| 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
- Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Thursdayby The Local on November 21, 2024
Stricter money laundering laws, disruptions on Vienna’s U1 line after fire, Austria to receive RSV vaccines, and more news from Austria on Thursday.
- Everything you need to know about Vienna's free medical checkups for allby The Local on November 20, 2024
Austria’s preventive health care program provides free checkups for residents. We explain how to book your appointment at the new Vienna health centre - and what to expect.
- ‘The flats don’t exist’: Apartment scams on the rise in Austriaby The Local on November 20, 2024
Fake apartment listings are on the rise in Austria, with scammers targeting renters through enticing online offers. Here’s how to protect yourself.
- EXPLAINED: How to prepare for Austria’s unpredictable winter driving conditionsby The Local on November 20, 2024
Sudden snowfalls, icy roads, and cold temperatures are just part of winter in Austria. Here are some essential tips for equipping your car, driving safely, and staying prepared for emergencies this season.
- How 'rich' is Austria's middle class?by The Local on November 19, 2024
Many people in Austria are considered to belong to the middle class. But what exactly defines the middle class, and how much do they actually earn?
- Austria faces major public sector protest with schools set to closeby The Local on November 19, 2024
Public sector workers in Austria are preparing for a major demonstration on November 26th, with teachers, healthcare workers, and others demanding salary increases amid tense negotiations. Parents may face school closures.
- How could Austria prevent energy prices from skyrocketing this winter?by The Local on November 19, 2024
Austria is bracing for rising energy prices this winter as the country adjusts to alternative gas supplies. Political leaders are debating measures to ease costs, but households may need to take their own steps to manage bills.
- Historic three-party coalition talks begin in Austriaby The Local on November 18, 2024
Three Austrian political parties - ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS - opened formal coalition talks on Monday. It's the first time since 1945 that a three-party coalition is a possibility in Austria, but when will we actually get a new government?
- What are the Christmas deadlines in Austria for sending letters and parcels?by The Local on November 18, 2024
The Christmas season is here, and for those planning to send packages and letters - here are this year's deadlines at the Austrian post office.
- Snow forecast to hit Vienna as Austria braces for winter weatherby The Local on November 18, 2024
After a spell of mild weather, Austria is set to see temperatures plummet this week, which means snowfall could be widespread.
- Call for investigation into far-right EU politicians’ flights to Trump galaby Jennifer Rankin (Austria | The Guardian) on November 16, 2024
Transparency International writes to EU requesting inquiry into potential failure to declare travel and ticket expensesAn NGO has called for an investigation into five far-right members of the European parliament, warning of a potential failure to declare expenses for a trip to attend a gala dinner in New York headlined by Donald Trump.Transparency […]
- Gas prices at one-year high in Europe amid Russian supply threatby Jillian Ambrose (Austria | The Guardian) on November 14, 2024
Gazprom could stop flow of gas into continent as result of their legal battle with Austrian company OMVEurope’s gas market rose by as much as 5% on Thursday to its highest price in a year after one of the continent’s biggest gas traders said that there could be a halt on gas supplies from Russia.Austrian gas trader OMV has said that a court decision […]
- Loser of Austrian election to try to form government after parties shun far rightby Deborah Cole in Berlin (Austria | The Guardian) on October 22, 2024
People’s party tasked with coalition talks with Social Democrats after winning Freedom party fails to find partnerAustria’s president has tasked the incumbent chancellor with forming a new government, after the general election winner, the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ), failed to find a coalition partner to allow it to take power.Alexander Van der […]
- Europe’s far right will look at Austria and say: this is how we do it | Cas Mudde and Gabriela Greilingerby Cas Mudde and Gabriela Greilinger (Austria | The Guardian) on October 22, 2024
The success of Herbert Kickl’s FPÖ is no surprise – it had been normalised by the centre right for years. Let that be a warningWhile Europe may be “sleepwalking into a far-right trap”, Austria is consciously walking straight into it. After all, polls had predicted the most recent electoral success of the Austrian Freedom party (FPÖ) for almost two […]
- ‘We leave viewers smarter’: fears over plans to close ‘world’s most highbrow’ TV stationby Philip Oltermann European culture editor (Austria | The Guardian) on October 19, 2024
Unique experiment in German-language public broadcasting 3sat faces pressure from populist rightIn many countries around the world, breakfast TV means celebrity interviews, soap operas and last night’s football highlights. On the German-language channel 3sat this Sunday morning, it means a one-hour philosophical discussion on trauma psychology, followed […]
