| Area Total | 83,871 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 |
| Imports | Germany 41.8%, Italy 5.8%, Switzerland 5.5%, Czech Republic 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2017) – machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products, natural gas; foodstuffs |
| Exports | Germany 29.4%, US 6.3%, Italy 6.2%, Switzerland 5.1%, France 4.8%, Slovakia 4.8% (2017) – machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, manufactured goods, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs |
| Government | federal parliamentary republic |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Population | 8,793,370 (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.) |
| Language | 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.) |
News about Austria
- Inside Austria: Semesterferien and why they can be a nightmare for working parents
by The Local Austria on January 31, 2026Austria’s Semesterferien are not a public holiday, but the country still feels different for a week in February. For working parents, especially foreign residents without family help, it can be a logistical hell, writes The Local Austria's Amanda Previdelli
- EU delays full rollout of EES border system over travel chaos concerns
by The Local Austria on January 31, 2026The deadline for the full implementation of the Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), the new EU digital border system, has been postponed from April to September amid concerns over travel disruptions during the summer season, a European Commission spokesperson said on Friday.
- Outrage in Vienna over revamp of antisemitic former mayor statue
by The Local Austria on January 30, 2026A plan to reinstall a controversial statue of former Vienna mayor Karl Lueger at an angle after renovation has sparked outrage in the Austrian capital.
- Your views: ‘I seriously wish someone would sue the Austrian government’
by The Local Austria on January 30, 2026Comments by readers of The Local Austria – whether opinions, advice, or tales of life in the country – offer vital insights to others. We’ve gathered some recent contributions that highlight the complexities of building a life in Austria, from the doctor’s office to the immigration bureau.
- Austria warns of weekend traffic as semester holidays begin
by The Local Austria on January 30, 2026The start of school holidays in Austria and neighbouring countries is set to increase traffic this weekend. Peak congestion is expected especially on routes to ski resorts.
- EU announces plan to extend 90-day rule for certain non-EU workers
by The Local Austria on January 29, 2026The European Commission has announced it will look into allowing certain non-EU professionals to stay in the EU beyond the current 90/180-day rule, as part of a future overhaul of its visa system. It also asked EU countries to make visa access "simpler and faster" for skilled workers.
- The best events in each Austrian province in February 2026
by The Local Austria on January 29, 2026Austria’s February calendar is packed with balls, concerts and carnival traditions, from the glitz of Vienna’s ball season to Fasching parades that take over whole town centres. Here are standout picks across all nine provinces, with the essentials you need to plan ahead.
- EU announces new push to overhaul visa system and deportations policy
by The Local Austria on January 29, 2026The European Union on Thursday laid out plans to overhaul its visa system and step up deportations as part of a five-year migration strategy that cements a hardening line on the hot-button issue.
- What Austria’s new lower VAT on food could mean for your shopping bill
by The Local Austria on January 29, 2026Austria will cut VAT on selected staple foods to 4.9 percent from July 1st, aiming to ease household costs. Here's what's getting cheaper (and what will still be expensive).
- Austria grants citizenship to tens of thousands of Holocaust descendants
by The Local Austria on January 28, 2026More than 40,000 descendants of Austrian Holocaust survivors have taken up Austrian citizenship since 2020, officials said.
- Karin Kneissl debate: What Austrian law actually allows when it comes to stripping citizenship
by The Local Austria on January 28, 2026Calls to revoke former minister Karin Kneissl’s citizenship after she made more damning comments against her home country have raised fresh questions about Austrian law.
- REVEALED: Austria's most in-demand jobs in 2026
by The Local Austria on January 28, 2026Looking to move jobs or switch careers in Austria? We've compiled the latest list of in-demand jobs and how to get a work visa to access them.
- Everything that changes in Austria in February 2026
by The Local Austria on January 27, 2026February in Austria brings a mix of nationwide rule changes and local shifts, from higher tobacco taxes and new "mini-job" rules for some unemployed people to a key rule drivers in the country need to respect.
- The Guardian view on Syria’s crisis: Islamic State fighters are not the only concern | Editorial
by Editorial (Austria | The Guardian) on January 23, 2026As a lightning government offensive leaves the Kurdish-dominated SDF reeling, the political horizon needs attention as well as securityIn little more than a fortnight, a dramatic Syrian government offensive appears to have undone over a decade of Kurdish self-rule in the north-east and extended President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s control. The Kurdish-dominated […]
- Vienna closes museums and cuts opening hours as part of austerity drive
by Philip Oltermann European culture editor (Austria | The Guardian) on January 21, 2026Director of Wien Museum says ‘we all have to economise’ as city temporarily reduces access to cultural sitesIt prides itself on its reputation as the world’s home of classical music. But Vienna will temporarily close several museums dedicated to famous composers this year as the Austrian capital cuts its culture budget to meet public spending […]
