Contents

Country Overview

Austria is a federal parliamentary republic in Central Europe, connecting the Alps and the Danube basin. A European Union and euro-area member, it combines high-income manufacturing and services, tourism, and a strong social-market institutional tradition. National and World Bank population series and separate euro-valued and US-dollar trade figures are identified by their reporting conventions.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Statistical years, jurisdictions and definitions are explicitly distinguished.

CapitalViennaFederal capital and largest city [1]
Population9.218 millionStatistics Austria, July 1, 2026 preliminary [3]
GDPUS$579.47 billionWorld Bank, 2025 [2]
ChancellorChristian StockerIn office since March 2025 [5]
Federal states9Federal republic [10]
World Heritage12 propertiesUNESCO, November 2026 [14]

Data and status note: Statistics Austria’s final population count was 9,215,956 on January 1, 2026; the provisional July 1, 2026 count was 9,217,573. These are register-based reference-date totals; the World Bank’s 2025 annual estimate is 9,208,163. In 2025 the domestic statistical agency reported goods exports of €190.14 billion and imports of €196.72 billion, while other trade datasets convert and adjust figures using their own methodologies.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich). [1]
Capital
Vienna (Wien). [1]
Region
Central Europe. [1]
Form of state
Federal parliamentary republic. [1]
Constitutional framework
Federal Constitutional Law of 1920, restored after World War II and amended subsequently. [1]
National legislature
Bicameral federal parliament. [1]
Lower house
National Council (Nationalrat). [1]
Upper house
Federal Council (Bundesrat). [1]
Federal states
Nine Länder. [1]
National language
German. [1]
Recognized minority languages
Several minority languages enjoy legal protection in specific contexts. [1]
Currency
Euro (EUR). [1]
Time zone
Central European Time UTC+1; summertime UTC+2. [1]
Telephone country code
+43. [1]
Internet country domain
.at. [1]
National day
October 26. [1]
Modern republic
Republic established in 1918 and reconstituted in 1945. [1]
State Treaty
1955 treaty restored full sovereignty. [1]
Permanent neutrality
Declared by federal constitutional law in 1955. [1]
UN membership
1955. [1]
EU membership
1995. [1]
Common abbreviations
AT, AUT. [1]
Roman heritage
Parts of present-day Austria belonged to Roman provinces. [18]
Medieval development
Habsburg dynastic rule became central to Austrian history. [18]
Habsburg monarchy
Austrian rulers governed extensive Central European territories. [18]
Austria-Hungary
Dual Monarchy operated from 1867 to 1918. [18]
First Republic
Emerged following World War I and imperial dissolution. [18]
Nazi annexation
Annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. [18]
Allied occupation
After 1945, Austria was occupied in four zones until 1955. [18]
Second Republic
Contemporary constitutional polity dates to the post-1945 restoration. [18]
Flag
Horizontal red-white-red tricolor. [18]
Diplomatic role
Vienna is a long-established location for multilateral institutions. [18]

Geography & Population

Area
Approximately 83,879 square kilometers. [18]
Landlocked country
No seacoast. [18]
Neighbors
Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. [18]
Mountain system
Eastern Alps dominate the western and southern parts. [18]
Highest mountain
Grossglockner, approximately 3,798 meters. [18]
Major river
Danube (Donau). [18]
Other rivers
Inn, Salzach, Mur, Drava and Enns. [18]
Large lake
Lake Constance at the western border. [18]
Major eastern lake
Neusiedler See, shared with Hungary. [18]
Capital basin
Vienna sits on the Danube near eastern lowlands. [18]
Other major cities
Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. [18]
Alpine valleys
Important settlement, transport and economic corridors. [18]
Eastern lowlands
Contain fertile agricultural areas and urban centers. [18]
Transalpine movement
Rail and highway tunnels link northern and southern Europe. [18]
Pass corridors
Brenner and other passes connect Austria with Italy. [18]
Topographic variation
Steep mountain districts contrast with broad eastern basins. [18]
Hydropower resources
Mountain watersheds supply significant renewable electricity. [18]
Border geography
Austria is a transit route between western and southeastern Europe. [18]
Final population January 1, 2026
9,215,956. [3]
Provisional population July 1, 2026
9,217,573. [3]
Population January 1, 2025
9,197,213. [3]
Population January 1, 2024
9,158,750. [3]
Vienna January 1, 2026
2,040,914 residents. [3]
Lower Austria January 1, 2026
1,729,541 residents. [3]
Upper Austria January 1, 2026
1,537,159 residents. [3]
Styria January 1, 2026
1,271,764 residents. [3]
Tyrol January 1, 2026
779,060 residents. [3]
Salzburg January 1, 2026
573,526 residents. [3]
Carinthia January 1, 2026
569,990 residents. [3]
Vorarlberg January 1, 2026
412,307 residents. [3]
Burgenland January 1, 2026
301,695 residents. [3]
Population methodology
Registration-based main-residence counts with residence-duration rules. [3]
Interim population change
The July 2026 estimate is provisional pending later releases. [3]
World Bank 2025 population
9,208,163. [2]
World Bank population growth 2025
About 0.3 percent. [2]
World Bank life expectancy 2024
Approximately 82 years. [2]
World Bank annual method
Internationally harmonized estimate, not a census-day count. [2]
Population pressure
Aging and migration shape population and public service needs. [2]
Climate
Temperate continental and Alpine, varying by altitude. [16]
West-east contrast
Moist western mountain valleys and drier eastern basins. [16]
Alpine precipitation
Snow accumulation is important for water and winter tourism. [16]
Warming exposure
Glacier retreat and less reliable seasonal snow. [16]
Natural hazards
Floods, landslides, avalanches and heat waves. [16]
River flooding
Danube and tributary flood control are major risk-management topics. [16]
Biodiversity
Protected habitats include forests, wetlands and high-mountain zones. [16]
Energy transition
Adaptation and emissions reduction are public-policy priorities. [16]

Official and international population series

Register populations refer to exact calendar dates; World Bank provides a separate annual model. [3] [2]

StatisticDatePopulation
Statistics Austria finalJanuary 1, 20269,215,956
Statistics Austria provisionalJuly 1, 20269,217,573
World Bank annual estimate20259,208,163

Population of the nine federal states, January 2026

Final register count from Statistics Austria; sum equals the national January 1 estimate. [3]

Federal stateResidentsAdministrative context
Vienna2,040,914Federal capital
Lower Austria1,729,541St. Pölten
Upper Austria1,537,159Linz
Styria1,271,764Graz
Tyrol779,060Innsbruck
Salzburg573,526Salzburg
Carinthia569,990Klagenfurt
Vorarlberg412,307Bregenz
Burgenland301,695Eisenstadt

Economy & International Trade

Nominal GDP 2025
US$579.47 billion. [2]
GDP per capita 2025
US$62,930 in current dollars. [2]
Real GDP growth 2025
0.6 percent. [2]
Consumer inflation 2025
3.5 percent. [2]
Modeled unemployment 2025
5.6 percent under World Bank/ILO methodology. [2]
Population denominator
Per-capita GDP is calculated from the World Bank annual series. [2]
High-income economy
Austria ranks among developed high-income countries. [2]
Macroeconomic caveat
Nominal-dollar GDP reflects exchange rates, not only domestic output. [2]
2025 goods exports
€190.14 billion, preliminary Statistics Austria. [4]
2025 goods imports
€196.72 billion, preliminary Statistics Austria. [4]
2025 merchandise deficit
€6.58 billion. [4]
2025 imports change
Up 4.1 percent against 2024 in nominal terms. [4]
2025 exports change
Down 0.5 percent against 2024 in nominal terms. [4]
Main trade partner
Germany is Austria’s largest goods trading partner. [4]
EU trade share
Approximately two-thirds of goods imports and exports involved EU countries. [4]
United States market
One of the major export markets outside the EU. [4]
Customs convention
Statistical export and import figures are nominal euro-valued goods flows. [4]
Statistical revision
Preliminary annual results may change after finalized reporting. [4]
Economic model
Advanced social-market economy. [13]
Manufacturing
Machinery, automobiles, metals and specialist equipment are major industries. [13]
Pharmaceuticals
Chemical and pharmaceutical production is economically significant. [13]
High-technology industry
Engineering and industrial research support exports. [13]
Tourism
Alpine sports and cultural city visits generate services income. [13]
Finance
Vienna is a Central European banking and business center. [13]
Small and medium firms
SMEs form a large share of establishments. [13]
Vocational training
Apprenticeships contribute to skilled-labor supply. [13]
Labor relations
Collective bargaining shapes wage-setting arrangements. [13]
Energy mix
Hydropower is an important renewable-electricity source. [13]
Energy imports
Fossil energy import dependence creates strategic exposure. [13]
Logistics
Rail, roads and airports link industrial supply chains. [13]
Public finances
Fiscal policy and social transfers play major economic roles. [13]
Pension systems
Population aging raises expenditure considerations. [13]
Housing costs
Urban housing affordability is an important public issue. [13]
Digital economy
IT services and industrial digitalization are areas of investment. [13]
Research institutions
Universities and technical institutes contribute to innovation. [13]
Economic risk
External manufacturing demand, energy prices and labor shortages matter. [13]
Tourism seasonality
Alpine winters and summer travel shape regional earnings. [13]
Agriculture
Dairy, grains, vines and specialty foods remain important in rural economies. [13]
Monetary policy
Set through the Eurosystem and European Central Bank. [12]
Euro use
Member of the euro area. [12]
Euro adoption
Euro accounting from 1999, euro notes and coins from 2002. [12]
National central bank
Oesterreichische Nationalbank. [12]
ECB decisions
Austria participates in euro-area monetary institutions. [12]
Capital integration
EU single-market rules govern cross-border financial activity. [12]

Selected World Bank 2025 economic indicators

Current US dollars for GDP levels; annual percentage changes for growth and inflation. [2]

Indicator2025Unit
GDP579.47US$ billion
GDP per capita62,930US$
Real GDP growth0.6%
Consumer inflation3.5%
Modeled unemployment5.6%

Statistics Austria: 2025 merchandise trade

Preliminary goods figures in euros; do not conflate with WTO US-dollar series or service exports. [4]

Metric2025Currency / scope
Exports190.14 billionEUR, goods
Imports196.72 billionEUR, goods
Deficit6.58 billionEUR, goods

People & Society

Primary language
German, with Austrian regional and dialectal varieties. [18]
Minority communities
Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian, Roma and others have protected heritage. [18]
Major religion historically
Roman Catholic Christianity. [18]
Religious diversity
Other Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and secular identities coexist. [18]
Vienna heritage
Music, imperial architecture, universities and museums are prominent. [18]
Cultural regions
Tyrol, Styria, Carinthia and other regions maintain distinct traditions. [18]
Alpine customs
Mountain agriculture, festivals and seasonal livelihoods shape local culture. [18]
Literature and music
Long international traditions in classical music and arts. [18]
Culinary culture
Regional dishes, pastries, wine and coffeehouse traditions. [18]
Urban-rural divide
Metropolitan Vienna differs economically and culturally from rural districts. [18]
Cross-border languages
German use supports relations with Germany and Switzerland. [18]
National identity
Historically shaped by Habsburg, Central European and republican legacies. [18]
Intangible cultural heritage
UNESCO records living cultural practices separately from listed physical properties. [15]
Classical music traditions
Music performance and craftsmanship are major heritage fields. [15]
Traditional crafts
Locally transmitted artisanal skills contribute to cultural preservation. [15]
Food culture
Local culinary traditions appear in cultural heritage inventories. [15]
UNESCO classification
Intangible inscriptions are not added to the World Heritage count. [15]
Public education
Federal and regional systems support schools, higher education and training. [13]
Universities
Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and other cities are major academic centers. [13]
Public healthcare
Social insurance and public providers underpin care. [13]
Social protection
Insurance and transfer systems cover major social risks. [13]
Aging society
Growing older age cohorts raise care and pension questions. [13]
Migration
Both internal EU mobility and migration from other regions affect society. [13]
Housing
Tenancy rules and social housing influence urban affordability. [13]
Public transport
Rail and city transport play major roles in mobility. [13]
Gender equality
Labor market and representation outcomes remain monitored. [13]
Workforce skills
Technical education and apprenticeships supply skilled labor. [13]
Quality of life
Urban services and environmental protections contribute to living conditions. [13]
Population distribution
Vienna is the main metropolitan concentration. [13]
Civil liberties
Austria operates under pluralist democratic and rights frameworks. [17]
Freedom of expression
Constitutional and international protections coexist with legal restrictions. [17]
Freedom of religion
Religious expression and organization are legally protected. [17]
Minority rights
Language and equality provisions apply in specified contexts. [17]
Legal oversight
Independent courts and rights institutions review government actions. [17]

Government & Institutions

Federal president
Alexander Van der Bellen. [7]
Role
Head of state with constitutionally defined appointment and dissolution powers. [7]
Election method
Directly elected for a six-year term. [7]
Head-of-state relationship
Appoints the federal chancellor under constitutional practice. [7]
Ceremonial and reserve powers
Presidential authority is often exercised by convention. [7]
Federal chancellor
Christian Stocker. [5]
Start of term
Sworn in March 3, 2025. [5]
Chancellor party
Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). [5]
Head of government
Chancellor leads the federal cabinet. [5]
Coalition structure
Cabinet operates through party agreement and parliamentary confidence. [5]
2025 transition
Coalition formation followed the September 2024 National Council election. [5]
2025 coalition
ÖVP, Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and NEOS. [6]
Vice chancellor
Andreas Babler of SPÖ in the Stocker government. [6]
Political significance
A three-party coalition formed after a prolonged negotiation period. [6]
Party diversity
National political system includes FPÖ, ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and Greens. [6]
Coalition accountability
Cabinet needs functional parliamentary support. [6]
National Council statutory size
183 seats. [8]
Federal Council
Upper chamber representing nine federal states. [8]
National Council election
Most recent general election was September 29, 2024. [8]
Lower-house electoral system
Proportional representation. [8]
Legislative terms
Generally up to five years. [8]
Federal Council selection
Members delegated by state legislatures, not national popular elections. [8]
Budget legislation
National Council plays a central fiscal-approval role. [8]
Committee work
Parliamentary committees examine draft legislation. [8]
Parliamentary control
Government questions and inquiries are oversight mechanisms. [8]
Party affiliations
Current seat affiliation can differ from the election-night result. [8]
Federal structure
Nine Länder with their own elected governments. [10]
Federalism
Power is divided under constitutional rules. [10]
State parliaments
Landtage enact legislation within state competencies. [10]
Municipal administration
Local authorities provide community services. [10]
Court system
Constitutional Court, Administrative Court and regular courts. [10]
Rights framework
Domestic constitutional law and European human-rights treaties apply. [10]
Electoral institutions
Independent administration and judicial review provide safeguards. [10]
Public administration
Federal, provincial and municipal levels cooperate. [10]

Political institutions, 2026

The country has two parliamentary chambers and a cabinet based on coalition agreement. [7] [5] [8]

InstitutionStructureLeadership / composition
Federal presidencyDirectly electedAlexander Van der Bellen
Federal chancelleryCabinet executiveChristian Stocker
National Council183 seatsDirect elections
Federal CouncilState representationDelegated by Länder

International Profile

European Union
Member since January 1, 1995. [11]
Euro area
Participates in common currency and ECB institutions. [11]
Schengen
Participant in European passport-free travel arrangements. [11]
EU single market
Full member rights and responsibilities. [11]
EU parliament
Austrian electors choose members of the European Parliament. [11]
EU Council
Federal ministers participate in EU legislation and policy. [11]
European law
EU law operates within applicable domestic constitutional frameworks. [11]
Trade integration
Germany and other EU members are important trading partners. [11]
United Nations
Member since 1955. [1]
OSCE
Vienna hosts important OSCE institutions. [1]
UN offices
Vienna is a major United Nations office location. [1]
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters in Vienna. [1]
OPEC
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is headquartered in Vienna; Austria itself is not an OPEC member. [1]
NATO
Austria is not a NATO member. [1]
Neutrality
Permanent neutrality is a longstanding constitutional policy. [1]
Council of Europe
Member of European human-rights institutions. [1]
OECD
Member, participating in economic policy reviews. [1]
International diplomacy
Vienna is a major meeting and conference location. [1]
World Heritage total
Twelve inscribed UNESCO properties. [14]
Historic Centre of Vienna
Cultural property removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list in 2026; conservation monitoring continues. [21]
Historic Centre of Salzburg
Cultural urban property. [14]
Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens
Imperial palace and landscape. [14]
Hallstatt-Dachstein
Alpine cultural landscape. [14]
Semmering Railway
Historic mountain railway. [14]
Wachau Cultural Landscape
Danube valley cultural landscape. [14]
City of Graz and Schloss Eggenberg
Historic urban and palace ensemble. [14]
Fertö / Neusiedlersee
Shared landscape with Hungary. [14]
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
Multinational serial cultural site. [14]
Great Spa Towns of Europe
Austria contributes a component to this serial inscription. [14]
Danube Limes
Austria is part of the western segment of a multinational Roman frontier site. [14]
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests
Transnational natural property. [14]
Serial count
Multinational serial inscriptions each count as one property nationally. [14]
Cultural category
Eleven properties in Austria’s UNESCO inventory are cultural. [14]
Natural category
One listed property is natural. [14]

UNESCO heritage: property examples

UNESCO lists 12 properties; these are selected entries rather than a new count of separate components. [14]

PropertyClassificationContext
Historic Centre of ViennaCulturalUrban heritage
Hallstatt-Dachstein / SalzkammergutCulturalAlpine landscape
Semmering RailwayCulturalEngineering heritage
Ancient and Primeval Beech ForestsNaturalMultinational serial site

Sources & Methodology

This page compiles dated official statistical releases, World Bank indicators, international treaty and parliamentary documentation, and UNESCO inventories. Figures follow the referenced source definitions; population estimates, censuses, register counts, national-currency trade figures and internationally converted merchandise series should not be treated as interchangeable. Government and elections are documented as of the cutoff date, with contested institutional claims appropriately qualified.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). This is a dated reference edition; official statistical and political updates after the cutoff require review.

  1. UN Statistics Division — Austria country classification — Country and statistical regional placement.
  2. World Bank — Austria country indicators — 2025 annual GDP, population, inflation and labor indicators.
  3. Statistics Austria — Population at the start of year/quarter — Final January 2026 and provisional July 2026 register population by province.
  4. Statistics Austria — 2025 goods-trade press release — Preliminary 2025 merchandise exports, imports and deficit in euros.
  5. Austrian Federal Chancellery — Chancellor Christian Stocker — Appointment on March 3, 2025 and chancellor office.
  6. Austrian Federal Chancellery — Governments since 1945 — Stocker government and party composition.
  7. Federal President of the Republic of Austria — President Alexander Van der Bellen and federal role.
  8. Austrian Parliament — National Council composition — National Council size and current membership.
  9. IPU PARLINE — Austria national parliament — 2024 election and legislative institutions.
  10. Austrian Federal Chancellery — Federal government — Federal government, nine-state administration and policy.
  11. European Union — Austria country facts — Membership, euro area, Schengen and EU institutions.
  12. European Central Bank — euro area — Euro currency and monetary-policy structure.
  13. OECD — Austria country information — Economic and social-policy context.
  14. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Austria — Twelve listed properties, including multinational serial sites.
  15. UNESCO intangible cultural heritage — Austria — Intangible traditions separate from World Heritage inscriptions.
  16. World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal — Austria — Climate risk, Alpine warming, floods and heat.
  17. Freedom House — Austria profile — Rights and democratic-institutional context.
  18. Encyclopaedia Britannica — Austria geography — Geography, history and administrative system.
  19. World Bank / WTO — Merchandise exports — WTO-linked merchandise export series.
  20. World Bank / WTO — Merchandise imports — WTO-linked merchandise import series.
  21. UNESCO decision 48 COM 8C.3 — Vienna removed from Danger List — 2026 decision removes Historic Centre of Vienna from World Heritage in Danger.