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Austria Historical and Political Profile








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Austria Index

  • Austria-Works Councils
  • Austria-AUSTRIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY
  • Austria-Introduction
  • Austria-Foreign Policy
  • Austria-The 1955 State Treaty and Austrian Neutrality
  • Austria-The Celtic and Roman Eras THE ALPINE-DANUBIAN REGION BEFORE THE HABSBURG DYNASTY
  • Austria-SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP
  • Austria-Employment, Unemployment, and Pension Benefits
  • Austria-Criminal Court Proceedings
  • Austria-Foreign Workers in Austria
  • Austria-SOCIAL SECURITY
  • Austria-Nazi Economic and Social Policies
  • Austria-The Founding of the Dual Monarchy AUSTRIA-HUNGARY TO THE EARLY 1900S
  • Austria-DEMOGRAPHY
  • Austria-Electoral Politics in the Kreisky Era THE KREISKY YEARS, 1970-83
  • Austria-The Habsburg Military HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
  • Austria-Other Minorities
  • Austria-The Professions
  • Austria-FOREIGN RELATIONS
  • Austria-Foreign Policy During the Kreisky Era
  • Austria-The Freedom Party of Austria
  • Austria-Army
  • Austria-NATIONAL SECURITY
  • Austria-The Structure of Agriculture
  • Austria-Elections and Parties
  • Austria-The Thirty Years' War, 1618-48
  • Austria-Attitudes Toward Minorities
  • Austria-Political Life of the 1920s and Early 1930s
  • Austria-Political Developments since 1983
  • Austria-Special Courts
  • Austria-The 1945 Election and Consolidation of the Austrian Government
  • Austria-End of the Kreisky Era
  • Austria-The End of the Habsburg Empire and the Birth of the Austrian Republic
  • Austria-Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
  • Austria-Personnel, Conscription, Training, and Reserves
  • Austria-NEUTRALITY AND THE ARMED FORCES
  • Austria-Ordinary Courts
  • Austria-Four-Power Occupation and Recognition of the Provisional Government
  • Austria-Internal Developments in Austria
  • Austria-Foreign Trade and the Balance of Payments FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
  • Austria-Foreword
  • Austria-STRATEGIC CONCEPTS AND MISSIONS OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMED FORCES
  • Austria-Growing German Pressure on Austria
  • Austria-The Social Democratic Party of Austria
  • Austria-The Services Sector
  • Austria-Army Equipment
  • Austria-Historical Background ECONOMIC GROWTH AND GOVERNMENT POLICY
  • Austria-The War of the Spanish Succession The Turkish Wars and the Siege of Vienna
  • Austria-Newspapers and Periodicals MASS MEDIA
  • Austria-Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment
  • Austria-RELIGION
  • Austria-Acknowledgments
  • Austria-The Parliamentary Election of 1990
  • Austria-POLITICAL DYNAMICS
  • Austria-Domestic Issues
  • Austria-Loss of Leadership in Germany
  • Austria-Events of 1991-93
  • Austria-Judicial System Bundesversammlung
  • Austria-The Green Parties
  • Austria-Energy
  • Austria-Radio and Television
  • Austria-Repression and Compliance
  • Austria-Election of Kurt Waldheim as President
  • Austria-Chapter 3 - The Economy
  • Austria-Provincial Government
  • Austria-Consolidation of Democracy
  • Austria-Division and Rebellion
  • Austria-HOUSING
  • Austria-AUSTRIA
  • Austria-The Protestant Reformation in the Habsburg Lands
  • Austria-Tourism
  • Austria-World War I
  • Austria-Jews
  • Austria-Overview of the Political Camps THE FIRST REPUBLIC
  • Austria-Family Benefits
  • Austria-Developments During the 1970s and 1980s
  • Austria-Openings Toward the East
  • Austria-Transportation and Telecommunications
  • Austria-Austria's Integration with the West
  • Austria-Absorption of Austria into the Third Reich THE ANSCHLUSS AND WORLD WAR II
  • Austria-Chapter 5 - National Security
  • Austria-THE COUNTER-REFORMATION AND THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR
  • Austria-The Turkish Threat
  • Austria-The Chambers of Commerce
  • Austria-Immigration
  • Austria-Status of Women
  • Austria-The Federal President
  • Austria-Money and Banking
  • Austria-Baroque Absolutism and Enlightened Despotism THE REFORMS OF MARIA THERESA AND JOSEPH II
  • Austria-GEOGRAPHY
  • Austria-The Chambers of Labor The Chambers of Agriculture
  • Austria-Mining and Minerals
  • Austria-INTERNAL SECURITY
  • Austria-Climate
  • Austria-Ecological Concerns
  • Austria-The Industrial Sector
  • Austria-Chancellor and Cabinet
  • Austria-The Foundation of the First Republic
  • Austria-The Pragmatic Sanction and the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-48
  • Austria
  • Austria-The Austrian Trade Union Federation
  • Austria-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
  • Austria-Official Minority Groups
  • Austria-The Holy Roman Empire and the Duchy of Austria
  • Austria-EDUCATION
  • Austria-Military Justice
  • Austria-Nationalrat
  • Austria-The Strategic Impact of the Reform Era
  • Austria-The Austrian People's Party
  • Austria-The Agricultural Sector
  • Austria-Penal Codes
  • Austria-World War II and the Defeat of Nazi Germany
  • Austria-The Magic Pentagon
  • Austria-Foundation of the Second Republic RESTORED INDEPENDENCE UNDER ALLIED OCCUPATION
  • Austria-The Early Medieval Era
  • Austria-Domestic Tranquillity under the Grand Coalition
  • Austria-The Crisis over Bosnia and Hercegovina THE FINAL YEARS OF THE EMPIRE AND WORLD WAR I
  • Austria-The National Election of 1986 and the Grand Coalition of 1987-90
  • Austria-The Administrative Court
  • Austria-FAMILY LIFE
  • Austria
  • Austria
  • Austria-Two World Wars: 1914-18 and 1939-45
  • Austria
  • Austria-International Developments, 1815-48 AUSTRIA IN THE AGE OF METTERNICH
  • Austria-Incidence of Crime
  • Austria
  • Austria-Preface
  • Austria
  • Austria-The Habsburg Dynasty in the Late Medieval Era RISE OF THE HABSBURG EMPIRE
  • Austria-Domestic and Foreign Sources of Military Equipment
  • Austria-Local Government
  • Austria
  • Austria-The Congress of Vienna
  • Austria-Final Defeat in Germany and Reconciliation with Prussia
  • Austria-ECONOMY
  • Austria-Domestic Policies
  • Austria-The Constitutional Court
  • Austria-Air Force
  • Austria-Efforts to Improve Competitiveness
  • Austria-Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
  • Austria-Territorial Expansion, Division, and Consolidation
  • Austria-Family Developments after the 1960s
  • Austria
  • Austria-New Focus on Europe
  • Austria-The Subsidy Policy
  • Austria-Penal System
  • Austria-Health and Health Insurance
  • Austria-The Peace of Westphalia
  • Austria
  • Austria-Emigration
  • Austria-SOCIAL MINORITIES
  • Austria-NATIONAL DEFENSE
  • Austria-The Failure of Neoabsolutism
  • Austria-Austria and European Integration
  • Austria-Revolutionary Rise and Fall THE REVOLUTION OF 1848 AND NEOABSOLUTISM
  • Austria-PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUPS
  • Austria-Police
  • Austria-SOCIETY
  • Austria-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
  • Austria-Human Geography
  • Austria
  • Austria-GEOGRAPHY
  • Austria-STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
  • Austria-Foreign Workers
  • Austria-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
  • Austria-Regional Issues
  • Austria-Political and Religious Consolidation under Leopold THE BAROQUE ERA
  • Austria-Bundesrat
  • Austria-The Federation of Austrian Industrialists
  • Austria-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
  • Austria-The Defense Budget
  • Austria-Electoral System
  • Austria -COUNTRY PROFILE
  • Austria
  • BackgroundOnce 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. In January 2009, Austria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term.
    LocationCentral Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
    Area(sq km)total: 83,871 sq km
    land: 82,445 sq km
    water: 1,426 sq km
    Geographic coordinates47 20 N, 13 20 E
    Land boundaries(km)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(km)0 km (landlocked)

    Climatetemperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
    highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
    Natural resourcesoil, 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(sq km)40 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)84 cu km (2005)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%)
    per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)
    Natural hazardslandslides; avalanches; earthquakes
    Environment - current issuessome 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 agreementsparty 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 - notelandlocked; 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
    Population8,210,281 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 14.5% (male 609,748/female 581,144)
    15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,785,091/female 2,756,402)
    65 years and over: 18% (male 612,613/female 865,283) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 42.2 years
    male: 41.1 years
    female: 43.2 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)0.052% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)8.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)9.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.05 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 (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 3.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 79.5 years
    male: 76.6 years
    female: 82.56 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)1.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: 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)

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

    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Austria
    conventional short form: Austria
    local long form: Republik Oesterreich
    local short form: Oesterreich
    Government typefederal republic
    Capitalname: 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 divisions9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
    Constitution1920; 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 systemcivil 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

    Suffrage16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007
    Executive branchchief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
    head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008)
    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 (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2010); 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 elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6%
    note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
    Legislative branchbicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
    elections: National Council - last held 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

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

    Political pressure groups and leadersAustrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; 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 participationACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
    Flag descriptionthree 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, 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

    Economy - overviewAustria, 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 global economic downturn in 2008 led to a recession that is likely to persist through 2009. The government's stabilization measures could increase the budget deficit to about 2.8% of GDP in 2009 and above 3% in 2010, from about 0.6% in 2008. The Austrian economy has benefited greatly in the past from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe, but these sectors have been vulnerable to recent international financial instabilities, and some of Austria's largest banks have required government support. Even after the global economic outlook improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation to offset its aging population and exceedingly low fertility rate.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$331.2 billion (2008 est.)
    $324.7 billion (2007 est.)
    $313.7 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$414.8 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)2% (2008 est.)
    3.5% (2007 est.)
    3.5% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$40,400 (2008 est.)
    $39,600 (2007 est.)
    $38,300 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 1.9%
    industry: 30.7%
    services: 67.4% (2008 est.)
    Labor force3.633 million (2008 est.)

    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 5.5%
    industry: 27.5%
    services: 67% (2005 est.)
    Unemployment rate(%)3.9% (2008 est.)
    4.4% (2007 est.)
    Population below poverty line(%)5.9% (2004)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 3.3%
    highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index26 (2007)
    31 (1995)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)22.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $196.4 billion
    expenditures: $200.7 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)3.2% (2008 est.)
    2.2% (2007 est.)

    Stock of domestic credit$606.2 billion (31 December 2008)
    $504.8 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$NA (31 December 2008)
    $228.7 billion (31 December 2007)
    $191.3 billion (31 December 2006)
    Public debt(% of GDP)62.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
    64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsgrains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
    Industriesconstruction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

    Industrial production growth rate(%)2.4% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance$14.27 billion (2008 est.)
    $12.03 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$179.1 billion (2008 est.)
    $162.1 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs
    Exports - partners(%)Germany 29.5%, Italy 8.6%, US 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2008)
    Imports$179.2 billion (2008 est.)
    $160.3 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs
    Imports - partners(%)Germany 44.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$16.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $18.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$832.8 billion (31 December 2008)
    $801.4 billion (31 December 2007)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$261.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $247.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$270 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $240.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange rateseuros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

    Currency (code)euro (EUR)

    Telephones - main lines in use3.285 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular10.816 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: highly developed and efficient
    domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
    international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)
    Internet country code.at
    Internet users5.937 million (2008)
    Airports55 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 2,721 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 107,262 km
    paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

    Ports and terminalsEnns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
    Military branchesLand Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 6 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation; conscripts cannot be deployed in military operations outside Austria (2009)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,986,411
    females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,607,456
    females age 16-49: 1,576,335 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 50,540
    female: 48,042 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
    Disputes - internationalwhile threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closed its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

    Electricity - production(kWh)58.64 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 29.3%
    hydro: 67.2%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 3.5% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)61.89 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)14.93 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)19.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)24,850 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)285,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)45,580 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)305,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Economic aid - donorODA, $1.498 billion (2006)

    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)50 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)1.532 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)8.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)2.788 billion cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.2% (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS9,800 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deathsfewer than 100 (2003 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 98%
    male: NA
    female: NA

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 15 years
    male: 15 years
    female: 16 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)5.4% of GDP (2005)
    BackgroundOnce 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. In January 2009, Austria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term.
    LocationCentral Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
    Area(sq km)total: 83,871 sq km
    land: 82,445 sq km
    water: 1,426 sq km
    Geographic coordinates47 20 N, 13 20 E
    Land boundaries(km)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(km)0 km (landlocked)

    Climatetemperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
    highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
    Natural resourcesoil, 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(sq km)40 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)84 cu km (2005)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%)
    per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)
    Natural hazardslandslides; avalanches; earthquakes
    Environment - current issuessome 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 agreementsparty 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 - notelandlocked; 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
    Population8,210,281 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 14.5% (male 609,748/female 581,144)
    15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,785,091/female 2,756,402)
    65 years and over: 18% (male 612,613/female 865,283) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 42.2 years
    male: 41.1 years
    female: 43.2 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)0.052% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)8.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)9.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.05 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 (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 3.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 79.5 years
    male: 76.6 years
    female: 82.56 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)1.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: 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)

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

    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Austria
    conventional short form: Austria
    local long form: Republik Oesterreich
    local short form: Oesterreich
    Government typefederal republic
    Capitalname: 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 divisions9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
    Constitution1920; 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 systemcivil 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

    Suffrage16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007
    Executive branchchief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
    head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008)
    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 (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2010); 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 elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6%
    note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
    Legislative branchbicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
    elections: National Council - last held 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

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

    Political pressure groups and leadersAustrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; 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 participationACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
    Flag descriptionthree 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, 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

    Economy - overviewAustria, 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 global economic downturn in 2008 led to a recession that is likely to persist through 2009. The government's stabilization measures could increase the budget deficit to about 2.8% of GDP in 2009 and above 3% in 2010, from about 0.6% in 2008. The Austrian economy has benefited greatly in the past from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe, but these sectors have been vulnerable to recent international financial instabilities, and some of Austria's largest banks have required government support. Even after the global economic outlook improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation to offset its aging population and exceedingly low fertility rate.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$331.2 billion (2008 est.)
    $324.7 billion (2007 est.)
    $313.7 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$414.8 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)2% (2008 est.)
    3.5% (2007 est.)
    3.5% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$40,400 (2008 est.)
    $39,600 (2007 est.)
    $38,300 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 1.9%
    industry: 30.7%
    services: 67.4% (2008 est.)
    Labor force3.633 million (2008 est.)

    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 5.5%
    industry: 27.5%
    services: 67% (2005 est.)
    Unemployment rate(%)3.9% (2008 est.)
    4.4% (2007 est.)
    Population below poverty line(%)5.9% (2004)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 3.3%
    highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index26 (2007)
    31 (1995)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)22.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $196.4 billion
    expenditures: $200.7 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)3.2% (2008 est.)
    2.2% (2007 est.)

    Stock of domestic credit$606.2 billion (31 December 2008)
    $504.8 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$NA (31 December 2008)
    $228.7 billion (31 December 2007)
    $191.3 billion (31 December 2006)
    Public debt(% of GDP)62.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
    64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsgrains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
    Industriesconstruction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

    Industrial production growth rate(%)2.4% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance$14.27 billion (2008 est.)
    $12.03 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$179.1 billion (2008 est.)
    $162.1 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs
    Exports - partners(%)Germany 29.5%, Italy 8.6%, US 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2008)
    Imports$179.2 billion (2008 est.)
    $160.3 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs
    Imports - partners(%)Germany 44.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$16.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $18.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$832.8 billion (31 December 2008)
    $801.4 billion (31 December 2007)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$261.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $247.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$270 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $240.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange rateseuros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

    Currency (code)euro (EUR)

    Telephones - main lines in use3.285 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular10.816 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: highly developed and efficient
    domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
    international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)
    Internet country code.at
    Internet users5.937 million (2008)
    Airports55 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 2,721 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 107,262 km
    paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

    Ports and terminalsEnns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
    Military branchesLand Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 6 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation; conscripts cannot be deployed in military operations outside Austria (2009)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,986,411
    females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,607,456
    females age 16-49: 1,576,335 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 50,540
    female: 48,042 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
    Disputes - internationalwhile threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closed its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

    Electricity - production(kWh)58.64 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 29.3%
    hydro: 67.2%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 3.5% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)61.89 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)14.93 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)19.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)24,850 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)285,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)45,580 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)305,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Economic aid - donorODA, $1.498 billion (2006)

    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)50 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)1.532 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)8.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)2.788 billion cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.2% (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS9,800 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deathsfewer than 100 (2003 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 98%
    male: NA
    female: NA

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 15 years
    male: 15 years
    female: 16 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)5.4% of GDP (2005)








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