Austria
Country Guide

Explore Austria

Austria with its capital Vienna is located in Europe (Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia). It covers some 83,872 square kilometers (about the size of South Carolina) with 8,754,410 citizens. German, Croatian, Hungarian and Slovenian are the common languages used in Austria (consider regional differences). Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland are bordering countries.

Austria is a land-locked alpine country in Central Europe. Austria, along with neighboring Switzerland, is the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the alps. The diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area of size. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes can be found in Austria. Austria is a federation. Each of its nine federal states has a unique and distinct culture. Being at Europe's crossroads, their culture is influenced from many sides.

Popular Destinations in Austria

Administrative regions of Austria

• Burgenland
• Kaernten
• Niederoesterreich
• Oberoesterreich
• Salzburg
• Steiermark
• Tirol
• Vienna
• Vorarlberg

About the country

The landscape is mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south and mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins. The average density of population is about 104 per km². The climate in Austria can be described as temperatecontinental, cloudy, cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains, moderate summers with occasional showers. Potential threats by nature are avalanches, earthquakes and landslides.

To reach someone Austria dial +43 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".at". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Euro is EUR.

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.

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 EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 115)	83,871	sq km
Land (World Rank: 114)	82,445	sq km
Water (World Rank: 100)	1,426	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 82)	21.10	%
Comparative	about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania
Landborder
2524
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 23)	115	m
Highest point (World Rank: 47)	3,798	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 111)	38.40	%
Arable (World Rank: 71)	16.50	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 136)	0.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 82)	21.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 88)	1,170	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- 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 - soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals - some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	- avalanches - earthquakes - landslides
Location
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Climate
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 95)	8,754,410
Deathrate (World Rank: 48)	0.96	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 198)	0.95	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 156)	0.47	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 24)	0.48	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 197)	1.47	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 14)	42.80
Female (World Rank: 14)	45.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 115)	628,205
0 14 female (World Rank: 115)	598,519
15 24 male (World Rank: 109)	494,016
15 24 female (World Rank: 111)	475,500
25 54 male (World Rank: 90)	1,856,530
25 54 female (World Rank: 90)	1,856,940
55 64 male (World Rank: 64)	574,570
55 64 female (World Rank: 65)	584,022
65 x male (World Rank: 52)	731,126
65 x female (World Rank: 52)	954,986
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 204)	0.34	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 23)	82	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 22)	84	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 24)	79	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 6)	5.15
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 10)	7.60
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 9)	100.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 105)	20.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 32)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 49)	56,050,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 41)	62,780,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 9)	19,190,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 6)	26,340,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 193)	22.20	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 61)	33.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 22)	24.30	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 74)	15,160	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 36)	148,400	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 80)	43,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 51)	188,000	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 47)	267,500	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 52)	49,230	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 47)	132,100	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 62)	1,263,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 50)	12,120,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 29)	5,407,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 51)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
78900000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 43)	6	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 133)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 11)	11	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 72)	-2	% of GDP
National symbol
golden eagle
National colours
white
Adjective
Austrian
Noun
Austrian(s)
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 EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 46)	417,100,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 154)	1.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 32)	47,700	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 191)	1.30	%
Source industry (World Rank: 93)	28.10	%
Source service (World Rank: 61)	70.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 92)	3,944,000
In poverty (World Rank: 164)	4.00	%
Products
Industries	- chemicals - communications equipment - construction - food - lumber - machinery - metals - paper - paperboard - parts - tourism - vehicles
Agriculture	- cattle - dairy products - forestry products - fruit - grains - lumber - pigs - potatoes - poultry - wine
Exports	- chemicals - equipment - foodstuffs - iron - machinery - metal goods - motor vehicles - paper - paperboard - parts - steel - textiles
Imports	- chemicals - equipment - foodstuffs - machinery - metal goods - motor vehicles - natural gas - oil - oil products

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 40)	3,567,200
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 36)	41.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 16)	164.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 58)	7,346,060
Population (World Rank: 35)	84.30	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 70)	24.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 89)	28.00
Heliports (World Rank: 82)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 33)	5,800
Road
Total length (World Rank: 38)	138,696
Paved length (World Rank: 22)	138,696
Water
Total length (World Rank: 91)	358

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