development over time, during which Hungary has turned from a predominantly agrarian society into a modern urban one. This study provides a historical demographic overview of a country where state intervention in the social norms and collective behavior was itself a norm for a long time.