2018 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 EU 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

elevation extremes

115 m lowest point: Neusiedler See

mean elevation

910 m

note

3798 highest point: Grossglockner

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; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria’s other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution

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

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 (2012)

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% (2014 est.) / permanent crops: 0.8% (2014 est.) / permanent pasture: 21.1% (2014 est.)

agricultural land

38.4% (2014 est.)

forest

47.2% (2014 est.)

other

14.4% (2014 est.)

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

note

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

14% (male 630,739 /female 600,663)

15-24 years

10.82% (male 484,515 /female 467,064)

25-54 years

42.1% (male 1,851,209 /female 1,851,100)

55-64 years

13.63% (male 595,146 /female 603,249)

65 years and over

19.44% (male 743,174 /female 966,511) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

9.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

65.7% (2012/13)

note

percent of women aged 18-49

Death Rate

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

28.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

3.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.2 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic Groups

Austrian 84.2%, German 2.1% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Serbian 1.4%, Turkish 1.3%, Romanian 1.2%, Bosnian or Herzegovinian 1.1%, other 10.8% (2018 est.)

note

data represent population by nationality

Health Expenditures

11.2% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.1% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<100 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

7,400 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

84.5 years (2018 est.)

male

79 years (2018 est.)

total population

81.7 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.901 million VIENNA (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

45.4 years (2018 est.)

male

42.9 years

total

44.2 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

29 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Austrian

noun

Austrian(s)

Net Migration Rate

4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

20.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

5.23 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

8,793,370 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.42% (2018 est.)

Religions

Catholic 73.8% (includes Roman Catholic 73.6%, other Catholic 0.2%), Protestant 4.9%, Muslim 4.2%, Orthodox 2.2%, other 0.8% (includes other Christian), none 12%, unspecified 2% (2001 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)

total: 100% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

16 years (2015)

male

16 years (2015)

total

16 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.48 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

10.2% (2016 est.)

male

12.1% (2016 est.)

total

11.3% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.59% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

58.3% of total population (2018)

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

note

etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but may derive from earlier settlements of the area; a Celtic town of Vedunia, established about 500 B.C., came under Roman dominance aound 15 B.C. and became known as Vindobona; archeological remains of the latter survive at many sites in the center of Vienna

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly if one-half of the members are present; a referendum is required only if requested by one-third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended many times, last in 2014 (2016)

history

several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945 (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Austria

conventional short form

Austria

etymology

the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" or "eastern march" and dates 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

local long form

Republik Oesterreich

local short form

Oesterreich

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Trevor TRAINA (since 24 May 2018)

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna

FAX

[43] (1) 3100682

mailing address

Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090 Vienna, Austria

telephone

[43] (1) 31339-0

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035

chief of mission

Ambassador Wolfgang WALDNER (since 28 January 2016)

consulate(s)

Chicago

consulate(s) general

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 Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017)

election results

Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbet HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbet HOFER 46.2%

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); elections last held on 24 April 2016 (first round), 22 May 2016 (second round, which was annulled), and 4 December 2016 (second round re-vote) (next election to be held in April 2022); 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 Sebastian KURZ (since 18 December 2017); Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian STRACHE (since 18 December 2017)

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 parliamentary republic

Independence

no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic 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 courts

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:Federal Council or Bundesrat (61 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)National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Federal Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 42, women 19, percent of women 30.6% National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 31.5%, SPOe 26.9%, FPOe 26%, NEOS 5.3%, PILZ 4.4%, other 5.9%; seats by party - OeVP 62, SPOe 52, FPOe 51, NEOS 10, PILZ 8; composition - men 122, women 61, percent of women 33.3%; note - total Federal Assembly percent of women 32.7%

elections

Federal Council - appointedNational Council - last held on 15 October 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

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 by 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 Federal Assembly in fall 2011 and became effective 1 January 2012

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Sebastian KURZ]Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER]Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz-Christian STRACHE]The Greens [Werner KOGLER]NEOS - The New Austria [Matthias STROLZ]Pilz List or PILZ [Bruno ROSSMANN and Wolfgang ZINGGL]Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Christian KERN]

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

204.6 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

201.7 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

0% (31 December 2017)

0% (31 December 2010)

note

this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

1.57% (31 December 2017 est.)

1.86% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$7.859 billion (2017 est.)

$8.313 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$630.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$679.3 billion (31 March 2015 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

30.5 (2015)

30.5 (2014)

Economy Overview

Austria is a well-developed market economy with skilled labor force and high standard of living. It is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's, but also the US’, its third-largest trade partner. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector.Austrian economic growth strengthen in 2017, with a 2.9% increase in GDP. Austrian exports, accounting for around 60% of the GDP, were up 8.2% in 2017. Austria’s unemployment rate fell by 0.3% to 5.5%, which is low by European standards, but still at its second highest rate since the end of World War II, driven by an increased number of refugees and EU migrants entering the labor market.Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries. The budget deficit stood at a low 0.7% of GDP in 2017 and public debt declined again to 78.4% of GDP in 2017, after reaching a post-war high 84.6% in 2015. The Austrian government has announced it plans to balance the fiscal budget in 2019. Several external risks, such as Austrian banks' exposure to Central and Eastern Europe, the refugee crisis, and continued unrest in Russia/Ukraine, eased in 2017, but are still a factor for the Austrian economy. Exposure to the Russian banking sector and a deep energy relationship with Russia present additional risks.Austria elected a new pro-business government in October 2017 that campaigned on promises to reduce bureaucracy, improve public sector efficiency, reduce labor market protections, and provide positive investment incentives.

Exchange Rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.885 (2017 est.)

0.903 (2016 est.)

0.9214 (2015 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports

$156.7 billion (2017 est.)

$149.5 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, manufactured goods, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs

Exports Partners

Germany 29.4%, US 6.3%, Italy 6.2%, Switzerland 5.1%, France 4.8%, Slovakia 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

54.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

19.5% (2017 est.)

household consumption

52.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-50.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

1.3% (2017 est.)

industry

28.4% (2017 est.)

services

70.3% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$417.4 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$50,000 (2017 est.)

$49,000 (2016 est.)

$48,900 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$441 billion (2017 est.)

$428.1 billion (2016 est.)

$422 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3% (2017 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

1.1% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

27% of GDP (2017 est.)

26.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

25.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

23.5% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%

23.5% (2012 est.)

Imports

$158.1 billion (2017 est.)

$142.3 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

Germany 41.8%, Italy 5.8%, Switzerland 5.5%, Czech Republic 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

6.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2.2% (2017 est.)

1% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

4.26 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

0.7%

industry

25.2%

services

74.1% (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$96.08 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$96.79 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$117.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

3% (2017 est.)

Public Debt

78.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

83.6% of GDP (2016 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

$21.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$271.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$214 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$339.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$214.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$294.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$158.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$555.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$483.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$271.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$214 billion (31 December 2016 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

48.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

5.5% (2017 est.)

6% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

63.93 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

146,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

14,260 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

41.2 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

64.6 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

19.21 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

25% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

26.37 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

24.79 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

60.78 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

9.486 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

5.437 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

14.02 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

1.274 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

268,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

49,960 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

135,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

186,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2017 est.)

total

2,511,200 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

worldwide cable and satellite TV are available; the public incumbent ORF competes with three other major, several regional domestic, and up to 400 international TV stations; TV coverage is in principle 100%, but only 90% use broadcast media; Internet streaming not only complements, but increasingly replaces regular TV stations (2018)

Communications Note

the Austrian National Library contains important collections of the Imperial Library of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Empire, as well as of the Austrian Republic; among its more than 12 million items are outstanding holdings of rare books, maps, globes, papyrus, and music; its Globe Museum is the only one in the world

Internet Country Code

.at

Internet Users

percent of population

84.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

7,346,055 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

highly developed and efficient; 43 per 100 fixed-line, 170 per 100 mobile-cellular; (2017)

general assessment

mobile-cellular subscribership is everywhere; cable networks are very extensive, the fiber-optic net is being developed; all telephone applications and Internet services are accessible; broadband is available in all large municipalities; regulatory measures have pomoted the reality of 5G use for 2020 (2017)

international

country code - 43; earth stations available in the Astra, Intelsat, Eutelsat satellite systems (2018)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

3,762,801 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

170 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

14,924,340 (2017 est.)

Airports

52 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

5 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

4 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

24 (2017)

under 914 m

13 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2013)

total

28 (2013)

under 914 m

24 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

OE (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

351.379 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

14,718,641 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

130 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

11 (2015)

Pipelines

1888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017)

Ports And Terminals

river port(s)

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna (Danube)

Railways

standard gauge

5,300 km 1.435-m gauge (3,826 km electrified) (2016)

total

5,800 km (2017)

Roadways

paved

138,696 km (includes 2,208 km of expressways) (2016)

total

138,696 km (2016)

Waterways

358 km (2011)

Military Branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK) (2014)

Military Expenditures

0.58% of GDP (2018)

0.6% of GDP (2017)

0.68% of GDP (2016)

0.67% of GDP (2015)

0.75% of GDP (2014)

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 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)

43,888 (Syria), 26,939 (Afghanistan), 11,301 (Russia), 7,414 (Iraq) (2016)

stateless persons

1,003 (2017)