Austria

Broadcast media

Austria's public broadcaster, Osterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), was the main broadcast source until commercial radio and TV service was introduced in the 1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German TV stations (2008)

Internet country code

.at

Internet hosts

3.512 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 30

Internet users

6.143 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 43

Telephone system

general 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.388 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 48

Telephones - mobile cellular

13.023 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 60

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Budget

revenues: $187.3 billion expenditures: $198.6 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 3.3% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$8.17 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $7.75 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$883.5 billion (30 June 2011) country comparison to the world: 18 $755 billion (30 June 2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2007) country comparison to the world: 129 31 (1995)

Economy - overview

Austria, with its well-developed market economy, skilled labor force, 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 of 2008 and subsequent global economic downturn led to a sharp but brief recession. Austrian GDP contracted 3.8% in 2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010 and 2.7% in 2011. Growth fell below 1% in 2012. Unemployment did not rise as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly because the government 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 4.5% in 2010 and 2.6% in 2011, from only about 0.9% in 2008. The international financial crisis of 2008 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 support aggregate demand and stabilize the banking system. Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries, but it faces considerable external risks, such as Austrian banks' continued high exposure to central and eastern Europe as well as political and economic uncertainties caused by the European sovereign debt crisis. In 2011 the government attempted to pass a constitutional amendment limiting public debt to 60% of GDP by 2020, but it was unable to obtain sufficient support in parliament and instead passed the measure as a simple law. In March 2012, the Austrian parliament approved an austerity budget that will bring public finances into balance by 2016. In 2012, the budget deficit rose to 2.9% of GDP.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$164.1 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $173.6 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 32.3%, Italy 7.8%, Switzerland 4.4%, France 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$391.5 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$357.8 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $355.6 billion (2011 est.) $346.3 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.5% industry: 29.4% services: 69.1% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$42,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $42,200 (2011 est.) $41,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 2.7% (2011 est.) 2.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$173.9 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $183.3 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 42.8%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 5.5%, Netherlands 4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

7.5% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 3.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Labor force

3.655 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$82.37 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 41 $118 billion (31 December 2010) $107.2 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

6% (2008)

Public debt

74.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 72.2% of GDP (2011 est.) note: this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$25.16 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $22.28 billion (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$426.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $400.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$313.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $300.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$290.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $271.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$549 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $526.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$194.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $176.5 billion (31 December 2011 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

Taxes and other revenues

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 4.2% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

69.46 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Crude oil - imports

137,100 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Crude oil - production

25,750 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - proved reserves

50 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - consumption

63.8 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity - exports

16.75 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from fossil fuels

19.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

38.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - from other renewable sources

20.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - imports

24.98 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity - installed generating capacity

21.11 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - production

59.47 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - consumption

9.015 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - exports

4.96 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - imports

14.28 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas - production

1.776 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption

262,900 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Refined petroleum products - exports

46,680 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Refined petroleum products - imports

158,300 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - production

188,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

47 20 N, 13 20 E

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

Irrigated land

1,170 sq km (2003)

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

Land use

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

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Total renewable water resources

84 cu km (2005)

Administrative divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

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

Constitution

1 October 1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; revised many times; note - during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place

Country name

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hans Peter MANZ 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

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 theWorld 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

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

Government type

federal republic

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)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court

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

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

National holiday

National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

National symbol(s)

black eagle

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Michael SPINDELEGGER]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]; Communist Party of Austria of KPOe [Mirko MESSNER]; "Team Stronach for Austria" [Frank STRONACHI]

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007

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.

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 branches

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military expenditures

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

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.9% (male 583,162/ female 555,976) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 2,789,570/ female 2,768,420) 65 years and over: 18.5% (male 640,806/ female 881,809) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

8.69 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Death rate

10.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Education expenditures

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

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

7.71 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 195 male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.91 years country comparison to the world: 33 male: 77 years female: 82.97 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

VIENNA (capital) 1.693 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 179

Median age

total: 43.4 years male: 42.3 years female: 44.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian

Net migration rate

1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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

Physicians density

4.749 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

8,219,743 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Population growth rate

0.026% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

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: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 18,473 (Russia); 8,636 (Afghanistan) (2011)

Airports

52 (2012) country comparison to the world: 90

Airports - with paved runways

total: 24 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: 13 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 24 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 3 (Cyprus 1, Kazakhstan 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010) country comparison to the world: 134

Pipelines

gas 3,028 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

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) (2008)

Roadways

total: 124,508 km country comparison to the world: 37 paved: 124,508 km (includes 1,719 km of expressways) (2012)

Waterways

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