1997 Edition

Current issues

Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved nine-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azerbaijani refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.

Area

total : 83,850 sq km land: 82,730 sq km water : 1,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point : Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates

47 20 N, 13 20 E

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,564 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Land use

arable land: 17% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 39% other : 19% (1993 est.)

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 717,989; female 681,897) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,777,525; female 2,703,296) 65 years and over : 15% (male 464,802; female 786,996) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

10.17 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

10.05 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%

Infant mortality rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

German

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.15 years male : 73.96 years female: 80.51 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1974 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian

Net migration rate

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

8,132,505 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.02% (1997 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%

Sex ratio

at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.37 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

Constitution

1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Country name

conventional long form : Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich

Data code

AU

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone : [43] (1) 313-39

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK chancery : 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700

Executive branch

chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997); Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections : president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1998); chancellor chosen by the president from the majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Thomas KLESTIL elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

[43] (1) 310-0682

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Government type

federal republic

Independence

1156 (from Bavaria)

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC (observer), NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Legal system

civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (63 members; members represent each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Council - last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999) election results : National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats by party - SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, Greens 9, LF 10

National capital

Vienna

National holiday

National Day, 26 October (1955)

Political parties and leaders

Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Viktor KLIMA, chairman]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman]; Freedom Movement or FPOe (formerly the Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Joerg HAIDER, chairman]; Communist Party or KPOe [Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman]; The Greens [Madeleine PETROVIC]; Liberal Forum or LF [Heide SCHMIDT]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Federal Chamber of Trade and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections

Agriculture - products

grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets; cattle, pigs, poultry; sawn wood

Budget

revenues: $61.2 billion expenditures: $71 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen

Debt - external

$30.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $544 million (1993)

Economy - overview

Austria has a well-developed market economy with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry, an extensive social safety net, and a high standard of living. Austria's economy is closely integrated with Germany and other EU members - Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. EU membership has had a positive impact on foreign investment and has helped to lower inflation. In April 1996, the government passed a two-year austerity budget - including cuts in social allowances, a freeze on civil servants' wages, and new energy and capital gains taxes - designed to bring the economy in line with the Maastricht criteria for membership in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). EMU convergence has become a top priority for Austria. Despite Austria's generally favorable prospects, the economy faces a number of medium-term challenges; for example, fiscal tightening is constraining expected growth, and unemployment is expected to increase.

Electricity - capacity

17.43 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

5,960 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

56.5 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1 - 11.302 (January 1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992)

Exports

total value: $55.5 billion (1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products, chemicals partners: EU 64.8% (Germany 38.1%, Italy 8.1%), Eastern Europe 11.8%, Japan 1.6%, US 3.5% (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $157.6 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services : 70% (1994 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,700 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value : $65.8 billion (1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals partners: EU 68.4% (Germany 40%, Italy 8.8%), Eastern Europe 6.55%, Japan 4.3%, US 4.4% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

0.6% (1996 est.)

Industries

food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles

Inflation rate - consumer price index

1.8% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 3.648 million (1996) by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1% note : an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of labor force (1988)

Unemployment rate

6.2% (December 1996)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic: highly developed and efficient international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat

Telephones

3.47 million (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

47 (repeaters 870)

Televisions

2,418,584 (1984 est.)

Airports

55 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 51 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 41 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m : 4 (1996 est.)

Heliports

1 (1996 est.)

Highways

200,000 km paved: 200,000 km (including 1,596 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,623 GRT/116,682 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 22, combination bulk 2, container 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 km

Ports and harbors

Linz, Vienna

Railways

total : 5,624 km standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified) narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (86 km electrified) (1995)

Waterways

446 km

Military branches

Army (includes Flying Division)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.1 billion (1995)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (1995)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,107,905 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 1,754,823 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 46,298 (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ AZERBAIJAN