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Austria | ||
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Tourism Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries |
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Austria Travel Guide:Facts on Austria |
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| History
Geography
People Economy
Communications
Transportation
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 Map of Austria and its major cities
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| History | Top of Page | ||
| 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 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. This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999. | |||
| Geography | Top of Page | ||
| Location | Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia | ||
| Geographic Coordinates | 47 20 N, 13 20 E | ||
| Area | Total:
83,858 sq km Water: 1,120 sq km Land: 82,738 sq km |
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| Area - Comparative | Slightly smaller than Maine | ||
| 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 |
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| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | ||
| Climate | Temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool 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 |
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| Natural Resources | Iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower | ||
| 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 | ||
| Natural hazards | Landslides; avalanches; earthquakes | ||
| People | Top of Page | ||
| Population | 8,192,880 (July 2006 est.) | ||
| Age Structure |
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.) |
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| Nationality | Noun: Austrian(s) Adjective: Austrian |
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| Ethnic Groups | German 88%, non-nationals 9.3% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), naturalized 2% (includes those who have lived in Austria at least three generations) | ||
| Religions | Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17% | ||
| Language | German | ||
| Literacy | Definition: age 15 and over
can read and write Total population: 98% |
| Government | Top of Page | ||
| Country Name | Conventional long form:
Republic of Austria Conventional short form: Austria Local short form: Oesterreich Local long form: Republik Oesterreich |
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| Government Type | Federal republic | ||
| Capital | Vienna | ||
| Administrative Divisions | 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien | ||
| Independence | 1156 (from Bavaria) | ||
| Flag Description | Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red | ||
| Economy | Top of Page | ||
| Overview | Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. The current government has successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government, creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location, pursuing a balanced budget, and implementing effective pension reforms. Weak domestic consumption and slow growth in Europe have held the economy to growth rates of 0.4% in 2002, 1.4% in 2003, 2.4% in 2004, and 1.8% in 2005. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging population. | ||
| Currency | Euro | ||
| Currency Code | EUR | ||
| Communications | Top of Page | ||
| Telephone System | General assessment: highly developed and efficient | ||
| Internet Country Code | .at | ||
| Transportation | Top of Page | ||
| Railways |
total: 6,011 km standard gauge: 5,568 km 1.435-m gauge (3,427 km electrified) narrow gauge: 21 km 1.000-m gauge; 422 km 0.760-m gauge (109 km electrified) (2005) |
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| Roadways |
total: 133,718 km paved: 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003) |
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| Waterways | 358 km (2003) | ||
| Ports and Harbors | Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna | ||
| Austria: | Tourism Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page | ||
