OBJECTIVES: In 2006 a law for the economical use of medications was introduced into the Hungarian legislation. This law – among others – facilitated the foundation of new pharmacies. The aim of our study is to analyse the effect of that legislation on the number of pharmacies. METHODS: Data were derived from the pharmaceutical database of the Hungarian Health Insurance Fund Administration (OEP), the only health care financing agency in Hungary. We analysed the 5 years period between 2006-2010. The number of pharmacies were analysed according to the number of population of different settlements. RESULTS: The number of community pharmacies increased from 2030 (2006) to 2576 (2010) by 546 pieces (26.9 %). The number of pharmacies showed a different pattern according to the size of population of settlements. In villages with a population of 0-449, 500-999 and 1000-1999, the number of pharmacies decreased (3 pieces / 3.6 %; 18 pieces / 20.0 %; 23 pieces / 10.6 % respectively). In cities with a population between 2000-4999 we found a slight increase in the number of pharmacies (11 pieces / 3.0 %). In bigger towns there was a clear increase in the number of pharmacies: 5000-9999 population 53 pieces / 29.0 %; 10000-49999 194 pieces / 37.1 %; 50000-99999 population 129 pieces / 33.0 % and over the population of 100000: 158 pieces / 42.9 %. CONCLUSIONS: After the introduction of the new law for the economical use of medications in 2006, the number of pharmacies significantly changed in Hungary. However, this change in the number of pharmacies was inequal according to the size of the population: in villages with a population lower than 2000 people there was a decrease, while in cities with bigger population the number of pharmacies significantly increased.