Austria - AT - AUT - AUT - Europe

Last updated: February 12, 2025

Austria Images

Born in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeu Mozart’s Geburtshaus (German for “birthplace”) is located at No. 9 Getreidegasse (pictured) in the historic center of Salzburg, Austria, a UNESCO Heritage site. Considered one of the greatest composers of Western music, Mozart excelled in all the music genres of his time and died when he was only 35. The house was turned into a museum in 1880 and today displays Mozart’s first musical instruments, portraits, and early editions of his music. The museum is a favorite destination for classical music enthusiasts worldwide.
Close up of the Pallas Athena fountain (completed 1902) before the Parliament Building in Vienna, Austria.
The Michaelertrakt (Michael's Wing) of the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) was designed by renowned Austrian architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach in 1726, but not actually constructed until 1889-1893. The fountain, called "Power on Land," is on the right.
The "Power at Sea" fountain, one of two that grace the front of the Michaelertrakt (Michael's Wing) of the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in Vienna, Austria.
The Amalienburg section of the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in Vienna, Austria. Of note is the small domed tower with an astronomical clock. The statue honors Holy Roman Emperor Francis II (r. 1792-1806), who was also Austrian Emperor Francis I (r. 1804-1835), thus making him the only double emperor in history.
The Hofburg area of Vienna, Austria, has been a documented seat of government since 1279. The Schweizertor (Swiss Gate, built 1552), opens into the Alte Burg, the oldest section of the Hofburg.
The Karlskirche (St. Charles Borromeo Church) in Vienna, Austria, built between 1716 and 1737, is a Baroque masterpiece. Its architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, sought to fuse elements and ideas from the most significant churches in Europe, including the Pantheon and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople, les Invalides in Paris, and St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
The unique Ankeruhr (Anker Clock) was built by the Anker Insurance Company in 1914 and forms a bridge between two buildings overlooking the oldest square in Vienna, Austria. The square is part of Vienna’s historic city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Art Nouveau-style Ankeruhr is adorned with mosaic ornaments and 12 historical figures that move across the bridge every 12 hours. At noon, all the figures parade to music. The work was commissioned as a contribution to the city’s art and culture but also as a subtle reminder of the importance of life insurance, with allegorical motifs representing the passage of time and the transience of human existence.
Entrance to the church Maria am Gestade (St. Mary on the Strand) in Vienna, Austria. First mentioned in documents from 1158, the present structure (built between 1394 and 1414) is one of the city's oldest buildings and one of its few surviving examples of Gothic architecture.
The Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) in Vienna, Austria, flanks the Maria Theresia Monument. Opened in 1889, it is one of the most important museums in the world, housing specimens of now-extinct species.
The United Nations Office in Vienna, Austria, is one of four major UN office sites around the world (the others are in New York, Geneva, and Nairobi). The complex, completed in 1979, is composed of six Y-shaped office towers surrounding a cylindrical conference building.
Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria served as the summer residence of the Austrian imperial family from the middle of the 18th century to the end of World War I. The Palace is the most popular tourist destination in Vienna. The 1,400-room building served as the imperial summer residence beginning in the mid-18th century. In 1996, UNESCO added the palace and its gardens to its World Heritage List.
The Gloriette -- a term for a garden building on an elevated site -- in the palace park of Schoenbrunn in Vienna, Austria, is the largest and best known of all gloriettes worldwide.
A peacock in the Tiergarten Schoenbrunn (Zoo) in Vienna, Austria. Founded originally as an imperial menagerie in 1752 on the grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace, the Tiergarten was opened to the public in 1778 and is today the oldest zoo in the world.
The massive Palmenhaus is the most prominent of four greenhouses on the grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace. Opened in 1882, it is among the largest botanical exhibits of its kind in the world, housing some 4,500 species (most tropical).
The Kursalon is a neo-Renaissance spa pavilion located in the Wiener Stadtpark (Vienna City Park) in Vienna, Austria. The spa, with healing mineral waters, opened in 1867 and is still a popular place for concerts, dancing, club meetings, and congresses.
View showing the original aboveground Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Karlsplatz city rail pavilion in Vienna, Austria, as well as the present-day underground subway entrance. Vienna's first rail mass-transit system opened in 1898; in 1976, it was integrated into the newly established U-Bahn (metro).
The Secession Building in Vienna, Austria, was constructed in 1897-98 and was meant to be an "architectural manifesto" and exhibit hall for the Secession artists of Vienna -- painters, architects, and sculptors who had rejected the artistic establishment. Secession style became a branch of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau).
The Looshaus in Vienna, Austria, is a quintessential example of Wiener Moderne (Vienna Modern Age) architecture (ca. 1890-1910), which eschewed external ornamentation. Upon completion in 1910, it initially shocked Vienna's citizenry, who referred to it as the "house without eyebrows."
Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross) Abbey in the eponymous village in the southern Vienna Woods in Austria dates back to 1133; it is the oldest continuously occupied Cistercian monastery in the world.
Hohensalzburg Castle overlooks the city of Salzburg, Austria. Roughly 250 m long and 150 m wide, it was originally built as a smaller wooden fortress in 1077 and is now one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Europe.
The 17th century baroque cathedral in Salzburg, Austria, dedicated to St. Rupert. The missionary saint promoted the salt mines around the ruined old Roman settlement of Juvavum, made the site his base for spreading the gospel, and renamed the place Salzburg (literally "salt castle" in German).
Hallstatt is a picturesque town on the shores of Hallstaetter See in the Austrian Alps, and it is a UN World Heritage Site. A funicular in the town takes visitors to the bluff above the city, from which this "aerial" photo was taken.
Born in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeu Mozart’s Geburtshaus (German for “birthplace”) is located at No. 9 Getreidegasse (pictured) in the historic center of Salzburg, Austria, a UNESCO Heritage site. Considered one of the greatest composers of Western music, Mozart excelled in all the music genres of his time and died when he was only 35. The house was turned into a museum in 1880 and today displays Mozart’s first musical instruments, portraits, and early editions of his music. The museum is a favorite destination for classical music enthusiasts worldwide.
Close up of the Pallas Athena fountain (completed 1902) before the Parliament Building in Vienna, Austria.

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Austria Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Kami A. WITMER (since 20 January 2025)

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/

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)

This is the population pyramid for Austria. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

47 20 N, 13 20 E

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.)

Heliports

105 (2024)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Area - comparative

about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania

about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania

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

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.

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

Population below poverty line

14.8% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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

Exports - commodities

cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, plastic products, electricity (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 28%, US 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 5% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Agricultural products

milk, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, grapes, triticale, apples (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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

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

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, gold, garments, broadcasting equipment (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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

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.)

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%

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs

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)

Industries

construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism

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

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

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.)

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)

legislative structure: bicameral

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

National holiday

National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955)

Nationality

noun: Austrian(s)

adjective: Austrian

Natural resources

oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower

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

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

Pipelines

1,888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017)

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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)

Terrain

mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

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

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Irrigated land

382 sq km (2016)

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

Internet users

percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.at

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)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$511.685 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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.

Total renewable water resources

77.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2020)

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

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)

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.)

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

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Austria. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

1.975 million VIENNA (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

5.29 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

7.3 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.7 years (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

79% (2019)

note: percent of women aged 16-49

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.1

youth dependency ratio: 21.7

elderly dependency ratio: 29.4

potential support ratio: 3.4 (2021 est.)

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

Population distribution

the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

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

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.)

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

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

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

Imports - partners

Germany 40%, Italy 7%, Czechia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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)

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Elevation

highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m

mean elevation: 910 m

Current health expenditure

11.5% of GDP (2020)

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 deployments

170 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 290 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

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

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.)

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.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 10.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

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.)

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)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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)

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

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.74 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.7% (2023 est.)

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

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

Space agency/agencies

Aerospace Agency (established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2024)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 3

global geoparks and regional networks: Ore of the Alps; Styrian Eisenwurzen; Karawanken/Karavanke (includes Slovenia) (2023)

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: 46.7%

Labor force

4.829 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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

Net migration rate

3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 44.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 43.6 years

female: 46.3 years

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

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

Waterways

358 km (2011)

Public debt

74.92% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)

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)

Unemployment rate

5.24% (2023 est.)
4.99% (2022 est.)
6.46% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 8,967,982

male: 4,392,898

female: 4,575,084 (2024 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.)

Area

total : 83,871 sq km

land: 82,445 sq km

water: 1,426 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

26.19% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

Roadways

total: 126,233 km (2022)

Airports

61 (2024)

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 11.1 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

30.7 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.81% (2023 est.)
8.55% (2022 est.)
2.77% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

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

Real GDP per capita

$65,000 (2023 est.)
$66,300 (2022 est.)
$63,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 2.71 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 26.4% (2020 est.)

male: 27.7% (2020 est.)

female: 25% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

123.11 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

9.3 births/1,000 population (2024 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.)

Merchant marine

total: 1 (2023)

by type: other 1

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

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

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3.604 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2023 est.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.1 years

female: 85.4 years

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.99% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 6,123 km (2022) 3,523 km electrified

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

Revenue from forest resources

0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.3% (2024 est.)

Sources: