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
- What Austria's Supreme Court ruling on a cow trampling means for hikersby The Local Austria on May 16, 2025
A court case over a cow trampling has raised big questions about liability in Austria’s mountains.
- Austria’s JJ through to Eurovision final with operatic pop anthemby The Local Austria on May 16, 2025
Austria’s countertenor JJ secured a spot in the Eurovision final with Wasted Love, a bold operatic-pop fusion now tipped among the top contenders.
- German Word of the Day: der Kinderwunschby The Local Austria on May 15, 2025
It’s one of those deeply personal words that shows up in both everyday conversation and formal settings: Kinderwunsch.
- New lease, new rules: How rental contract extensions work in Austriaby The Local Austria on May 15, 2025
Renewing your lease in Austria isn’t always simple – from legal time limits to rent hikes, here’s what tenants should know.
- What Eurovision's voting patterns can teach you about European politicsby The Local Austria on May 15, 2025
Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes. But what are the voting patterns, and what external factors help explain them?
- Why May 15th is a key date for Austrian identity... but not a public holidayby The Local Austria on May 15, 2025
From freedom to neutrality, May 15th remains one of Austria’s most emotional dates anniversaries. Here's what’s fact, what’s myth — and why the date is not an official holiday.
- Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Thursdayby The Local Austria on May 15, 2025
René Benko and wife face new corruption claims, and construction delays hit key railway projects—plus more stories from Austria on Thursday.
- German Expression of the Day: den Ton angebenby The Local Austria on May 14, 2025
Whether it’s politics, fashion, or a glitter-drenched Eurovision stage—someone always ends up taking the lead. In German, there’s a perfect phrase for that: den Ton angeben.
- Holiday habits: Where will Austrians go in summer 2025?by The Local Austria on May 14, 2025
From Italy’s beaches to Austrian lakes, summer holidays remain a priority for Austrians in 2025 – even as costs climb and budgets tighten.
- Austrian housing fees: What are the rules when property managers raise costsby The Local Austria on May 14, 2025
If your property manager raised monthly fees without explanation, Austrian law gives them a deadline to provide the breakdown.
- Meet the newcomers reshaping Vienna’s politics after the 2025 electionby The Local Austria on May 14, 2025
Vienna’s new city parliament includes history students, restaurateurs, returnees, and political heavyweights. Here’s who’s in, who’s out, and what’s next.
- German Expression of the Day: auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzenby The Local Austria on May 13, 2025
You can try to be everywhere, please everyone, or juggle two competing plans—but at some point, someone might tell you: Du kannst nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen.
- Austria’s big savings plan: What’s being cut and how it could affect youby The Local Austria on May 13, 2025
Austria's government has unveiled major spending cuts and tax hikes to tackle its rising deficit. Here’s how the savings package could impact daily life across the country.
- REVEALED: Why more British nationals are becoming Austrian citizensby The Local Austria on February 24, 2025
The number of British nationals gaining Austrian citizenship has surged, with applications remaining far higher than before 2020. Here's why and how many new Austrian nationals were from the UK.
- The best indoor activities to enjoy Vienna even when it rainsby The Local Austria on October 31, 2024
The weather in Vienna can sometimes be a bit rainy. Luckily though, the capital has a lot to offer also when the weather is bad. Here is what you should not miss out on during a rainy day.