Hungary is divided into 19 counties plus the capital Budapest, which has county status, forming the country's second-tier administrative structure. Counties serve as the primary regional governing units between the national government and local municipalities. They coordinate regional development, manage secondary healthcare facilities and specialized social services, maintain county-level road networks, and oversee regional educational institutions such as specialized secondary schools. County assemblies handle spatial planning, environmental protection, and economic development initiatives that extend beyond individual municipal boundaries. While local governments retain significant autonomy for day-to-day administration, counties provide essential coordinating functions and deliver services that require larger administrative and geographic scope than individual towns or villages can manage independently.