In quarter 1 2026, 2,821 new dwellings were built, 4.3% more than a year earlier. The number of dwellings to be built based on issued construction permits and simple declarations was 9,291, 64% more than in the same period of 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, 2,821 dwellings were put to use, an increase of 4.3% compared to the the same period of the previous year.
Both in the capital and in towns of county rank the number of dwellings put to use increased by 13%, and in other towns by 1.2%, compared to the first quarter of 2025. Only in villages did the number of dwellings put to use decrease, by 9.8%.
The spatial concentration of housing construction in the capital remains strong. 87% of the 955 new dwellings in the capital were built in three districts: in district XIII 294, in district X 278, and in district XI 256 new dwellings were put to use.
Compared to the same period of last year, the number of newly built dwellings increased not only in Central Hungary, but also in three other regions, most notably in Northern Great Plain (69%) and Southern Great Plain (64%). At the same time, the number of dwellings put to use decreased in Northern Hungary, Western Transdanubia, and Southern Transdanubia.
The share of dwellings built by natural persons was 34%, while that built by enterprises was 66%. The ratio was the same in the first quarter of 2025.
54% of dwellings put into use in new residential buildings are in detached houses, 42% in multi-storey, multi-dwelling buildings and 0.7% in residential complexes.
The average floor area of dwellings taken into use increased by 4.3 m2 to 98.9 m2 compared to the first quarter of 2025. The average size of dwellings put to use in the capital was 65.3 m2.
The share of dwellings built for sale was 66%, while those built for owner-occupation accounted for 34%.
At the national level, the number of dwellings to be built under construction permits and simple declarations was 9,291, 64% more than a year earlier. The increase in building permits was characteristic of the entire country, with significantly more permits issued in all settlement categories than in the first quarter of 2025. In Budapest, a total of 3,634 dwellings were authorised for construction, 36% more than a year earlier. 52% of the permitted housing construction in the capital will take place in districts IX (1,904), and 21% of it will take place in district XIII (777).
In towns of country rank, the number of dwellings approved for construction increased by 92%, in other towns by 80%, and in villages by 99%, compared to the same period of last year. Among towns of county rank, Kecskemét stands out with 538 and Nyíregyháza with 363 permitted dwellings. In Győr, Debrecen, and Miskolc, between 100 and 200 dwelling construction permits were issued in the first quarter.
The increase in the number of issued dwelling construction permits was general both in county and regional aggregates compared to the same period of the previous year. There was a decline only in four counties (Tolna, Zala, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Csongrád-Csanád).
Builders made use of the simple declaration option in 28% of cases.
The number of new construction permits issued in the country was 75% higher than in the previous year, with a total of 3,225 residential buildings planned. The total number of non-residential buildings to be built in the country was 767, 18% more than a year earlier.
