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Country information - Austria

Austria was originally known as the Celtic kingdom of Noricum, a long time ally of Rome. In 1804 the Empire of Austria was founded, which was transformed in 1867 into the double-monarchy Austria-Hungary. The empire was split into several independent states in 1918, after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I, Austria was reduced to a small republic.

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.

Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 Austria became increasingly involved in European affairs, Austria entered the European Union in 1995 and the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

	Geography	Austria

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Area	total: 83,870 sq km

Land	82,444 sq km

Water

1,426 sq km

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)

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

	People	Austria

Population

8,184,691

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%

Religions

Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12%

Languages

German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)

	Government	Austria

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Austria

Conventional short form

Austria

Local long form

Republik Oesterreich

Local short form

Oesterreich

Former

German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Government type

federal republic

Capital

Vienna

Administrative divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Independence

1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday

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

Constitution

1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections

Executive branch

chief of state: President Heinz Fischer (since 8 July 2004)

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 25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); 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

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Elections

National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006)

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

	Economy	Austria

Austria has a well-developed social market economy and a high standard of living. Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Germany has historically been the main trading partner of Austria, making it vulnerable to rapid changes in the German economy. Since Austria became a member of the European Union it has gained closer ties to other European union economies, reducing its economic dependence on Germany. The economy features up-to-date industrial and agricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land area being forested. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encourage much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population. The aging phenomenon, together with already high health and pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfare policies.

Labor force

3.49 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Population below poverty line

3.9%

Household income by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5%, highest 10%: 22.5%

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, 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

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)