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Austria
Books
Austria, Lonely Planet, Anthony Haywood, Kerry Walker
Daytrips Austria, Earl Steinbicker
Modern Austria: empire and republic, 1815-1986, Barbara Jelavich
Nachrichten aus dem mittelalterlichen Wien: Zeitgenossen berichten, Ferdinand Opll
Walking in Austria, Kev Reynolds
Wien: Von den Anfängen bis zur ersten Wiener Türkenbelagerung (1529), Péter Csendes
Graz : Images
Salzburg : Images
Books
Frommer's Salzburg Day By Day
Salzburg, Robert Hoffmann, Robert Kriechbaumer
Salzburg: Stadt, Land, Salzkammergut ; [mit Atlas], Walter M. Weiss
Vienna : Images
Books
Frommer's Vienna Day by Day, Teresa Fisher, Wolfgang Regal, Michael Nanut
Rethinking Vienna 1900, Steven Beller
The Siege of Vienna: The Last Great Trial Between Cross & Crescent, John Stoye
Vienna, Elena Rossi
Vienna: a doctor's guide : 15 walking tours through Vienna's medical history
Arthur Schnitzler : Casanovas Heimfahrt, Der Schleier der Pierrette, Reigen,
Austria (Europe)
Introduction :: Austria
Introduction
Background
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, and the victorious Allies then occupied the country in 1945. As a result, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade after World War II, until a State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Austria joined the EU in 1995, but the obligation to remain neutral kept it from joining NATO, although the country became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1995. Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
Geography ::Austria
Geography :: Austria
Geography
Location
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates
47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total : 83,871 sq km
land: 82,445 sq km
water: 1,426 sq km
comparison ranking: total 114
Area - comparative
about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 2,524 km
border countries (8): Czech Republic 402 km; Germany 801 km; Hungary 321 km; Italy 404 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; Slovakia 105 km; Slovenia 299 km; Switzerland 158 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins
Elevation
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
mean elevation: 910 m
Natural resources
oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 47.2% (2018 est.)
other: 14.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
382 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution
the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas
Natural hazards
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Geography - note
note 1: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers
People and Society
Population
total: 8,967,982
male: 4,392,898
female: 4,575,084 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 99; male 102; total 100
Nationality
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups
Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages
German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in southern Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
German audio sample:
Religions
Roman Catholic 55.2%, Muslim 8.3%, Orthodox 4.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.8%, Jewish 0.1%, other 5.4%, none 22.4% (2021 est.)
note: data on Muslim is a 2016 estimate; data on other/none/unspecified are from 2012-2018 estimates
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 648,639/female 616,334)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,904,587/female 2,898,339)
65 years and over: 21.2% (2024 est.) (male 839,672/female 1,060,411)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.1
youth dependency ratio: 21.7
elderly dependency ratio: 29.4
potential support ratio: 3.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 44.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 43.6 years
female: 46.3 years
comparison ranking: total 24
Population growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 167
Birth rate
9.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 194
Death rate
9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 37
Net migration rate
3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 32
Population distribution
the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas
Urbanization
urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
1.975 million VIENNA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 168
Infant mortality rate
total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 201
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 80.1 years
female: 85.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 24
Total fertility rate
1.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 200
Gross reproduction rate
0.74 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
79% (2019)
note: percent of women aged 16-49
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
11.5% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
5.29 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
7.3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.1% (2016)
comparison ranking: 105
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 11.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 6.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 5
Tobacco use
total: 26.4% (2020 est.)
male: 27.7% (2020 est.)
female: 25% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 42
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
NA
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.7% (2023 est.)
Education expenditures
5.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 72
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria’s other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Land use
agricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 47.2% (2018 est.)
other: 14.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Revenue from forest resources
0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 123
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 100
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 11.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 61.45 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 6.34 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.836 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,240,918 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.7% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 720 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 2.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 720 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
77.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3
global geoparks and regional networks: Ore of the Alps; Styrian Eisenwurzen; Karawanken/Karavanke (includes Slovenia) (2023)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of both Bavaria and all German peoples; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but may derive from early Celtic settlements of the area; a plausible reconstructed Celtic name from several centuries B.C. is Vedunia (meaning "forest stream"), which in Old High German became uuenia (wenia), and later wien (its current German form) in New High German; another possibility is that the name stems from the Roman settlement Vindobona, established around 15 B.C., and its Celtic-derived name (likely from the Celtic windo, meaning "white, fair, or bright" and bona meaning "base, fortification, or settlement" to give a connotation of "white settlement" or "white fort"); archeological remains of the latter survive at many sites in the center of Vienna
Administrative divisions
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence
no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed)
National holiday
National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955)
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945
amendments: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one-half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one-third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended many times, last in 2020
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017)
head of government: Alexander SCHALLENBERG (since 10 January 2025) serving as interim Chancellor following the 4 January 2025 resignation of Karl NEHAMMER
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the chancellor and appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 October 2022 (next to be held in 2028); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results:
2022: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN reelected in first round; percent of vote - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent) 56.7%, Walter ROSENKRANZ (FPO) 17.7%, Dominik WLAZNY (Beer Party) 8.3%, Tassilo WALLENTIN (independent) 8.1%, Gerald GROSZ (independent) 5.6%
2016: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2%
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat)
number of seats: 183 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/29/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Freedom Party (FPÖ) (57); People's Party (ÖVP) (51); Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) (41); NEOS (“New Austria”) (18); Greens (16)
percentage of women in chamber: 36.1%
expected date of next election: September 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name: Federal Council (Bundesrat)
number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected)
percentage of women in chamber: 48.3%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts
Political parties
Austrian People's Party or OeVP
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe
The Greens - The Green Alternative
NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum
Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Petra SCHNEEBAUER (since 19 APRIL 2023)
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
email address and website:
washington-ob@bmeia.gv.at
https://www.austria.org/
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Victoria Reggie KENNEDY (since 12 January 2022)
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna
mailing address: 9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC 20521-9900
telephone: [43] (1) 31339 0
FAX: [43] (1) 31339 2017
email address and website:
ConsulateVienna@state.gov
https://at.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner
National symbol(s)
eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white
National anthem
name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)
lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
note 1: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land by the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; a gender-neutral version of the lyrics was adopted by the Austrian Federal Assembly in fall 2011 and became effective 1 January 2012
note 2: the beloved waltz "The Blue Danube" ("An der schoenen, blauen Donau"), composed in 1866 by the Austrian composer Johann STRAUSS II, is consistently referred to as Austria's unofficial national anthem
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n)
Economy
Economic overview
one of the strongest EU and euro economies; diversified trade portfolios and relations; enormous trade economy; Russian energy dependence, but investing in alternative energy; aging labor force but large refugee population; large government debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$593.703 billion (2023 est.)
$599.427 billion (2022 est.)
$569.376 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 43
Real GDP growth rate
-0.95% (2023 est.)
5.28% (2022 est.)
4.24% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 199
Real GDP per capita
$65,000 (2023 est.)
$66,300 (2022 est.)
$63,600 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 22
GDP (official exchange rate)
$511.685 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.81% (2023 est.)
8.55% (2022 est.)
2.77% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 153
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AA+ (2015)
Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2012)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.3% (2023 est.)
industry: 25.2% (2023 est.)
services: 63.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 67; industry 91; agriculture 175
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 52.2% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 59.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, grapes, triticale, apples (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
-1.99% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 179
Labor force
4.829 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 91
Unemployment rate
5.24% (2023 est.)
4.99% (2022 est.)
6.46% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 99
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.9% (2023 est.)
male: 10.6% (2023 est.)
female: 11.3% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 123
Population below poverty line
14.8% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
30.7 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 122
Average household expenditures
on food: 10.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 23.8% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.64% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.64% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.66% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $212.218 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $225.52 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
74.92% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 47
Taxes and other revenues
26.19% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 36
Current account balance
$6.783 billion (2023 est.)
-$3.911 billion (2022 est.)
$8.244 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 28
Exports
$303.914 billion (2023 est.)
$291.804 billion (2022 est.)
$269.392 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 30
Exports - partners
Germany 28%, US 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 5% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, plastic products, electricity (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$293.692 billion (2023 est.)
$294.324 billion (2022 est.)
$265.604 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 28
Imports - partners
Germany 40%, Italy 7%, Czechia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, gold, garments, broadcasting equipment (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$31.212 billion (2023 est.)
$33.078 billion (2022 est.)
$33.957 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 60
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 29.81 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 65.168 billion kWh (2022 est.)
exports: 19.882 billion kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 28.595 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.252 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 143; imports 7; exports 15; consumption 46; installed generating capacity 37
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 25.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 11.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 51.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
biomass and waste: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
production: 1.271 million metric tons (2022 est.)
consumption: 5.026 million metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 4.152 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 245,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 35.2 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 618.209 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 8.136 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
imports: 12.132 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 5.04 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
57.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.483 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 32.758 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 15.636 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 55
Energy consumption per capita
123.11 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 33
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 3.544 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 36
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 11.035 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 90
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: mature telecom market; the mobile market benefits from a growing number of Mobile Virtual Network Operators; the telcos as well as the government and regulator have been focused on delivering improved telecom infrastructure; the government has a program to provide a national gigabit service by 2030, delivered by private enterprise though with some state funding; this is based on fiber networks supported by 5G, with the Mobile Network Operators able to expand the reach of their 5G services following auctions held in March 2019 and September 2020; the fixed-line broadband market is still dominated by the DSL sector, while the cable broadband sector has held a steady share of connections in recent years; the fiber sector was slow to develop, and although fiber remains low there are plans to build out the network infrastructure (2021)
domestic: developed and efficient; 43 per 100 fixed telephone subscriptions; 122 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
international: country code - 43; earth stations available in the Astra, Intelsat, Eutelsat satellite systems (2019)
Broadcast media
Austria's public broadcaster, Oesterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), is a major player in the TV and radio markets, it faces competition from private broadcasters, cable or satellite TV is available in most homes and is often used to watch German stations, some of which carry programs for Austrian viewers, a daily newspaper is a must for many Austrians, national and regional titles contest fiercely for readers, the print media are owned by a handful of mostly Austrian and German media groups
(2023)
Internet country code
.at
Internet users
total: 8.277 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 93% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 72
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 2.606 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 49
Communications - note
note 1: the Austrian National Library contains important collections of the Imperial Library of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Empire, as well as of the Austrian Republic; among its more than 12 million items are outstanding holdings of rare books, maps, globes, papyrus, and music; its Globe Museum is the only one in the world
note 2: on 1 October 1869, Austria-Hungary introduced the world's first postal card - postal stationery with an imprinted stamp indicating the prepayment of postage; simple and cheap (sent for a fraction of the cost of a regular letter), postal cards became an instant success, widely produced in the millions worldwide
note 3: Austria followed up with the creation of the world's first commercial picture postcards - cards bearing a picture or photo to which postage is affixed - in May 1871; sent from Vienna, the image served as a souvenir of the city; together, postal cards and post cards served as the world's e-mails of the late 19th and early 20th centuries
note 4: Austria was also an airmail pioneer; from March to October of 1918, it conducted the world's first regular (daily) airmail service - between the imperial cities of Vienna, Krakow, and Lemberg - a combined distance of some 650 km (400 mi) (earlier airmail services had been set up in a few parts of the world but only for short stretches, and none lasted beyond a few days or weeks); an expansion of the route in June of 1918 allowed private mail to be flown to Kyiv, in newly independent Ukraine, which made the route the world's first regular international airmail service (covering a distance of some 1,200 km; 750 mi)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 130
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,935,505 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 373.51 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OE
Airports
61 (2024)
comparison ranking: 77
Heliports
105 (2024)
Pipelines
1,888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017)
Railways
total: 6,123 km (2022) 3,523 km electrified
comparison ranking: total 32
Roadways
total: 126,233 km (2022)
comparison ranking: total 41
Waterways
358 km (2011)
comparison ranking: 99
Merchant marine
total: 1 (2023)
by type: other 1
comparison ranking: total 181
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer): Land Forces, Air Forces, Cyber Forces, Special Operations Forces, Militia (reserves) (2024)
note 1: the federal police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of the Interior
note 2: the militia is comprised of men and women who have done their basic military or training service and continue to perform a task in the armed forces; they are integrated into the military but have civilian jobs and only participate in exercises or operations; missions for the militia may include providing disaster relief, assisting security police, and protecting critical infrastructure (energy, water, etc.), as well as deployments on missions abroad
Military expenditures
1% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022)
0.8% of GDP (2021)
0.7% of GDP (2020)
comparison ranking: 124
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 14,000 regular troops; 8,000 civilians; 25,000 militia (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons systems from European countries and the US; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2024)
Military service age and obligation
registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; men above the age of 18 are subject to compulsory military service; women may volunteer; compulsory service is for 6 months, or optionally, alternative civil/community service (Zivildienst) for 9 months (2024)
note 1: as of 2023, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel
note 2: in a January 2013 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system
Military deployments
170 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 290 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)
Military - note
the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations
the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; it has provided troops to international peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN) in recent years; more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Aerospace Agency (established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2024)
Space program overview
has a national space program and is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA); develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including remote sensing (RS) and research/scientific satellites; works closely with member states of ESA, the EU, and the commercial sector to develop a range of space capabilities and technologies, including applications for satellite payloads, space flight, and space research; has also cooperated with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, India, Russia, and the US (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 68,700 (Syria), 43,725 (Afghanistan), 10,110 (Iraq), 8,684 (Somalia), 7,294 (Iran), 6,124 (Russia) (mid-year 2022); 84,135 (Ukraine) (as of 11 March 2024)
stateless persons: 3,219 (2022)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs
