2015 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

land

82,445 sq km

total

83,871 sq km

water

1,426 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

452.4 cu m/yr (2008)

total

3.66 cu km/yr (18%/79%/3%)

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

1,170 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (8)

Czech Republic 402 km, Germany 801 km, Hungary 321 km, Italy 404 km, Liechtenstein 34 km, Slovakia 105 km, Slovenia 299 km, Switzerland 158 km

total

2,524 km

Land use

arable land 16.5%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 21.1%

agricultural land

38.4%

forest

47.2%

other

14.4% (2011 est.)

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

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

Total renewable water resources

77.7 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

14.05% (male 622,856/female 594,349)

15-24 years

11.55% (male 510,614/female 490,390)

25-54 years

42.98% (male 1,861,777/female 1,862,705)

55-64 years

12.51% (male 535,691/female 548,022)

65 years and over

18.92% (male 706,288/female 932,858) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

9.41 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69.6%

note

percent of women aged 18-46 (2008/09)

Death rate

9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

28%

potential support ratio

3.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.2%

youth dependency ratio

21.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2011)

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)

Health expenditures

11% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

3.82 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in South Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.15 years (2015 est.)

male

78.76 years

total population

81.39 years

Major urban areas - population

VIENNA (capital) 1.753 million (2015)

Median age

female

44.6 years (2015 est.)

male

42.5 years

total

43.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Austrian

noun

Austrian(s)

Net migration rate

5.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.1% (2014)

Physicians density

4.83 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

8,665,550 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.55% (2015 est.)

Religions

Catholic 73.8% (includes Roman Catholic 73.6%, other Catholic .2%), Protestant 4.9%, Muslim 4.2%, Orthodox 2.2%, other 0.8% (includes other Christian), none 12%, unspecified 2% (2001 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

8.7% (2012 est.)

male

8.8%

total

8.7%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

66% of total population (2015)

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

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)

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934 (authoritarian-corporate constitution), replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation; latest reinstated 1 May 1945 (1920 constitution with 1929 revisions); amended many times, last in 2008 (2013)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Austria

conventional short form

Austria

local long form

Republik Oesterreich

local short form

Oesterreich

note

the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" or "eastern march" and dates back to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria, and in fact of all the Germans; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alexa Lange WESNER (since 22 October 2013)

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna

FAX

[43] (1) 3100682

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 Hans Peter MANZ (since 2 December 2011)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750

telephone

[1] (202) 895-6700

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 reelected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 79.3%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ (FPOe) 15.2%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.4%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor

head of government

Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner

Government type

federal republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve 5- or 6-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 27.1%, OeVP 23.8%, FPOe 21.4%, Greens 11.5%, Team Stronach 5.8%, NEOS 4.8%, other 5.6%; seats by party - SPOe 53, OeVP 46, FPOe 42, Greens 22; Team Stronach 11, NEOS 9

elections

National Council - last held on 29 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)

name

"Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)

note

adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; a gendered version of the lyrics was adopted by the Austrian Parliament in fall 2011 and became effective 1 January 2012

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]

Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Reinhold MITTERLEHNER]

Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER]

Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]

The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]

NEOS - The New Austria [Matthias STROLZ]

Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]

"Team Stronach" [Frank STRONACH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic)

Federal Economic Chamber (OeVP-dominated)

Labor Chamber or AK (Social Democratic-leaning think tank)

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$228.6 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$218.1 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.1% (31 December 2014 est.)

2.21% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$7.967 billion (2014 est.)

$11.25 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$820 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$812 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.3 (2007)

31 (1995)

Economy - overview

Austria, with its well-developed market economy, skilled labor force, and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Its economy features a large service sector, a relatively sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Economic growth was anemic at less than 0.5% in 2013 and 2014, and growth in 2015 is not expected to exceed 0.5%. Austria’s 5.6% unemployment rate, while low by European standards, is at an historic high for Austria. Without extensive vocational training programs and generous early retirement, the unemployment rate would be even higher. Public finances have not stabilized even after a 2012 austerity package of expenditure cuts and new revenues. On the contrary, in 2014, the government created a “bad bank” for the troubled nationalized “Hypo Alpe Adria” bank, pushing the budget deficit up by 0.9% of GDP to 2.4% and public debt to 84.5% of the GDP. Although Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries, it faces several external risks, such as Austrian banks' continued exposure to Central and Eastern Europe, repercussions from the Hypo Alpe Adria bank collapse, political and economic uncertainties caused by the European sovereign debt crisis, the current crisis in Russia/Ukraine, the recent appreciation of the Swiss Franc, and political developments in Hungary.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$170.1 billion (2014 est.)

$167.3 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 30.4%, Italy 6.5%, France 5%, US 4.7%, Switzerland 4.5%, Slovakia 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

56.4%

government consumption

19.5%

household consumption

55%

imports of goods and services

-52.1%

investment in fixed capital

21.1%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.3%

industry

28.4%

services

70.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$46,400 (2014 est.)

$46,300 (2013 est.)

$46,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.)

0.2% (2013 est.)

0.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$437.1 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$395.5 billion (2014 est.)

$394.1 billion (2013 est.)

$393.3 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

25% of GDP (2014 est.)

23.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22% (2011 est.)

lowest 10%

4%

Imports

$172.5 billion (2014 est.)

$173.8 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 41.9%, Italy 6.5%, Switzerland 4.6%, Czech Republic 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2014 est.)

2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3.86 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

5.5%

industry

26%

services

68.5% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$106 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$82.37 billion (31 December 2011)

$67.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

4.2% (2013 est.)

Public debt

84.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

80.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$23.29 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$428.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$439.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$365.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$346.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$300.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$286.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$539.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$559.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$222.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$225.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

50% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.6% (2014 est.)

5.4% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

66.68 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

157,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

20,240 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

48.5 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

69.01 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

17.69 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

20.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

67.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

24.96 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

22.36 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

68.02 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

8.2 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

3.973 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

10.41 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.297 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.656 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

263,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

50,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

117,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

191,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

Austria's public broadcaster, Osterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), was the main broadcast source until commercial radio and TV service was introduced in the 1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German TV stations (2008)

Internet country code

.at

Internet users

percent of population

83.7% (2014 est.)

total

7.2 million

Radio broadcast stations

FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

highly developed and efficient

international

country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

3.27 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

150 (2014 est.)

total

13 million

Television broadcast stations

9 (2010)

Airports

52 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

4

over 3,047 m

1

total

24

under 914 m

13 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

24 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

28

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

3 (Cyprus 1, Kazakhstan 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 4,736 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna (Danube)

Railways

standard gauge

5,267.7 km 1.435-m gauge (3,556.4 km electrified) (2014)

total

5,267.7 km

Roadways

paved

124,508 km (includes 1,719 km of expressways) (2012)

total

124,508 km

Waterways

358 km (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,910,434 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,941,110

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,554,130 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,579,862

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

45,752 (2010 est.)

male

48,108

Military branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military expenditures

0.55% of GDP (2015 projected)

0.62% of GDP (2014)

0.63% of GDP (2013)

0.68% of GDP (2012)

0.7% of GDP (2011)

Military service age and obligation

registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service (6 months), or optionally, alternative civil/community service (9-12 months); males 18 to 50 years old in the militia or inactive reserve are subject to compulsory service; in a January 2012 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system (2015)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

11,906 (Afghanistan); 19,577 (Russia) (2014)

stateless persons

570 (2014)