György Enyedi was born on 25 August 1930 in Budapest. He obtained a university degree in economics at Karl Marx University of Economic Sciences in Budapest in 1953 and until 1957 he was a lecturer at the same institution. From 1955 until 1960 he worked at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Gödöllő as a university professor. In 1960 he became a member of the Geographical Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He became an associate at the successor Geographical Research Institute founded in 1967. He became head of department in 1960, deputy director between 1962-1972, senior research associate in 1974, and head of department between 1978 and 1983. Between 1983-1984 he was the Director of the Transdanubian Institute. From 1984 until 1992 he was the Director General of Centre for Regional Studies HAS and worked as a research professor from 1991. Meanwhile, he presented lectures at many prestigious institutions of higher education: in 1962 at the Kossuth Lajos University, from 1972 until 1974 at the University of Montpellier in 1985 and 1990, the Janus Pannonius University in 1990 and from the Eötvös Loránd University.

György Enyedi acquired the title of PhD in geography in 1962 and defended his doctoral thesis in 1975. In 1982 he became a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and in 1990 he was elected a full member. From 1999 until 2002 he was the Vice President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Between 1984 and 1992 he was the Vice President of the International Geographical Union (IGU). From 1982 he was the Honorary Member of the Société Géographique and from 1983 of the Royal Geographical Society. Between 1994-97 he was a member of the National Environment Commission and between 1995-98 a member of the National Regional Development Council. From 1998 to 1999 he was the Vice President of the National Scientific Research Fund /OTKA/.  His outstanding work was recognized by countless honors, among others, the Academy Award-and Széchenyi Award. György Enyedi died on 10 September 2012 at the age of 83 years.