text: During the Socialist era the region was developed into the centre of heavy industry. Whole new towns came into existence in place of small villages (Tiszaújváros, Kazincbarcika), the industrial character of existing cities became more important (Miskolc, Ózd.) Urbanization was rapid, workers from all over the country were arriving in these cities and towns, and the population of Miskolc reached its highest level in the 1980s (around 211.000.) The end of the Socialist era and the recession of the 1990s hit hard, the unemployment rate is one of the highest of the country, and the local governments try to get over the crisis by strengthening the touristic potential. This seems to be a good idea, since Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is a geographically diverse area with rich natural and cultural treasures.
  Demographics
  In 2015, it had a population of 667,594 and the population density was 92/km2.
  Ethnicity
  Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Roma (approx. 58,000), Germans (2,500), Slovaks (2,000) and Rusyns (1,500).
  Total population (2011 census): 686,266
  Ethnic groups (2011 census):
  Identified themselves: 643,950 persons:
  Hungarians: 576,814 (89.57%)
  Romani: 58,246 (9.05%)
  Others and indefinable: 8,890 (1.38%)
  Approx. 89,000 persons in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.
  Religion
  Religious adherence in the county according to 2011 census:
  Catholic – 282,904 (Roman Catholic – 248,033; Greek Catholic – 34,816);
  Reformed – 135,677;
  Evangelical – 3,483;
  other religions – 10,500;
  Non-religious – 83,033;
  Atheism – 5,821;
  Undeclared – 164,848.
  Regional structure