2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 83,870 sq km land: 82,444 sq km water: 1,426 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

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)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%) per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)

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 (2003)

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

Land use

arable land: 16.59% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 82.56% (2005)

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

84 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 621,326/female 592,131) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,783,531/female 2,753,389) 65 years and over: 17.7% (male 599,415/female 855,741) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

8.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2005)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.36 years male: 76.46 years female: 82.41 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA female: NA

Median age

total: 41.7 years male: 40.7 years female: 42.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian

Net migration rate

1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

8,205,533 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.064% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

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: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

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

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

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David F. GIRARD-DICARLO embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Andreas Riecken chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700

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 Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor 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 in 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 election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6% note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP

FAX

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

[43] (1) 3100682

Flag description

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

Government type

federal republic

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), 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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; 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 five-year terms) elections: National Council - last held 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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Stefan PETZNER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERER]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; 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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $177.5 billion expenditures: $179.9 billion (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.3% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$12.03 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$752.5 billion (30 June 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.498 billion (2006)

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 and creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location. It has implemented effective pension reforms; however, lower taxes in 2005-06 led to a small budget deficit in 2006 and 2007. Boosted by strong exports, growth nevertheless reached 3.3% in both 2006 and 2007, although the economy may slow in 2008 because of the strong euro, high oil prices, and problems in international financial markets. To meet increased competition - especially from new EU members and Central European countries - 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

62.35 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

15.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

22.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

59.31 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0% other: 3.5% (2001)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

Exports

$162.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 29.8%, Italy 8.8%, US 4.9%, Switzerland 4.3% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.6% industry: 30.3% services: 68% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$39,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$373.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$322 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)

Imports

$160.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 45.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

3.566 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services: 70% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$126.3 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption

8.436 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

2.767 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

9.658 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.848 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

289,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

46,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

313,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

24,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.9% (2004)

Public debt

59.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$18.22 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$208.1 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$222.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$599.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money

NA

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.at

Internet hosts

2.806 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

37 (2000)

Internet users

4.277 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

6.08 million (1997)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.374 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.768 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

4.25 million (1997)

Airports

55 (2007)

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: 3 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 26 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 4 by type: cargo 2, container 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Railways

total: 6,383 km standard gauge: 5,924 km 1.435-m gauge (3,772 km electrified) narrow gauge: 371 km 1.000-m gauge; 88 km 0.760-m gauge (25 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways

358 km (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,986,411 females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,617,385 females age 16-49: 1,583,886 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 50,869 female: 48,246 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 7 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2006)

Disputes - international

while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008