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. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. 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. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
`

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 country comparison to the world: 113 land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly smaller than Maine`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 2,562 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 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: |  |
`in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 16.59% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 82.56% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`40 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`84 cu km (2005)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%) per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`landslides; avalanches; earthquakes`
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`
Environment - international agreements: |  |

`
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
`

Geography - note: |  |
`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`

People

Population: |  |
`8,217,280 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 14% (male 590,855/female 563,300) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,793,725/female 2,769,840) 65 years and over: 18.2% (male 627,456/female 872,104) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 43 years male: 41.9 years female: 44 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.034% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Birth rate: |  |
`8.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 215`
Death rate: |  |
`10.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 54`
Net migration rate: |  |
`1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 68% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`VIENNA (capital) 1.693 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 195 male: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 79.78 years country comparison to the world: 32 male: 76.87 years female: 82.84 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.4 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`15,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)`
Religions: |  |
`Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)`
Languages: |  |
`German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA female: NA`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`5.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 47`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich`
Government type: |  |
`federal 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`
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: |  |
`12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)`
National holiday: |  |
`National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality`
Constitution: |  |
`1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER reelected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 79.33%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ 15.24%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.43%
note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially-open party lists)
elections: National Council - last held on 28 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2013)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%; seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20; note - seats by party since 2010 - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 39, BZOe 16, Greens 20
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Josef PROELL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |

`
Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; Labor Chamber or AK (Social Democratic-leaning think tank); OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights
`

International organization participation: |  |

`
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
`

Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Christian PROSL chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador William C. EACHO III embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 FAX: [43] (1) 3100682`
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 anthem: |  |

`
name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)
lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
note: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on 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 now associated with the Nazi regime
`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Following several years of solid foreign demand for Austrian exports and record employment growth, the international financial crisis and global economic downturn in 2008 led to a sharp but brief recession. Austrian GDP contracted 3.9% in 2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010. Unemployment has not risen as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly because its government has subsidized reduced working hour schemes to allow companies to retain employees. Stabilization measures, stimulus spending, and an income tax reform pushed the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP in 2009 and 4.7% in 2010, from only about 1.3% in 2008. The international financial crisis caused difficulties for Austria's largest banks whose extensive operations in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe faced large losses. The government provided bank support - including in some instances, nationalization - to prevent insolvency and possible contagion. In the medium-term all large Austrian banks will need additional capital. Even after the global economic outlook improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encourage greater labor flexibility and labor participation to offset growing unemployment and Austria's aging population and low fertility rate.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$332 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $325.6 billion (2009 est.) $338.8 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$376.8 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 -3.9% (2009 est.) 2.2% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$40,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $39,700 (2009 est.) $41,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1.5% industry: 29.4% services: 69.1% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`3.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 5.5% industry: 27.5% services: 67% (2009 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 4.8% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`6% (2008)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 22% (2007)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`26 (2007) country comparison to the world: 129 31 (1995)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`21% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $172.1 billion expenditures: $189.4 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`70.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 67.5% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 0.5% (2009 est.)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`4.82% (30 November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 5.03% (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |

`
$173.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$175.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
`

Stock of broad money: |  |
`$402.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $402.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$659.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $606.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$118 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 37 $107.2 billion (31 December 2009) $72.3 billion (31 December 2008)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`grains, potatoes, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber`
Industries: |  |
`construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
Electricity - production: |  |
`68.85 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`65.67 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`18.76 billion kWh (2009 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`19.54 billion kWh (2009 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`21,880 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`247,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50`
Oil - exports: |  |
`50,410 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77`
Oil - imports: |  |
`273,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`89 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`1.58 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 60`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`8.13 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 52`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`3.961 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`9.46 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 23`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`24.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75`
Current account balance: |  |
`$9.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $11.1 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$157.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $130.3 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Germany 30.96%, Italy 8.17%, Switzerland 4.99%, US 3.99% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$156 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $135.6 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Germany 45.07%, Switzerland 6.76%, Italy 6.66%, Netherlands 4.03% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$21.89 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $18.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$755 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 17 $864.2 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$154 billion (30 September 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $144.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$154.1 billion (30 September 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $146.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.7198 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`3.253 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 47`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`11.773 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 59`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, was the main broadcast source until commercial radio and television service was introduced in the 1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German TV stations (2008)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.at`
Internet hosts: |  |
`3.266 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 29`
Internet users: |  |
`6.143 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 43`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`55 (2010) country comparison to the world: 85`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 14 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 26 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`1 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 3,028 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 6,399 km country comparison to the world: 29 standard gauge: 5,927 km 1.435-m gauge (3,853 km electrified) narrow gauge: 384 km 1.000-m gauge (15 km electrified); 88 km 0.760-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 107,262 km country comparison to the world: 39 paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,696 km of expressways) (2006)`
Waterways: |  |
`358 km (2011) country comparison to the world: 90`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 2 country comparison to the world: 141 by type: cargo 2 registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male and female voluntary service; service obligation 6 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation; conscripts cannot be deployed in military operations outside Austria (2009)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,941,110 females age 16-49: 1,910,434 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,579,862 females age 16-49: 1,554,130 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 48,108 female: 45,752 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`0.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 146`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011