As part of our ongoing series connected to our Welcome to Gilead campaign, we explore Hungary’s population policies and the government’s push to increase native births amid growing concerns about reproductive rights.

Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has become a global symbol of the pronatalist movement. These initiatives are designed to combat population decline but raise significant concerns about human rights, gender equality and reproductive freedoms.

Pronatalism trumps Reproductive Freedom

Like many places around the world, Hungary is experiencing declining birth rates, with many choosing not to have children due to financial concerns and lifestyle choices. Orbán’s government has sought to tackle this with pronatalist policies like tax exemptions for women with four or more children and other family-oriented incentives, allocating 6% of GDP to these efforts.

These incentives come at a cost to reproductive freedoms. Abortion is legal up to 12 weeks but involves mandatory counselling sessions. Reports indicate these sessions are degrading, pushing a “pro-life” agenda. The knock-on effect is women often travel to Austria for less invasive, more supportive abortion services.

In 2022, the government required women seeking abortions to listen to “foetal vital signs,” described as a “pro-life move” by far-right politicians. Furthermore, according to the European Policy Atlas, Hungary ranks among Europe’s worst countries for access to contraception and family planning, further limiting women’s reproductive choices.

LGBTQ+ Rights and Reproductive Freedoms

Orbán’s government aggressively targets LGBTQ+ rights, framing queer families as “illegitimate”. Anti-LGBTQ+ laws restrict media content, classroom discussions and even the visibility of queer identities. This erosion of LGBTQ+ rights intersects with reproductive freedoms, as the government’s “traditional family values” exclude queer people from parenthood.

In June 2024, thousands marched at the Budapest Pride parade to protest these policies, showing defiance against systemic discrimination. Yet, the government continues to undermine LGBTQ+ rights, fuelling its broader ideological push against inclusivity.

The “Great Replacement” Theory

The “Great Replacement” theory, regularly promoted by Viktor Orbán, suggests that Western elites are intentionally replacing white Christian populations with non-European immigrants to undermine national identity. Orbán’s government has used this theory to justify strict anti-immigration policies and promote a nationalist agenda. Orbán himself has declared Europe is “committing suicide by allowing immigration”.

The Budapest Demographic Summit was created as a platform for such rhetoric. These events attract global far-right leaders who advocate anti-immigration and “pro-family” policies. Hungary has also hosted CPAC, the US Conservative Political Action Conference. That year, a CPAC speaker proposed banning abortion as a solution to population problems and immigration

In 2022, the government released a report which argued that educated women pose a threat to Hungary’s birth rate, framing higher education as antithetical to traditional gender roles. It stated that graduates are less likely to marry and have children and expressed concern that “feminine traits” may be encouraged by university education, leading to a weakening of “sexual equality”.

Global Influencers

Viktor Orbán has forged strong ties with influential figures in the United States, cementing his international reputation. He has been a frequent guest on Tucker Carlson’s show, both on Fox News and his new independent broadcast. Orbán has used the platform to push his agenda, including his approach to immigration and the war in Ukraine. Carlson has reciprocated this support, praising Hungary’s “pro-family” policies and amplifying Orbán’s rhetoric to his audience.

Donald Trump has also been an outspoken supporter of Orbán, openly admiring his governance style, referring to him as a “strongman.” Trump’s praise reinforces Orbán’s policies on issues like immigration and LGBTQ+ rights, lending him credibility among American conservatives. These endorsements have helped Orbán position himself as a defender of traditional values on the world stage, resonating with like-minded groups across Europe and the U.S.

Elon Musk has also taken notice of Orbán’s administration. Musk met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in late 2024 to discuss potential collaborations, sparking headlines about the tech mogul’s interest in Orbán’s policies. Musk’s support reflects the growing network of global influencers aligning themselves with Orbán.

A cautionary tale

The Hungarian government freely promotes traditional family values while eroding reproductive rights. These policies disproportionately impact women, LGBTQ+ individuals and minorities. While looking to incentivise childbirth, the government suppresses personal freedoms, imposing ideological control over private choices.

Hungary serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers to reproductive freedoms from far-right administrations. As Viktor Orbán strengthens his global alliances, Hungary’s model raises pressing questions about the future of democracy and individual rights.