Austria

Austria

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates

47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 83,871 sq km
country comparison to the world: 114 land:82,445 sq km
water:1,426 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries

total: 2,562 km
border countries:Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

temperate

continental, cloudy

cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains

moderate summers with occasional showers

Terrain

in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps)

along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

Irrigated land

1,170 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

84 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

landslides

avalanches

earthquakes

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

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Austrian(s)
adjective:Austrian

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)

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

8,217,280 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Age structure

0-14 years: 14% (male 590,855/female 563,300)
15-64 years:67.7% (male 2,793,725/female 2,769,840)
65 years and over:18.2% (male 627,456/female 872,104) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 43 years
male:41.9 years
female:44 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.034% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Birth rate

8.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Death rate

10.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Net migration rate

1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Urbanization

urban population: 68% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

VIENNA (capital) 1.693 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.71 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 170

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 195 male:5.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.78 years
country comparison to the world: 32 male:76.87 years
female:82.84 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Health expenditures

11% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20

Physicians density

4.749 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6

Hospital bed density

7.71 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

11% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 53

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 47

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:15 years
female:15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10%
country comparison to the world: 103 male:10.5%
female:9.4% (2009)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

federal republic

Capital

name: Vienna
geographic coordinates:48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular – Bundesland)

Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

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)

National holiday

National Day, 26 October (1955)

note – commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Constitution

1920

revised 1929

reinstated 1 May 1945

note – during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place

Legal system

civil law system

judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

16 years of age

universal

note – reduced from 18 years of age in 2007

Executive branch

chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
head of government:Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008)

Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung

presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016)

chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority

vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results:Heinz FISCHER reelected president

percent of vote – Heinz FISCHER 79.33%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ 15.24%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.43%
note:government coalition – SPOe and OeVP

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats

delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population

members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats

members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially-open party lists)
elections:National Council – last held on 28 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2013)
election results:National Council – percent of vote by party – SPOe 29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%

seats by party – SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20

note – seats by party since 2010 – SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 39, BZOe 16, Greens 20

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof

Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof

Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political parties and leaders

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

Austrian People’s Party or OeVP [Josef PROELL]

Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]

Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]

The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Federal Economic Chamber

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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christian PROSL
chancery:3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone:[1] (202) 895-6700
FAX:[1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William C. EACHO III
embassy:Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[43] (1) 31339-0
FAX:[43] (1) 3100682

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

National symbol(s)

black eagle

National anthem

name: “Bundeshymne” (Federal Hymn)
lyrics/music:Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
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 now associated with the Nazi regime

Economy

Economy – overview

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany’s. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Following several years of solid foreign demand for Austrian exports and record employment growth, the international financial crisis and global economic downturn in 2008 led to a sharp but brief recession. Austrian GDP contracted 3.9% in 2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010. Unemployment has not risen as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly because its government has subsidized reduced working hour schemes to allow companies to retain employees. Stabilization measures, stimulus spending, and an income tax reform pushed the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP in 2009 and 4.7% in 2010, from only about 1.3% in 2008. The international financial crisis caused difficulties for Austria’s largest banks whose extensive operations in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe faced large losses. The government provided bank support – including in some instances, nationalization – to prevent insolvency and possible contagion. In the medium-term all large Austrian banks will need additional capital. Even after the global economic outlook improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encourage greater labor flexibility and labor participation to offset growing unemployment and Austria’s aging population and low fertility rate.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$332 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 $325.6 billion (2009 est.)
$338.8 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$376.8 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149 -3.9% (2009 est.)
2.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$40,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19 $39,700 (2009 est.)
$41,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.5%
industry:29.3%
services:69.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.611 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 5.5%
industry:27.5%
services:67% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 7.2% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

6% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%:22% (2007)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

26 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 136 31 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Budget

revenues: $183 billion
expenditures:$200.6 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

48.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Public debt

72.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 69.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 0.4% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.564% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179 3.101% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$172.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19 $181.5 billion (31 December 2009 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 17 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

Stock of broad money

$401.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 $427.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$659.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 $606.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$118 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 39 $107.2 billion (31 December 2009)
$72.3 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grains, potatoes, wine, fruit

dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry

lumber

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity – production

62.98 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity – consumption

65.67 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity – exports

18.76 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

776 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

29,590 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Oil – consumption

277,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Oil – exports

46,020 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Oil – imports

282,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Oil – proved reserves

50 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas – production

1.716 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas – consumption

9.116 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas – exports

5.439 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas – imports

12.13 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas – proved reserves

16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Current account balance

$9.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 $11 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$147.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 $135.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Germany 32.1%, Italy 7.9%, Switzerland 4.8%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$151.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 $138.6 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

foodstuffs

Imports – partners

Germany 44%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 5.9%, Netherlands 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$22.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 $18.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$883.5 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 17 $755 billion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$259.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19 $286 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$269.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 $290.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

55 (2010)
country comparison to the world:84

Airports – with paved runways

total: 25
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:14 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:26 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 3,028 km

oil 663 km

refined products 157 km (2010)

Railways

total: 6,399 km
country comparison to the world: 29 standard gauge:5,927 km 1.435-m gauge (3,853 km electrified)
narrow gauge:384 km 1.000-m gauge (15 km electrified)

88 km 0.760-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 110,778 km
country comparison to the world: 39 paved:110,778 km (includes 1,696 km of expressways) (2008)

Waterways

358 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 90

Merchant marine

total: 2
country comparison to the world: 141 by type:cargo 2
registered in other countries:4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Military

Military branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military service age and obligation

registration requirement at age 17

males under the age of 35 must complete basic military training (6 month duration)

males 17 to 50 years old in the militia or inactive reserve are subject to compulsory military service (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,941,110
females age 16-49:1,910,434 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,579,862
females age 16-49:1,554,130 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 48,108
female:45,752 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145

Transnational Issues

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