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. A State Treaty signed in 1955 recognized Austria's independence after a decade of Allied occupation. The treaty's neutrality requirement has kept Austria from joining NATO, but the country joined the EU in 1995.
Geography
Area
total : 83,871 sq km
land: 82,445 sq km
water: 1,426 sq km
Climate
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Natural resources
oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
People and Society
Population
total: 8,967,982
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.)
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.)
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.)
Population growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Vienna
Executive branch
chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017)
head of government: Chancellor Karl NEHAMMER (since 6 December 2021)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral Federal Assembly consists of the Federal Council (61 seats) and the National Council (183 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Petra SCHNEEBAUER (since 19 APRIL 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Victoria Reggie KENNEDY (since 12 January 2022)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$590.354 billion (2023 est.)
$595.287 billion (2022 est.)
$567.987 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$64,600 (2023 est.)
$65,800 (2022 est.)
$63,400 (2021 est.)
Exports
$306.466 billion (2023 est.)
$292.012 billion (2022 est.)
$267.791 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 28%, US 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 5% (2022)
Exports - commodities
cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, plastic products, electricity (2022)
Imports
$288.146 billion (2023 est.)
$290.277 billion (2022 est.)
$264.231 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 40%, Italy 7%, Czechia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4% (2022)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, gold, garments, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, September 03, 2024
