Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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.
This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural
identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse
of 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous
country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999. |
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Location:
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Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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47 20 N, 13 20 E |
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 83,858 sq km
water: 1,120 sq km
land: 82,738 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maine |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain
in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional
showers |
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Terrain:
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in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern
and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 16.89%
permanent crops: 0.99%
other: 82.12% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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457 sq km (2000 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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landslides; avalanches; earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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8,188,207 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 16.2% (male 678,944; female 646,390)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 2,827,736; female 2,768,480)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 490,979; female 775,678) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 39.4 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 40.7 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.22% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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9.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.17 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 81.48 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.41 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,900 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian |
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Ethnic groups:
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German 88%, non-nationals 9.3% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians,
Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), naturalized 2% (includes those who have
lived in Austria at least three generations) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17% |
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Languages:
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German |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local short form: Oesterreich
local long form: Republik Oesterreich |
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Government type:
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federal republic |
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Capital:
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Vienna |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten,
Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol,
Vorarlberg, Wien |
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Independence:
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1156 (from Bavaria) |
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National holiday:
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National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty
restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the
passage of the law on permanent neutrality |
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Constitution:
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1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945) |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since
4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October
2003)
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; presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next
to be held in the spring of 2004); chancellor traditionally chosen
by the president from the plurality party in the National Council;
vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent
of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT
11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2% |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal
Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the
states on the basis of population, but with each state having at
least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term)
and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected
by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party
- OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.9%, FPOe 10.2%, Greens 9%; seats by party
- OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 19, Greens 16
elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002
(next to be held in the fall of 2006) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court
or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
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Political parties and leaders:
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Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party
of Austria or FPOe [Herbert HAUPT]; Social Democratic Party of Austria
or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens Alternative or GA [Alexander
VAN DER BELLEN] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal
Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists
or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization,
Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's
Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers |
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International organization participation:
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AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOGIP,
UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335
FAX: [43] (1) 5125835 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
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Economy - overview:
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Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard
of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's.
Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted
by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity
to EU aspirant economies. Slowing growth in Germany and elsewhere
in the world held the economy to only 1.2% growth in 2001, 0.6%
in 2002, and 0.8% in 2003.. To meet increased competition from both
EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize
knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the
service sector, and lower its tax burden. A key issue is the encouragement
of much greater participation in the labor market by its ageing
population. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $227.7 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.1% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 33%
services: 65% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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31 (1995) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.8% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.3 million (2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry
4% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.8% (2002 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $53 billion
expenditures: $54 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber
and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment,
tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.8% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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58.75 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
other: 3.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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54.85 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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14.25 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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14.47 billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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35,470 bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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262,000 bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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85.69 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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403 million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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24.9 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,
pigs, poultry; lumber |
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Exports:
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$70 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard,
metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK 4.9%, France
4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$74 billion c.i.f. (2001) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,
oil and oil products; foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 42.6%, Italy 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Switzerland 4.8%, Netherlands
4.4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$12.1 billion (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $410 million (2000) |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced
the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions
of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 12.38 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 6,024 km (3,641 km electrified)
standard gauge: 5,566 km 1.435-m gauge (3,524 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 424
km 0.760-m gauge (89 km electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 200,000 km
paved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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358 km (1999) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 2,722 km; oil 687 km; refined products 149 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 27,551 GRT/34,225 DWT
ships by type: cargo 4, container 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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55 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 27 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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