2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 656,058/female 624,574) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,790,673/female 2,756,612) 65 years and over: 16.6% (male 543,626/female 813,148) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

55 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

24 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: 14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 27 (2004 est.)

Area

land

82,444 sq km

total

83,870 sq km

water

1,426 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. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Geography Austria

Birth rate

8.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$146.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$142.5 billion

Capital

Vienna

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

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 (code)

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; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the only legal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$-3.283 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$15.5 billion (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna

FAX

[43] (1) 3100682

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[43] (1) 31339-0, 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

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750

telephone

[1] (202) 895-6700

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31 (1995)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $520 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The economy features up-to-date industrial and agricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land area being forested. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. Slow growth in Europe has held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, 0.8% in 2003, and 1.9% in 2004. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encourage much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population. The aging phenomenon, together with already high health and pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfare policies.

Electricity - consumption

55.09 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

14.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

15.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

58.49 billion kWh (2002)

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-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

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)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)

election results

Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6% note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe

elections

president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); 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)

Exports

$102.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 32%, Italy 8.9%, US 6%, Switzerland 4.8%, France 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Austria

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.3%

industry

30.8%

services

66.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $31,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$255.9 billion (2004 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 (2004 est.) Military Austria

Highways

paved

200,000 km (including 1,645 km of expressways)

total

200,000 km

unpaved

0 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 46.3%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 4.3% (2004)

Independence

1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

5.74 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.at

Internet hosts

387,006 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

37 (2000)

Internet users

3.73 million (2003) Transportation Austria

Investment (gross fixed)

22.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

3.45 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67% (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

16.91%

other

82.23% (2001)

permanent crops

0.86%

Languages

German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)

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 (62 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a five- 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 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17; seating as of May 2005 after split

elections

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

within the Freedom Party

OeVP 79, SPOe 69, Greens 17, BZOe 11, FPOe 7

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.96 years (2005 est.)

male

76.03 years

total population

78.92 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,914,800 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,550,441 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

48,967 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

41.61 years (2005 est.)

male

39.3 years

total

40.44 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 6, container 2

foreign-owned

2 (Netherlands 2)

registered in other countries

19 (2005)

total

8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWT

Military branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.497 billion (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (2004) Transnational Issues Austria

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (June 2004)

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 (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but 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 and other non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

Population

8,184,691 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

3.9% (1999)

Population growth rate

0.11% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Public debt

64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

6.08 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km 0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2004)

standard gauge

5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified)

total

6,021 km (3,552 km electrified)

Religions

Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$12.73 billion (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

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

country code - 43; 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

3.881 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,094,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

10 (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

1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2004 est.)

Waterways

358 km (2003)