2020 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. Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, and the victorious Allies then occupied the country in 1945. As a result, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade after World War II, until 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. Austria joined the EU in 1995, but the obligation to remain neutral kept it from joining NATO, although the country became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1995. 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

highest point

Grossglockner 3,798 m

lowest point

Neusiedler See 115 m

mean elevation

910 m

Geographic coordinates

47 20 N, 13 20 E

Geography - note

note 1: 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 note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers

Irrigated land

382 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

agricultural land

31.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 14.7% (2023 est.)

forest

47.2% (2023 est.)

other

20.9% (2023 est.)

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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

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

14.1% (male 648,639/female 616,334)

15-64 years

64.7% (male 2,904,587/female 2,898,339)

65 years and over

21.2% (2024 est.) (male 839,672/female 1,060,411)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

6.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

11.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.5 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

3.1 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

54.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.8 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.9% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.66 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

12.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.4 years

male

80.1 years

total population

82.7 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.975 million VIENNA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

46.3 years

male

43.6 years

total

44.5 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.7 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Austrian

noun

Austrian(s)

Net migration rate

4.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.1% (2016)

Physician density

5.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

4,702,588

male

4,471,802

total

9,174,390 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.28% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 55.2%, Muslim 8.3%, Orthodox 4.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.8%, Jewish 0.1%, other 5.4%, none 22.4% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2023 est.)

male

16 years (2023 est.)

total

16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

18.3% (2025 est.)

male

21.1% (2025 est.)

total

19.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.35 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

59.5% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the name may have evolved from the Roman name Vindobona, which was taken from the Celtic words vindo (white) and bona (fort)

geographic coordinates

48 12 N, 16 22 E

name

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

amendment process

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 and the presence of one-half of the members; 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

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Austria

conventional short form

Austria

etymology

the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria and the German peoples; 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 Art FISHER (since 19 November 2025)

email address and website

ConsulateVienna@state.gov https://at.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna

FAX

[43] (1) 31339 2017

mailing address

9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC 20521-9900

telephone

[43] (1) 31339 0

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035

chief of mission

Ambassador Petra SCHNEEBAUER (since 19 APRIL 2023)

consulate(s)

Chicago

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

washington-ob@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 895-6750

telephone

[1] (202) 895-6700

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the chancellor and appointed by the president

chief of state

President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017)

election results

2022: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN reelected in first round; percent of vote - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent) 56.7%, Walter ROSENKRANZ (FPO) 17.7%, Dominik WLAZNY (Beer Party) 8.3%, Tassilo WALLENTIN (independent) 8.1%, Gerald GROSZ (independent) 5.6% 2016: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert 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%, Norbert HOFER 46.2%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); 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

expected date of next election

2028

head of government

Chancellor Christian STOCKER (since 3 March 2025)

most recent election date

9 October 2022

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red history: one of the oldest national flags in the world; according to tradition, after a fierce battle in the Third Crusade in 1191, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became blood-spattered; when his sash was removed, a white band was revealed, and the red-white-red color combination was 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, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, 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; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Parlament)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Council (Nationalrat)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

September 2029

most recent election date

9/29/2024

number of seats

183 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Freedom Party (FPÖ) (57); People's Party (ÖVP) (51); Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) (41); NEOS (“New Austria”) (18); Greens (16)

percentage of women in chamber

35.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Federal Council (Bundesrat)

number of seats

60 (all indirectly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

People's Party (OVP) (22); Social Democratic Party (SPO) (18); Freedom Party (16); Greens (3); NEOS (New Austria) (1)

percentage of women in chamber

46.7%

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1947; Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which Germany had appropriated in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; the Austrian Federal Assembly adopted a gender-neutral version of the lyrics in 2012

lyrics/music

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

title

"Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n)

total World Heritage Sites

12 (11 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian

Political parties

Austrian People's Party or OeVP  Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe  The Greens - The Green Alternative  NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum  Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe 

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, grapes, triticale, soybeans (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

10.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$241.516 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$231.132 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$3.911 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$6.783 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$12.642 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

one of the strongest EU and euro economies; diversified trade portfolios and relations; enormous trade economy; Russian energy dependence, but investing in alternative energy; aging labor force but large refugee population; large government debt

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$291.804 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$303.914 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$299.366 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, nitrogen compounds (2023)

Exports - partners

Germany 25%, USA 9%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

59.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.5% (2023 est.)

household consumption

52.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-57.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.2% (2024 est.)

industry

23.1% (2024 est.)

services

65.3% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$521.642 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

30.9 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.6% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

2.8% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$294.324 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$293.692 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$284.467 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, garments, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 34%, China 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Czechia 4% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.5% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Labor force

4.768 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.8% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

78.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$593.701 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$588.031 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$581.131 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-1.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$65,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$64,400 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$63,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$33.078 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$31.212 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$35.406 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

12% (2024 est.)

male

11.4% (2024 est.)

total

11.7% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

5.403 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

4.179 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

1.288 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

64.611 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

21.631 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

21.55 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

33.371 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.095 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

56.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

120.211 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

6.971 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

7.084 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

548.976 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

5.04 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

35.2 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

244,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2023 est.)

total

2.71 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

public broadcaster, Oesterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), is a major player in the TV and radio markets; private broadcasters, cable, and satellite TV are available in most homes are widely used; some German stations carry programs for Austrian viewers; national and regional newspapers compete fiercely for readers; the print media are owned by a handful of mostly Austrian and German media groups (2023)

Internet country code

.at

Internet users

percent of population

95% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

3.48 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

11.4 million (2024 est.)

Airports

62 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OE

Heliports

112 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

other 1

total

1 (2023)

Railways

total

6,123 km (2022) 3,523 km electrified

Military - note

the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2025)

Military and security forces

Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer): Land Forces, Air Force, Cyber Forces, Special Operations Forces, Militia (reserves) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 22,000 active Armed Forces (includes about 14,000 regular troops and around 8,000 reservists/militia undergoing refresher training) (2025)

Military deployments

210 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 100 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from European countries and the US; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; men above the age of 18 are subject to compulsory military service; women may volunteer; compulsory service is for 6 months, or optionally, alternative civil/community service (Zivildienst) for 9 months (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

313,711 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

3,919 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1981 - became an associate ESA member (full member in 1987) 1991 - first Austrian in space on Soviet Mir Space Station 2013 - first domestically built science/technology (star observation) satellites (TUGSAT-1 and UniBRITE) launched by India 2017 - worked with China to produce world’s first quantum-encrypted satellite communications teleconference from Beijing to Vienna 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for cooperative space exploration

Space agency/agencies

Aeronautics and Space Agency (ALR; established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2025)

Space program overview

established a national space program in 2002; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including remote sensing and research/scientific satellites; member of the ESA; works closely with ESA and EU member states and the commercial sector to develop a range of space capabilities and technologies, including applications for satellite payloads, space flight, and space research; participates in a range of ESA/EU programs, including Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; also cooperates with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, India, Russia, and the US (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

10.527 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

13.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

33.036 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

56.959 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

some forest degradation from air and soil pollution; soil pollution from agricultural chemicals; air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants, and from trucks transiting Austria; water pollution

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Ore of the Alps; Styrian Eisenwurzen; Karawanken/Karavanke (includes Slovenia) (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

3

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection

Particulate matter emissions

10.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

77.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

124 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

2.21 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

34.36 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

5.22 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

36% (2022 est.)