Editing Visegrád Group

{{Short description|Cultural and political alliance in Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| linking_name           = The Visegrád Group
| native_name            = {{collapsible list
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;font-size:90%;
  |title = {{big|Visegrád Group}}
  |liststyle = text-align:center;font-size:90%;
  | {{native name|cs|Visegrádská skupina}}
  | {{native name|hu|Visegrádi Együttműködés}}
  | {{native name|pl|Grupa Wyszehradzka}}
  | {{native name|sk|Vyšehradská skupina}}
 }}
| symbol_type            = The group's logo, representing the relative positions of the four member states' capitals
| image_symbol           = Visegrád Group logo.svg
| symbol_width           = 300px
| image_map              = Visegrad group countries.svg
| map_caption            = {{Leftlegend|#003399|Visegrád Group members}}{{Leftlegend|#2782bb|Other [[Member state of the European Union|member states of the European Union]]}}
| map_width              = 300px
| membership             = {{unbulleted list|{{CZE}}|{{HUN}}|{{POL}}|{{SVK}}}}
| leader_title1          = [[#Rotating presidency|Rotating presidency]]
| leader_name1           = Czech Republic
| established            = 15 February 1991
| area_km2               = 533,615
| population_estimate    = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 62,530,839<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tps00001&plugin=1 |title=Population on 1 January |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2024
| population_estimate_rank = 25th
| population_density_km2 = 117
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=GDP, PPP (current international $) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $3.1 trillion
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 14th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $49,300
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 39th
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2023<ref name="europa1">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tec00001/default/table?lang=en |title=Gross domestic product at market prices (Current prices and per capita) |publisher=Eurostat}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $1.5 trillion
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 16th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $24,000
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 46th
| official_website       = {{Official URL}}
| demonym                = 
| area_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
| today                  = 
}}
The '''Visegrád Group''' (also known as the '''Visegrád Four''' or the '''V4''') is a cultural and [[political alliance]] of four [[Central Europe]]an countries: the [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], and [[Slovakia]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.visegradgroup.eu/about | title=The Visegrad Group: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia &#124; About the Visegrad Group| date=15 August 2006}}</ref> The alliance aims to advance co-operation in military, economic, cultural and energy affairs.<ref name="The Bratislava Declaration of 2011">{{cite web|title=The Bratislava Declaration of the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Visegrád Group|url=http://www.visegradgroup.eu/2011/the-bratislava|website=Official web portal of the Visegrád Group|date=17 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824082057/http://www.visegradgroup.eu/2011/the-bratislava|archive-date=24 August 2014}}</ref> All four states are also members of the [[European Union]], the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], and the [[Three Seas Initiative]].

The alliance traces its origins to the [[summit meeting]]s of leaders of [[Czechoslovakia]], Hungary and Poland, held in the Hungarian castle town of [[Visegrád]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/17/world/three-eastern-european-leaders-confer-gingerly.html|title=Three Eastern European Leaders Confer, Gingerly|last=Engelberg |first=Stephen|date=17 February 1991|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> on 15 February 1991. Visegrád was chosen as the location for the summits as an intentional allusion to the medieval [[Congress of Visegrád (1335)|Congress of Visegrád]] between [[John I of Bohemia]], [[Charles I of Hungary]], and [[Casimir III of Poland]] in 1335.

After the [[dissolution of Czechoslovakia]] in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia became independent members of the alliance, increasing the number of members from three to four. All four members of the Visegrád Group [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|joined the European Union on 1 May 2004]], achieving its main goal.

During the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European immigration crisis]] in 2015, the Visegrad Group successfully blocked EU-level actions aimed at implementing the forced relocation of illegal immigrants within the member states. At that time EU Commission started infringement procedures against actions of the Hungarian and Polish national-conservative governments, claiming that they undermine democracy, media freedom, and the independence of the judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This is how the Visegrad Group works |website=DW |date=2019-07-02 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/this-is-how-the-visegrad-group-works/a-47402724 |access-date=2024-06-07 |language=en}}</ref> The Visegrad Four became politically split due to changes in governments and diverging reactions to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022. Yet its role in fostering exchange among countries' public servants and civil societies (Visegrad Fund) remains crucial.<ref name="Demokratický střed">{{Cite web |website=Demokratický střed |title=Základy Visegrádu v sedmi lekcích |url=https://www.demokratickystred.cz/zaklady-visegradu-v-sedmi-lekcich/ |access-date=2024-06-07}}</ref> <!-- is the information to the right necessary?
-sincerely, theapplesguy2 -->If the Visegrád Group were a single country, its land area, population, and economy would be similar to those of [[Metropolitan France]].

==History==
===Background (1335–1989)===
[[File:Castle of Visegrád, view.jpg|alt=A castle atop a forested hill, surrounded by mountains. |thumb|298x298px|The Castle of Visegrád, where the [[Congress of Visegrád (1335)|1335]] and [[Congress of Visegrád (1339)|1339]] Congresses of Visegrád took place]]
The name of the Visegrád Group references the place of meeting selected for the [[Congress of Visegrád (1335)|1335 Congress of Visegrád]] held by the [[List of Bohemian monarchs|Bohemian]] ([[Czechs|Czech]]), [[Polish people|Polish]], and [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] rulers in Visegrád. [[Charles I of Hungary]], [[Casimir III of Poland]], and [[John of Bohemia|John I of Bohemia]] agreed to create new commercial routes to bypass the city of [[Vienna]] (a [[staple port]], which required goods to be offloaded and offered for sale in the city before they could be sold elsewhere) and to obtain easier access to other European markets. The recognition of Czech sovereignty over the [[Duchy of Silesia]] was also confirmed. The [[Congress of Visegrád (1339)|second Congress of Visegrád]] took place in 1339 and decided that if Casimir III of Poland died without a son (as actually happened in 1370), then the son of Charles I of Hungary, [[Louis I of Hungary]] would become the [[King of Poland]].<ref name="archivum2.szabadsag.ro">{{Cite web|url= http://archivum2.szabadsag.ro/szabadsag/servlet/szabadsag/template/print,PrintScreen.vm/id/58129/mainarticle/false |title= A visegrádi négyek és az új évezred kihívásai - Vélemény - Szabadság|website= archivum2.szabadsag.ro|access-date= 1 August 2018|archive-date=4 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200204135236/http://archivum2.szabadsag.ro/szabadsag/servlet/szabadsag/template/print,PrintScreen.vm/id/58129/mainarticle/false|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From the 16th century, large parts of the present-day territories of the group's members became part of, or were influenced, by the Vienna-based [[Habsburg monarchy]]. This situation continued until the end of [[World War I]] and the dissolution of Habsburg-ruled [[Austria-Hungary]] in 1918. In the three years after the end of [[World War II]] in 1945 the countries became [[satellite state]]s of the [[Soviet Union]], as the [[Polish People's Republic]], the [[Hungarian People's Republic]] and the [[Czechoslovak Socialist Republic]]. In 1989, the [[fall of the Berlin Wall]] and the [[fall of communism]] in [[Central and Eastern Europe|central and eastern Europe]] enabled Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia to adopt [[capitalism]] and [[democracy]]. In December 1991, the [[fall of the Soviet Union]] occurred, further allowing the three countries to look westward.

===Establishment (1990s)===
The Visegrád Group was established on 15 February 1991 at a meeting between the President of the [[Czech and Slovak Federative Republic]], [[Václav Havel]], the President of the [[Poland|Republic of Poland]], [[Lech Wałęsa]], and the Prime Minister of the [[Hungary|Republic of Hungary]], [[József Antall]], in the Hungarian town of [[Visegrád]].<ref name="archivum2.szabadsag.ro" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Visegrad Group |url=https://www.visegradgroup.eu/history/history-of-the-visegrad |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Visegrad Group|date=15 August 2006 }}</ref> The group was created with the aim of moving away from [[communism]] and implementing the reforms required for full membership of the Euro-Atlantic institutions, such as [[NATO]] and the [[European Union|EU]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical events in the European integration process (1945–2014) |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/02bb76df-d066-4c08-a58a-d4686a3e68ff/201e6e1f-b36b-4f9a-978f-401942c778a6 |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=CVCE}}</ref>

After the [[dissolution of Czechoslovakia]] in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia became independent members of the alliance, raising the number of members from three to four. All four members of the Visegrád Group [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|joined the European Union on 1 May 2004]].

===Contemporary history (2004–present)===
With all four Visegrad countries joining the EU in 2004, the primary goal of the group was achieved. Since then, the Visegrad Group has focused mostly on cultural cooperation through the [[Visegrad Fund]] and expert-level cooperation on topics such as infrastructure. The group became politically active and media visible during the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European Migration Crisis]] in 2015. The Visegrad countries forcefully fought against the EU quota that aimed to distribute Syrian refugees from the overwhelmed southern EU countries across the continent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This is how the Visegrad Group works – DW – 02/07/2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/this-is-how-the-visegrad-group-works/a-47402724 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> The coherence of the group decreased with the lower salience of migration in the subsequent years.

The [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia]] in 2022 caused a rift within the group. The Hungarian government under [[Viktor Orbán]] and the Slovak government under [[Robert Fico]] rejected support for Ukraine and echoed Russian claims that the war had been provoked by [[NATO]]. On the other hand, the Czech government under [[Petr Fiala]] and the Polish government under [[Donald Tusk]] are among the strongest supporters of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jozwiak |first=Rikard |date=2024-02-28 |title=The Visegrad Group: When 2 + 2 Doesn't Equal 4 |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/visegrad-hungary-poland-czech-slovakia-disunity/32837670.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref> This rift was highlighted by the summit in Prague in 2024, where Fiala said it "wouldn't make sense that we differ in the views of the cause of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ways of solving it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/27/central-european-countries-show-deep-rifts-on-ukraine-war-at-v4-meeting|title=Central European countries show deep rifts on Ukraine war at V4 meeting|website=[[Euronews]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|date=27 February 2024|access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref> Polish Foreign Minister [[Radosław Sikorski]] also stressed that the priority for Poland (the largest country in the group) should be collaboration within the [[Weimar Triangle]] (Poland, Germany, France) and with the US, rather than with the Visegrad Four.<ref>{{cite news|last=Krzysztoszek|first=Aleksandra|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/polish-fm-close-ties-with-us-revising-weimar-triangle-key-amid-russia-threat/|title=Polish FM: close ties with US, revising Weimar Triangle key amid Russia threat|website=[[Euractiv]]|date=25 April 2024|access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref>

While some Czech politicians even called for leaving the Visegrad Four, Vít Dostál, head of the foreign policy think-tank AMO, argued that the V4 survived many governments with differing foreign policy priorities. He highlighted V4's crucial role in networking among public servants (down to the level of ministerial experts), which helps the four countries in EU negotiations - as well as networking among civil society actors.<ref name="Demokratický střed"/>

==Economies==
[[File:Foundation of the Visegrád Group.tiff|300px|thumb|right|The Visegrád Group signing ceremony in February 1991]]
All four nations in the Visegrád Group are [[high-income countries]] with a very high [[Human Development Index]]. V4 countries have experienced more or less steady [[economic growth]] for over a century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aggregate And Per Capita GDP in Europe, 1870–2000: Continental, Regional and National Data With Changing Boundaries |first1=Stephen |last1=Broadberry |first2=Alexander |last2=Klein |date=27 October 2011 |url=http://dev3.cepr.org/meets/wkcn/1/1699/papers/Broadberry_Klein.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030201511/http://dev3.cepr.org/meets/wkcn/1/1699/papers/Broadberry_Klein.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013 |website=CEPR }}</ref> 

=== History and categorization ===
Economic transformation from [[Comecon|communist central-planning]] to [[European single market|democratic market-economy]] was one of the goals of the Visegrad cooperation and was seen as an integral part of the so-called “Return to Europe”. The Visegrad countries succeeded to various levels and managed to overcome the economic slump after the 1989 revolution during the 1990s. With integration into the European Union, they chose an export-led FDI-dependent growth model. Not only due to their geographical proximity to Germany, but also due to their elite's decision to protect their industrial heritage, they became manufacturing hubs for Western European companies, foremost for the German automotive sector. This strategy differentiates Visegrad countries from other (semi)peripheral economies like the [[Baltic states]] (dependent on a debt-driven model) or [[Southern Europe]] (debt-based consumption-led model).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vukov |first=Visnja |date=2023-09-03 |title=Growth models in Europe's Eastern and Southern peripheries: between national and EU politics |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13563467.2023.2189695 |journal=New Political Economy |language=en |volume=28 |issue=5 |pages=832–848 |doi=10.1080/13563467.2023.2189695 |issn=1356-3467|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In 2009, Slovakia adopted the [[Euro (currency)|euro]] as its official currency, being the only member of the group to have done so. All four countries are eventually obliged to adopt the euro in the future and to join the [[Eurozone]] once they have satisfied the [[euro convergence criteria]] by the [[Treaty of Accession 2003|Treaty of Accession]] since they joined the [[European Union|EU]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2003 |title=Official Journal of the European Union, L 236 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AL%3A2003%3A236%3ATOC |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref>

=== GDP (per capita) ===
If counted as a single country, the Visegrád Group's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] would be the 4th in the EU, 5th in Europe and 15th in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title="The Visegrád Group – Growth Engine of Europe" international conference |first1=Johannes |last1=Hahn |via=European Commission |url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/upload/documents/Commissioner/Speech-Visegrad-4-Ministerial-meeting-on-Cohesion_24062014.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112062549/https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/upload/documents/Commissioner/Speech-Visegrad-4-Ministerial-meeting-on-Cohesion_24062014.pdf |archive-date= 2022-11-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List of Countries by GDP (PPP) |url=http://statisticstimes.com/economy/countries-by-gdp-ppp.php |date=6 Jan 2024 |website=StatisticsTimes }}</ref> In terms of international trade, the V4 is not only at the forefront of Europe, but also of the world (4th in the EU, 5th in Europe and 8th in the world).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Workman |first1=Daniel |title=World's Top Export Countries |url=http://www.worldstopexports.com/worlds-top-export-countries/ |website=World's Top Exports }}</ref>

Based on gross domestic product per capita (PPP) estimated figures for the year 2020, the most developed country in the group is the Czech Republic (US$40,858 per capita), followed by Slovakia (US$38,321 per capita), Hungary (US$35,941 per capita) and Poland (US$35,651 per capita). The average GDP (PPP) in 2019 for the entire group is estimated at US$34,865.

=== Nuclear energy ===
Within the EU, the V4 countries are pro-[[nuclear power|nuclear-power]], and are seeking to expand or found (in the case of Poland) a nuclear-power industry. They have sought to counter what they see as an anti-nuclear-power bias within the EU, believing their countries would benefit from nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2013-10/14/content_30291509.htm |title=Visegrád group backs nuclear energy |publisher=China.org.cn |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Dont_impede_our_nuclear_V4_tells_EU-1510138.html |title=Don't impede our nuclear, V4 tells EU |publisher=World-nuclear-news.org |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>

===Czech Republic===
[[File:Prague skyline view.jpg|300px|thumb|right|[[Prague]], Czech Republic]]

The [[economy of the Czech Republic]] is the group's second largest (GDP PPP of US$432.346 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=36&pr.y=17&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=935&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=V4 |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819141428/http://https/ |archive-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> total, ranked 36th in the world).

Within the V4, the Czech Republic has the highest [[Human Development Index]],<ref name="UNDP2019">{{cite web |url=http://www.hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2019.pdf |title=Human Development Report 2019 – "Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities in human development in the 21st century" |publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]] |pages=22–25 |access-date=9 December 2019 |archive-date=9 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209061559/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2019.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Human Capital Index]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/30498/33252.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y|title=Human Capital Index 2018}}</ref> [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|nominal GDP per capita]]<ref name="GDP IMF nominal">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=50&pr.y=11&sy=2019&ey=2019&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C546%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C314%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C962%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C734%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |work=[[World Economic Outlook]]|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]  |date=October 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020 }}</ref> as well as [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|GDP at purchasing power parity per capita]].<ref name="IMF PPP">[https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=55&pr1.y=9&c=512%2C946%2C914%2C137%2C612%2C546%2C614%2C962%2C311%2C674%2C213%2C676%2C911%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C359%2C960%2C453%2C423%2C968%2C935%2C922%2C128%2C714%2C611%2C862%2C321%2C135%2C243%2C716%2C248%2C456%2C469%2C722%2C253%2C942%2C642%2C718%2C643%2C724%2C939%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C734%2C336%2C144%2C263%2C146%2C268%2C463%2C532%2C528%2C944%2C923%2C176%2C738%2C534%2C578%2C536%2C537%2C429%2C742%2C433%2C866%2C178%2C369%2C436%2C744%2C136%2C186%2C343%2C925%2C158%2C869%2C439%2C746%2C916%2C926%2C664%2C466%2C826%2C112%2C542%2C111%2C967%2C298%2C443%2C927%2C917%2C846%2C544%2C299%2C941%2C582%2C446%2C474%2C666%2C754%2C668%2C698%2C672&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019], [[International Monetary Fund]]. Database updated in April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.</ref>

===Hungary===
[[File:Budapest Parlament Building.jpg|300px|thumb|right|[[Budapest]], Hungary]]
Hungary has the group's third largest economy (total GDP of US$350.000 billion, 53rd in the world). Hungary was one of the more developed economies of the Eastern bloc. With about $18 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) since 1989, Hungary has attracted over one-third of all FDI in central and eastern Europe, including the former Soviet Union. Of this, about $6 billion came from American companies. Now it is an industrial agricultural state. The main industries are engineering, mechanical engineering (cars, buses), chemical, electrical, textile, and food industries. The services sector accounted for 64.8% of GDP in 2017 (est.).<ref>{{Citation |title=Hungary |date=2024-08-07 |work=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/hungary/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}</ref>

The main sectors of Hungarian industry are heavy industry (mining, metallurgy, machine and steel production), energy production, mechanical engineering, chemicals, food industry, and automobile production. The industry is leaning mainly on processing industry and (including construction) accounted for 29.32% of GDP in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profitline.hu/index.php/hircentrum/hir/130567/link5 |title=Elemzői reakciók az ipari termelési adatra (Analysts' Reaction on Industrial Production Data) |date=7 April 2009 |language=hu |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227154237/http://profitline.hu/index.php/hircentrum/hir/130567/link5 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The leading industry is machinery, followed by the chemical industry (plastic production, pharmaceuticals), while mining, metallurgy and textile industry seemed to be losing importance in the past two decades. In spite of the significant drop in the last decade, the food industry still contributes up to 14% of total industrial production and amounts to 7–8% of the country's exports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itdh.com/engine.aspx?page=Trade_Food_Industry |title=Food Industry |website=Itdh.com |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713065323/http://www.itdh.com/engine.aspx?page=Trade_Food_Industry |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Agriculture accounted for 4.3% of GDP in 2008 and along with the food industry occupied roughly 7.7% of the labour force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://portal.ksh.hu/pls/ksh/docs/eng/xstadat/xstadat_annual/tabl3_01_02iec.html |title=Value and distribution of gross value added by industries |year=2009 |publisher=Hungarian Central Statistical Office |access-date=31 December 2009 }}{{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://portal.ksh.hu/pls/ksh/docs/eng/xstadat/xstadat_annual/tabl2_01_04iea.html |title=Number of employed persons by industries |year=2009 |publisher=Hungarian Central Statistical Office |access-date=31 December 2009 }}{{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Tourism employs nearly 150,000 people and the total income from tourism was 4 billion euros in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.ksh.hu/pls/ksh/docs/hun/xftp/idoszaki/jeltur/jeltur08t.pdf |title=Táblamelléklet (Tables) |publisher=Hungarian Central Statistical Office|access-date=18 January 2010}}</ref> One of Hungary's top tourist destinations is [[Lake Balaton]], the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, with 1.2 million visitors in 2008. The most visited region is Budapest; the Hungarian capital attracted 3.61 million visitors in 2008. Hungary was the world's 24th most visited country in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismroi.com/Content_Attachments/27670/File_633513750035785076.pdf |title=UNWTO World Tourism Barometer |date=January 2013 |publisher=World Tourism Organisation|access-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191518/http://www.tourismroi.com/Content_Attachments/27670/File_633513750035785076.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2008}}</ref>

===Poland===
[[File:Warsaw skyline Świętokrzyski Bridge.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Warsaw]], Poland]]
Poland has the region's largest economy ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|GDP PPP]] total of US$1.353 trillion,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2017&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=48&pr1.y=12&c=964&s=NGDP_RPCH%2CNGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> ranked 22nd in the world). According to the [[United Nations]] and the [[World Bank]], it is a high-income country<ref name="worldbank8">{{cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups#High_income|title=Country and Lending Groups &#124; Data|publisher=World Bank|access-date=9 November 2010}}</ref> with a high quality of life and a very high standard of living.<ref>{{cite web|title=SPI PROGRESS INDEX 2015|url=http://www.socialprogressimperative.org/data/spi|access-date=16 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217230131/http://www.socialprogressimperative.org/data/spi|archive-date=17 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings_by_country.jsp|title=Quality of Life Index by Country 2017 Mid-Year|website=Numbeo.com|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> The Polish economy is the fifth-largest in the EU and one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, with a yearly growth rate of over 3.0% between 1991 and 2019.

Poland was the only European Union member to have avoided a decline in GDP during the late-2000s recession, and in 2009 created the most GDP growth of all countries in the EU. The Polish economy had not entered recession nor contracted. According to Poland's Central Statistical Office, in 2011 the Polish economic growth rate was 4.3%, the best result in the entire EU. The largest component of its economy is the service sector (67.3%), followed by industry (28.1%) and agriculture (4.6%). Since increased private investment and EU funding assistance, Poland's infrastructure has developed rapidly.

Poland's main industries are [[mining]], machinery ([[car]]s, [[bus]]es, [[ship]]s), [[metallurgy]], chemicals, electrical goods, [[textile industry|textiles]], and [[food processing]]. The high-technology and IT sectors are also growing with the help of investors such as [[Google]], [[Toshiba]], [[Dell]], [[GE]], [[LG]], and [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]]. Poland is a producer of many electronic devices and components.<ref>[http://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/products/new/277485.html Toshiba Invests in a Subsidiary of LG. Philips LCD in Poland]. eCoustics.com (10 October 2006). Retrieved 19 July 2013.</ref>

===Slovakia===
[[File:Slovakia bratislava.jpg|alt=Bratislava, Slovakia|thumb|303x303px|[[Bratislava]], Slovakia]]
The smallest, but still considerably powerful V4 economy is that of Slovakia (GDP of US$209.186 billion total, 68th in the world).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm|title=IMF – International Monetary Fund Home Page|website=Imf.org}}</ref>

==Demographics==
The population is 64,301,710 inhabitants, which would rank 22nd largest in the world and 4th in Europe (similar in size to France, Italy or the UK) if V4 were a single country. The most populated country in the group is Poland (38 million),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_lu_nps2011_wyniki_nsp2011_22032012.pdf|title=Wyniki Narodowego Spisu Powszechnego Ludności i Mieszkań 2011|date=16 January 2013|trans-title=Results of the 2011 National Census of Population and Housing|access-date=1 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116214520/http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_lu_nps2011_wyniki_nsp2011_22032012.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2013|language=pl}}</ref> followed by the Czech Republic (~11 million),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/czech-republic-population/ |title=Czech Republic Population 2016 |publisher=World Population Review |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref> Hungary (~10 million),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xftp/idoszaki/nepsz2011/nepsz_orsz_2011.pdf|title=2011. ÉVI NÉPSZÁMLÁLÁS : 3. Országos adatok|website=Ksh.hu|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717211318/http://www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xftp/idoszaki/nepsz2011/nepsz_orsz_2011.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Slovakia (5.5 million).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/wcm/connect/1f62189f-cc70-454d-9eab-17bdf5e1dc4a/Tab_10_Obyvatelstvo_SR_podla_narodnosti_scitanie_2011_2001_1991.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |title=Tab. 10 Obyvateľstvo SR podľa národnosti – sčítanie 2011, 2001, 1991 |access-date=21 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305121029/https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/wcm/connect/1f62189f-cc70-454d-9eab-17bdf5e1dc4a/Tab_10_Obyvatelstvo_SR_podla_narodnosti_scitanie_2011_2001_1991.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

===V4 capitals===
* [[Warsaw]] (Poland) – 1,790,658 inhabitants (metro – 3,105,883)
* [[Budapest]] (Hungary) – 1,779,361 inhabitants (metro – 3,303,786)
* [[Prague]] (Czech Republic) – 1,318,688 inhabitants (metro – 2,647,308)
* [[Bratislava]] (Slovakia) – 432,801 inhabitants (metro – 659,578)

==Current leaders==
<gallery>
File:Petr Fiala (51940875566).jpg|{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Czech Republic]]<br />[[Petr Fiala]]<br />[[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic|Prime Minister]]
File:Viktor Orbán 2022.jpg|{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Hungary]]<br />[[Viktor Orbán]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Hungary|Prime Minister]]
File:Donald Tusk Włodzimierz Czarzasty Robert Biedroń (cropped).jpg|{{flagicon|POL}} [[Poland]]<br />[[Donald Tusk]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Poland|Prime Minister]]
File:Robert Fico 2017.jpg|{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Slovakia]]<br />[[Robert Fico]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]]
</gallery>

==Initiatives==
[[File:Visegrád Fund-Вишеградски фонд.jpg|300px|thumb|Visegrád Fund building in Bratislava]]

=== International Visegrád Fund ===
{{Main|International Visegrád Fund}}

The [[International Visegrad Fund|International Visegrád Fund (IVF)]] is the only institutionalized form of regional cooperation of the Visegrád Group countries.

The main aim of the fund is to strengthen the ties among people and institutions in Central and Eastern Europe through giving support to regional non-governmental initiatives.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

===Defence cooperation===
====Visegrád Battlegroup====
{{main|Visegrád Battlegroup}}
On 12 May 2011, Polish Defence Minister [[Bogdan Klich]] said that Poland will lead a new [[EU Battlegroup]] of the Visegrád Group. The decision was made at the V4 defence ministers' meeting in [[Levoča]], Slovakia, and the battlegroup became operational and was placed on standby in the first half of 2016. The ministers also agreed that the V4 militaries should hold regular exercises under the auspices of the [[NATO Response Force]], with the first such exercise to be held in Poland in 2013. The battlegroup included members of V4 and [[Ukraine]].<ref>[http://gazeta.dt.ua/POLITICS/vishegradskiy_maydanchik_ukrayini.html Visegrad grounds of Ukraine]. [[Mirror Weekly]]. 13 May 2011 (in Ukrainian)</ref>
Another V4 EU Battlegroup was formed in the second semester of 2019 (V4 + [[Croatia]]) and another will be on standby in the first semester of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visegradgroup.eu/calendar/2014/bratislava-declaration |title=Bratislava Declaration of the Visegrád Group Heads of Government on the Deepening V4 Defence Cooperation |work=Visegradgroup.eu |publisher=Visegrád Group |date=9 December 2015 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="v4def"/>

====Other cooperation areas====
On 14 March 2014, in response to the [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]], a pact was signed for a joint military body within the European Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/visegrad-four-countries-sign-military-pact-20140314-00126 |title=Today's Stock Market News and Analysis |publisher=NASDAQ |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>
Subsequent Action Plan defines these other cooperation areas:<ref name="v4def">{{cite web|title=Visegrad Group Defence Cooperation|url=https://www.visegradgroup.eu/about/cooperation/defence|website=Visegrad Group|date=9 December 2014 |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Defense (military)|Defence]] Planning 
* Joint Training and [[Military exercise|Exercises]]
* Joint Procurement and Defence Industry
* Military Education
* Joint [[Airspace]] Protection
* Coordination of Positions
* Communication Strategy
''V4 Joint Logistics Support Group Headquarters'' (V4 JLSG HQ) was established in 2020 and will reach the full operational capability by the beginning of 2023.<ref name="v4def"/>

===Visegrád Patent Institute===
{{main|Visegrad Patent Institute}}

Created by an agreement signed in Bratislava on 26 February 2015, the Institute aims at operating as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) as from 1 July 2016.

==Neighbour relations==
{{See also|Schengen Area}}

===European Union===
All members of the V4 have been [[Member state of the European Union|member states of the European Union]] since the EU's [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|enlargement in 2004]], and members of the [[Schengen Area]] since 2007.

====Austria====
[[File:Austerlitz-Format.svg|300px|thumb|The countries participating in the Austerlitz format. From north to south: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria.]]
[[Austria]] is the Visegrád Group's southwestern neighbor. The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria launched the [[Slavkov Declaration|Slavkov format]] for the three countries in early 2015. The first meeting in this format took place on 29 January 2015 in [[Slavkov u Brna]] (Austerlitz) in the Czech Republic. Petr Drulák, the deputy foreign minister of the Czech Republic, emphasized that the Austerlitz format was not a competitor, but an addition to the Visegrád group, after proposals to enlarge the V4 with Austria and [[Slovenia]] were rejected by [[Hungary]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://derstandard.at/2000015574633/Oesterreich-Tschechien-Slowakei-Gemeinsame-Politik-im-Austerlitz-Format |title=Österreich, Tschechien, Slowakei: Gemeinsame Politik im Austerlitz-Format |last=Schubert |first=Gerald |date=11 April 2015 |newspaper=Der Standard|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2014 |title=Expanding Visegrád Group not on the agenda |url=http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/expanding-visegrad-group-not-on-the-agenda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214154/http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/expanding-visegrad-group-not-on-the-agenda |archive-date=8 April 2014 |website=www.kormany.hu}}</ref>

The leadership of the [[Freedom Party of Austria]], the junior partner in the [[First Kurz government|former Austrian coalition government]], has expressed its willingness to closely cooperate with the Visegrád Group.<ref>Stephan Löwenstein. [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/fpoe-will-oesterreich-in-die-visegrad-gruppe-bringen-15245016.html Zwischen Wien und Budapest]. ''[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]'' Published on 15 October 2017.</ref> Former Chancellor and leader of the [[Austrian People's Party]] [[Sebastian Kurz]] wanted to act as a bridge builder between the east and the west.<ref name="NewEurope">{{cite news|last1=Alexe|first1=Dan|title=Kurz and Orban want to clip Brussels' power, but Austria will not join Visegrad Four|url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/kurz-and-orban-want-to-limit-the-security-competences-of-brussels-but-austria-will-not-join-visegrad-group/|access-date=2 February 2018|work=New Europe|date=1 February 2018|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201040412/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/kurz-and-orban-want-to-limit-the-security-competences-of-brussels-but-austria-will-not-join-visegrad-group/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Germany====
[[Germany]], the Visegrád Group's western neighbour, is a key economic partner of the group and vice versa. As of 2018, Germany's trade and investment flows with the V4 are greater than with China.<ref>"[https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/06/14/germanys-troubled-relations-with-the-visegrad-states-show-the-limits-to-its-power Germany's troubled relations with the Visegrad states show the limits to its power]". ''[[The Economist]]''. 14 June 2018.</ref>

====Romania====
On 24 April 2015, [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]] and [[Serbia]] established the [[Craiova Group]]. The idea came from [[Victor Ponta]], the then [[Romanian Prime Minister]], who said he was inspired by the Visegrád Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/168120/Bulgaria,+Romania,+Serbia+Establish+Craiova+Group+for+Cooperation|title=Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia Establish Craiova Group for Cooperation|newspaper=[[Novinite]]|date=24 April 2015}}</ref> [[Greece]] joined the group in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cep.org.rs/en/blogs/craiova-group-too-late-or-better-late-than-never/|title=Craiova Group – too late or better late than never?|first=Venelin|last=Bochev|newspaper=[[European Policy Centre]]|date=6 December 2018|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009084449/https://cep.org.rs/en/blogs/craiova-group-too-late-or-better-late-than-never/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Romania has been invited to participate in the Visegrád Group on previous occasions. However, several incidents, such as the [[Ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș|Black March ethnic clashes]], made this impossible.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

===Non-EU===
Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia border [[Ukraine]] on their east. Poland additionally borders [[Belarus]] and [[Russia]]'s [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] to the northeast. The Czech Republic is fully surrounded by other EU members. Hungary borders Serbia, a [[Accession of Serbia to the European Union|candidate for EU accession]], in the south.

====Ukraine====
{{See also|Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukraine–European Union relations}}
[[Ukraine]], an eastern neighbour of the V4 that is not a member of the EU, is one of largest recipients of the International Visegrád Fund support and receives assistance from the Visegrád Group for its aspirations to [[European integration]].<ref>Claudia Patricolo. [https://emerging-europe.com/in-brief/ukraine-looks-to-revive-v4-membership-hopes-as-slovakia-takes-over-presidency/ Ukraine looks to revive V4 membership hopes as Slovakia takes over presidency]. emerging-europe.com. 29 July 2018.</ref> Ukraine joined the [[Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area]] with the EU and therefore with the V4 in 2016.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34842246 EU-Ukraine free trade 'set for 2016' – President Poroshenko]. [[BBC News]]. 17 November 2015.</ref>

The [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] has led to tensions within the Visegrád Group with Hungary under Viktor Orban, opposed to harsher sanctions against Russia, while the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland strongly supporting Ukraine.<ref name=Lopatka>{{cite news |last=Lopatka |first=Jan |date=24 November 2022 |title=Czechs, Poles criticise Hungary's Orban amid divisions over Ukraine war |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-easteurope-idAFL1N32K160 |work=Reuters |location=Prague |access-date=26 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Zalan |first=Eszter |date=9 May 2022 |title='Visegrád will survive', but as a fractured alliance |url=https://euobserver.com/ukraine/154898 |work=EUobserver |location=Brussels |access-date=26 November 2022}}</ref> In November 2022, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated, “This is not the best of times for the (Visegrád) format, and Hungary's different attitudes are significantly influencing and complicating the situation.”<ref name=Lopatka/>

==Country comparison==
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2019}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Name !!rowspan=2|[[Czech Republic]]{{Clear}}(Česká republika)!! rowspan="2" |[[Hungary]] (Magyarország)!![[Poland]]!![[Slovakia]]
|-
! Official name   !! Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska) !! Slovak Republic (Slovenská republika)
|-
| '''Coat of arms'''
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:Coat of arms of the Czech Republic.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:Coat of arms of Hungary.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:Herb Polski.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:Coat of arms of Slovakia.svg|50px]]
|-
| '''Flag'''
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Czech Republic|size=70px}}
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Hungary|size=70px}}
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Poland|size=70px}} 
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Slovakia|size=70px}}
|-
| '''[[List of countries by population|Population]]'''
| {{increase}} 10,649,800 (2019)<ref name="PopV4">{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tps00001&plugin=1 |title=Population on 1 January |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref>
| {{decrease}} 9,772,756 (2019)<ref name="PopV4"/>
| {{decrease}} 37,972,812 (2019)<ref name="PopV4"/>
| {{increase}} 5,450,421 (2019)<ref name="PopV4"/>
|-
| '''[[List of countries and dependencies by area|Area]]'''
| {{convert|78,866|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|93,028|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|312,696|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} 
| {{convert|49,035|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} 
|-
| '''[[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|Population Density]]'''
| {{convert|134|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}} 
| {{convert|105.9|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|123|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}} 
| {{convert|111|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}
|-
| '''Government'''
| [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] constitutional republic
| [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] constitutional republic
| [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] constitutional republic
| [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] constitutional republic
|-
| '''Capital'''
|rowspan="2"| {{Coat of arms|Prague}} – 1,318,688 (2,647,308 Metro)
|rowspan="2"| {{Coat of arms|Budapest}} – 1,779,361 (3,303,786 Metro)
|rowspan="2"| {{Coat of arms|Warsaw}} – 1,783,321 (3,100,844 Metro)
|rowspan="2"| {{Coat of arms|Bratislava}} – 429,564 (659,578 Metro)
|-
| '''Largest City'''
|-
| '''Official language'''
| [[Czech language|Czech]] (''de facto'' and ''de jure'')
| [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] (''de facto'' and ''de jure'')
| [[Polish language|Polish]] (''de facto'' and ''de jure'')
| [[Slovak language|Slovak]] (''de facto'' and ''de jure'')
|-
|'''First Leader'''
| [[Bořivoj I, Duke of Bohemia]] (first historically documented [[Duchy of Bohemia|Duke of Bohemia]], 867–889)
| [[Grand Prince of the Hungarians|Grand Prince]] [[Árpád]] (traditional first leader of tribal principality, 895–907){{Clear}}[[King of Hungary|King]] [[Stephen I of Hungary|St. Stephen]] (of Christian kingdom, 997–1038)
| [[List of Polish monarchs|Duke]] [[Mieszko I]] (traditional first leader of unified state, 960–992)
| [[Pribina]] (traditional ancestor, ?–861)
|-
| '''Current Head of Government'''
| [[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic|Prime Minister]] [[Petr Fiala]] ([[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|ODS]]; since 2021)
| [[Prime Minister of Hungary|Prime Minister]] [[Viktor Orbán]] ([[Fidesz]]; 1998–2002, since 2010)
| [[Prime Minister of Poland|Prime Minister]] [[Donald Tusk]] ([[Civic Platform]]; 2007–2014, since 2023)
| [[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]] [[Robert Fico]] ([[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer]]; 2006–2010, 2012–2018, since 2023)
|-
|'''Current Head of State'''
|[[President of the Czech Republic|President]] [[Petr Pavel]] (independent; since 2023)
|[[President of Hungary|President]] [[Tamás Sulyok]] (independent; since 2024)
|[[President of Poland|President]] [[Andrzej Duda]] ([[Law and Justice]]; since 2015)
|[[President of Slovakia|President]] [[Peter Pellegrini]] (independent; since 2024)
|-
| '''Main religions'''
| 44.7% undeclared, 34.5% [[irreligious]], 10.5% [[Roman Catholic]], 2% other Christians, 0.7% [[Religion in the Czech Republic|others]]
| 38.9% Catholicism {{small|([[Roman Catholicism in Hungary|Roman]], [[Hungarian Greek Catholic Church|Greek]])}}, 13.8% Protestantism {{small|([[Reformed Church in Hungary|Reformed]], [[Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary|Evangelical]])}}, 0.2% [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Hungary|Orthodox]], 0.1% [[History of the Jews in Hungary|Jewish]], 1.7% other, 16.7% [[Irreligion|Non-religious]], 1.5% [[Atheism]], 27.2% undeclared
| 87.58% [[Catholic Church in Poland|Roman Catholic]], 7.10% Opting out of answer, 1.28% [[Religion in Poland|Other faiths]], 2.41% [[Irreligious]], 1.63% Not stated
| 62% [[Catholic Church in Slovakia|Roman Catholic]], 5.9% [[Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia]], 3.8% [[Slovak Greek Catholic Church]], 1.8% [[Reformed churches]], 0.9% [[Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church]], 0.3% [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], 0.2% [[Evangelical Methodist]], 10.6% not specified, 13.4% no religion
|-
| '''Ethnic groups'''
| 64.3% [[Czechs]], 25.3% unspecified, 5% [[Moravians]], 1.4% [[Slovaks in the Czech Republic|Slovaks]], 1.0% Ukrainians, 3.0% Other
| 83.7% [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]], 3.1% [[Romani people in Hungary|Roma]], 1.3% [[Germans of Hungary|German]], 14.7% not declared
| 98% [[Polish people|Poles]], 2% other or undeclared
| 80.7% [[Slovaks]], 8.5% [[Hungarians in Slovakia|Hungarians]], 2.0% [[Roma in Slovakia|Roma]], 0.6% [[Czechs in Slovakia|Czechs]], 0.6% [[Rusyns]], 0.1% [[Ukrainians in Slovakia|Ukrainians]], 0.1% [[Germans in Slovakia|Germans]], 0.1% [[Poles in Slovakia|Poles]], 0.1% [[Moravians]], 7.2% unspecified
|-
| '''[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]]'''
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $245.226 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4">{{cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=46&pr.y=18&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=964%2C935%2C936%2C944&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|45th]])
*{{increase}} $23,113 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|36th]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $161.182 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|54th]])
*{{increase}} $16,484 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|47th]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $585.816 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|21st]])
*{{increase}} $15,426 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|56th]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $106.573 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|60th]])
*{{increase}} $19,579 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|40th]])}}
|-
| '''External debt (nominal)'''
| $77.786 billion (2019 Q2) – 31.6 [[Debt-to-GDP ratio|% of GDP]]
| $112.407 billion (2019 Q2) – 66.6 [[Debt-to-GDP ratio|% of GDP]]
| $281.812 billion (2019 Q2) – 47.5 [[Debt-to-GDP ratio|% of GDP]]
| $51.524 billion (2019 Q2) – 46.9 [[Debt-to-GDP ratio|% of GDP]]
|-
| '''[[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|GDP (PPP)]]'''
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $396.176 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|45th]])
*{{increase}} $37,340 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|34th]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $312.052 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|53rd]])
*{{increase}} $31,914 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|40th]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $1.215 trillion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|23rd]])
*{{increase}} $32,005 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|41st]])}}
| {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $191.252 billion (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|68th]])
*{{increase}} $35,136 per capita (2018)<ref name="IMFWEOV4"/> ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|38th]])}}
|-
| '''[[List of circulating currencies|Currency]]'''
| [[Czech koruna]] (Kč) – CZK
| [[Hungarian forint]] (Ft) – HUF
| [[Polish złoty]] (zł) – PLN
| [[Euro]] (€) – EUR
|-
| '''[[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]]'''
| {{plainlist|0.891 {{color|darkgreen|very high}}<ref name="HDIV4">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/137506 |title=Human Development Index (HDI) |website=hdr.undp.org |publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]] |access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref> [[List of countries by Human Development Index|26th]]
*0.850 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} [[Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index|IHDI]]<ref name="IHDIV4">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-3-inequality-adjusted-human-development-index-ihdi |title=Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) |website=hdr.undp.org |publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]] |access-date=11 December 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212055527/http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-3-inequality-adjusted-human-development-index-ihdi |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|13th]]}}
| {{plainlist|0.845 {{color|darkgreen|very high}}<ref name="HDIV4"/> [[List of countries by Human Development Index|43rd]]
*0.777 {{color|green|high}} [[Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index|IHDI]]<ref name="IHDIV4"/> [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|30th]]}}
| {{plainlist|0.872 {{color|darkgreen|very high}}<ref name="HDIV4"/> [[List of countries by Human Development Index|32nd]]
*0.801 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} [[Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index|IHDI]]<ref name="IHDIV4"/> [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|27th]]}}
| {{plainlist|0.857 {{color|darkgreen|very high}}<ref name="HDIV4"/> [[List of countries by Human Development Index|36th]]
*0.804 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} [[Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index|IHDI]]<ref name="IHDIV4"/> [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|26th]]}}
|}

==See also==
=== Other groups in Central Europe ===
* [[AHICE]] (Art Historian Information from Central Europe)
* [[Bucharest Nine]]
* [[Central European Defence Cooperation]]
* [[Central European Initiative]]
* [[Salzburg Forum]]
* [[Three Seas Initiative]]

=== Similar groups ===
* [[Association Trio]]
* [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]
* [[Craiova Group]]
* [[EU Med Group]]
* [[Lublin Triangle]]
* [[Nordic Defence Cooperation]]
* [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]]
* [[Weimar Triangle]]
* [[Weimar+]]
* [[Open Balkan]]

=== Other ===
* [[Central Europe]]
* [[Comecon]]
* [[Eastern Bloc]]
* [[International Visegrád Day]]
* [[Pact of Free Cities]]
* [[British–Polish–Ukrainian trilateral pact]]
* [[Soviet Union]]
* [[Warsaw Pact]]
* [[Intermarium (region)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Regional organizations}}
{{Foreign relations of the Czech Republic}}
{{Foreign relations of Hungary}}
{{Foreign relations of Poland}}
{{Foreign relations of Slovakia}}
{{Europe topic |Foreign relations of |UK_only=yes}}
{{Eastern Bloc}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Visegrad Group}}
[[Category:1991 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:20th-century military alliances]]
[[Category:Bottom-up regional groups within the European Union]]
[[Category:Central European intergovernmental organizations]]
[[Category:Czech Republic–Hungary relations]]
[[Category:Czech Republic–Poland relations]]
[[Category:Czech Republic–Slovakia relations]]
[[Category:Hungary–Poland relations]]
[[Category:Hungary–Slovakia relations]]
[[Category:Poland–Slovakia relations]]
[[Category:European integration]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Hungary]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Poland]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Intergovernmental organizations]]
[[Category:International political organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1991]]
[[Category:Eastern Europe]]