2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.2% (male 678,944; female 646,390) 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 2,827,736; female 2,768,480) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 490,979; female 775,678) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Airports

55 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3

total

24

under 914 m

14 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

27 (2002)

Area

land

82,738 sq km

total

83,858 sq km

water

1,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

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. This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999. Geography Austria

Birth rate

9.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$54 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$53 billion

Capital

Vienna

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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

Currency

euro (EUR)

note

on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Death rate

9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$12.1 billion (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035

chief of mission

Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Disputes - international

minor disputes with Czech Republic and Slovenia continue over nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31 (1995)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $410 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slowing growth in Germany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to only 1.2% growth in 2001, 0.6% in 2002, and 0.8% in 2003.. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden. A key issue is the encouragement of much greater participation in the labor market by its ageing population.

Electricity - consumption

54.85 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

14.25 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

14.47 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

58.75 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

29.3%

hydro

67.2%

nuclear

0%

other

3.5% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Grossglockner 3,798 m

lowest point

Neusiedler See 115 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-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

German 88%, non-nationals 9.3% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), naturalized 2% (includes those who have lived in Austria at least three generations)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999), 12.38 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor

chief of state

President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)

election results

Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%

elections

president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in the spring of 2004); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor

head of government

Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October 2003)

note

government coalition - OeVP and FPOe

Exports

$70 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK 4.9%, France 4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750

[43] (1) 5125835

telephone

[1] (202) 895-6700

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Austria

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $227.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2%

industry

33%

services

65% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2002 est.)

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 People Austria

Government type

federal republic

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Austria

Highways

paved

200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways)

total

200,000 km

unpaved

0 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.5% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$74 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Germany 42.6%, Italy 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Switzerland 4.8%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)

Independence

1156 (from Bavaria)

Industrial production growth rate

3.8% (2001 est.)

Industries

construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

4.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.at

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

37 (2000)

Internet users

3.7 million (2002) Transportation Austria

Irrigated land

457 sq km (2000 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

4.3 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

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

total

2,562 km

Land use

arable land

16.89%

other

82.12% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.99%

Languages

German

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.9%, FPOe 10.2%, Greens 9%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 19, Greens 16

elections

National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.48 years (2003 est.)

male

75.02 years

total population

78.17 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government Austria

male

NA%

total population

98%

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

40.7 years (2002)

male

38.2 years

total

39.4 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 4, container 1 (2002 est.)

total

5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 27,551 GRT/34,225 DWT

Military branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.497 billion (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (FY01/02) Transnational Issues Austria

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,093,821 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,725,123 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

49,090 (2003 est.)

National holiday

National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Nationality

adjective

Austrian

noun

Austrian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

403 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

24.9 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

35,470 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

262,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

85.69 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 2,722 km; oil 687 km; refined products 149 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Herbert HAUPT]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens Alternative or GA [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Population

8,188,207 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.22% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 160 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

6.08 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 424 km 0.760-m gauge (89 km electrified) (2002)

standard gauge

5,566 km 1.435-m gauge (3,524 km electrified)

total

6,024 km (3,641 km electrified)

Religions

Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections

Telephone system

domestic

there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available

general assessment

highly developed and efficient

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

4 million (consisting of 3,600,000 analog main lines plus 400,000 Integrated Services Digital Network connections); in addition, there are 100,000 Asymmetric Digital Services lines (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations

45 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

4.25 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.8% (2002 est.)

Waterways

358 km (1999)