2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

55 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

25

under 914 m

15 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

26 (2006)

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. 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 Monetary Union in 1999. Geography Austria

Birth rate

8.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$161.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$155.9 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

48 12 N, 16 22 E

name

Vienna

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 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

Current account balance

$5.913 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$593.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Susan R. McCAW

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[43] (1) 31339-0

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035

chief of mission

Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY

telephone

[1] (202) 895-6700

Disputes - international

Austrian anti-nuclear activists have revived blockades of the Czech-Austrian border to protest operation of the Temelin nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31 (2002)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $681 million (2004)

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 Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. 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. The outgoing government has successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government, creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location, and implementing effective pension reforms; however, lower taxes in 2005-2006 have lead to a small budget deficit in 2006. Weak domestic consumption and slow growth in Europe have held the economy to growth rates below 3% in 2002-05. Due to higher growth across Europe, Austrian grew 3.3 percent in 2006. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging population.

Electricity - consumption

64.07 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

13.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

16.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

65.56 billion kWh (2004)

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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%

elections

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

head of government

Chancellor Alfred GUSENBAUER (SPOe) (since 11 January 2007); Vice Chancellor Wilhelm MOLTERE (OeVP) (since 11 January 2007)

note

government coalition - SPOe and OeVP

Exports

$144.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 31.2%, Italy 8.7%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 5.2%, France 4.2% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750

[43] (1) 3100682

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

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

1.8%

industry

30.4%

services

67.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$34,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$309.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$279.5 billion (2006 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 (2006)

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

highest 10%

22.5% (2004)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$138.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 45.9%, Italy 6.6%, Switzerland 4.5% (2005)

Independence

976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.at

Internet hosts

2,062,035 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

37 (2000)

Internet users

4.65 million (2005) Transportation Austria

Investment (gross fixed)

21% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

3.52 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

27%

services

70% (2005 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

16.59%

other

82.56% (2005)

permanent crops

0.85%

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 chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to its population; 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 - SPOe 35.3%, OeVP 34.3%, Greens 11.1%, FPOe 11.0%, BZOe 4.1%; seats by party - SPOe 68, OeVP 66, Greens 21, FPOe 21, BZOe 7

elections

National Council - last held 1 October 2006 (next scheduled for the fall of 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.11 years (2006 est.)

male

76.17 years

total population

79.07 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

females age 18-49

1,870,134 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,914,800

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,515,365 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,550,441

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

46,633 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

48,967

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

42 years (2006 est.)

male

39.8 years

total

40.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 6, container 2

foreign-owned

2 (Netherlands 2)

registered in other countries

14 (Liberia 13, Malta 1) (2006)

total

8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,072 GRT/44,437 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 eight months to six (2005)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Austrian

noun

Austrian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

8.981 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports

1.324 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

8.407 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.963 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves

15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

282,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

30,140 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

152,600 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

25,360 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

84.3 million bbl (2004)

Pipelines

gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Peter WESENTHALER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERE]; 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 Social Democratic) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; 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

8,192,880 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.9% (2004)

Population growth rate

0.09% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna Military Austria

Public debt

63% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

6.08 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

21 km 1.000-m gauge; 422 km 0.760-m gauge (109 km electrified) (2005)

standard gauge

5,568 km 1.435-m gauge (3,427 km electrified)

total

6,011 km

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

$8.413 billion (August 2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003)

total

133,718 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

there are 45 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 - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.705 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.16 million (2005)

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 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2006 est.)

Waterways

358 km (2003)