Austria Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Austria, State of Central Europe; 83,856 km², 8.8 million residents (2019). Austria borders in the north to Germany and the Czech Republic, in the east to Slovakia and Hungary, in the south to Slovenia and Italy and in the west to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The capital is Vienna (1.8 million residents, 2014).

Country facts

Republic of Austria / Republic of Austria
Country abbreviation: AT (A)
Area: 83 856 km²
Population (2019): 8.8 million residents
Capital: Vienna
Main language: German
State: Republic
Head of State: Alexander Van der Bellen
Head of Government: Brigitte Bierlein
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 51,513
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 49,260
Currency unit: euro
Country number (telephony): 43
Currency code: EUR
Internet Domain Name: at
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: October 26 (Neutrality Day, 1955)

Nature

Land use: forest (47%), agricultural land (38%), other (15%)
Highest mountain: Grossglockner (3,797 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 105 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.1%; birth rate 10 ‰, death rate 9 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (14%), 15-64 (67%), 65- (19%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 79 years, women 84 years
Infant mortality (2019): 3 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 10 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.908 (place 20 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 58%
Most populous cities (2014): Vienna (1.8 million residents), Graz (270,000), Linz (193,800)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (1%), industry (28%), service (71%)
Exports (2017): US $ 156,700 million
Main export products: machinery, vehicles, paper
Main exporting countries: Germany, USA, Italy
Imports (2017): US $ 158 100 million
Main import products: machines, cars, chemicals
Main importing countries: Germany, Italy, Switzerland
Railway network (2017): 5,800 km

The majority of Austria consists of mountain ranges that form part of the Eastern Alps. Lower areas outside the Alps are to the north and east. The river network is dense with rivers such as the Danube, which crosses the northern part of the country. Austria has a humid, continental climate.

Austria is a federal republic. The head of state is a six-year elected president of the union. At the federal level, the legislative power is held by a two-chamber parliament, where the members of the National Council are elected for five years. The members of the Federal Council are elected by the nine state parliaments for the same term of office that applies to themselves.

In recent decades, the country’s economy has developed strongly and is characterized by a negative trade balance, a positive balance of services as well as large tourism income and foreign investment. Especially German companies, but also many companies from other countries in Western Europe, have long been established, and in recent times not least US and Japanese investments have increased. The industry consists predominantly of medium-sized family controlled companies.