Statistics of centuries [antikvár]

PKEFACB Most real phenomena and process are much more complicated than can be conveyed by a description compiled írom statistical data or indicators. In Hungary, the offieial statistical service has been running since 1867. The volume produced for the turn of the millennium differs somewhat írom customary statistical compilations. In attempting to present as much as possible about the countiy and about the life ofthe people that have lived here over the centuries, the field of subjects has necessarily been widened. The result is still not, of course, a complete picture. There are no unbroken series of data available for the relevant social and economic events over such a long period. And it was not only the significance of each subject that determined the quantity and quality of information included on it: the scope of the data at our disposal was alsó a major factor. In addition to statistics on Hungárián society and economic development - from the very oldest to the very latest - the book alsó gives a brief historical chronology and a look into the past and present of the country's smaller régiónál units - the capital city and 19 counties, and somé smaller parts of these. The originál, Hungarian-language version of the book, published for Christmas 2001, was greeted with a such a level of interest that the decision was made to bring out an English-language version. The information it contains will thus be accessible to a much wider set of readers who will, we trust, find itjust as useful. Dr. Tamás Mellár Chairman of the Hungárián Central Statistical Office DBDICATION The start of a new millennium is a fitting thne for the statistical service to re-view the statistics and related activities ofpast decades and even past centuries. Facts and figures were taken note oflong before offieial statistics came into existence. Researchers of various branches of science, in particular historians explored them, on tlús basis they established or hypothesized further facts. It was thus natural to draw on the findings of disciplines other thanjust statistical science in our review of the centuiies. No account of social, economic, scientific and intellectual life for such a long period could be completely comprehensive, even in case a volume going bevond the present one. This volume attempts to present the most generál, the most important and the most characteristic data; no doubt somé readers would have considered more or other things worthy of mention. The contents ofthe book are naturally dominated by statistical data, obtained from contemporary publications or later revisions to meet the requirements of the thne. Intercomparison among figures collected andprocessed in different eras calls for a degree of caution but, with somé conditíons and reservations, can generally give a good indication. The editors