What You Need to Know About Austria
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Its name is Republik Österreich or Republic of Austria due to its status as a Federal State. The country shares borders with Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic to the north, and Italy.
The country has been part of the EU and the Eurozone for about 25 years. The official language in Austria is German; however, several foreign languages are also spoken there, notably Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Czech, Romani, and Slovenian.
Currently, the Austrian population numbers 8,859,449 inhabitants over a total area of 83,871 km2. The capital of the country is Vienna and its telephone code is 43, that is 0043 or °43.
The Best Cities in Austria
Main Attractions in Austria
Vienna
The capital of Austria is the largest city but also the most populated in the country. Firstly, the city has three palaces, the first being the Imperial Palace of Hamburg with 2,600 rooms and a dozen courtyards. The next is Schönbrunn Palace, which includes the imperial apartments and the Palm House. The last is the Belvedere Palace, which is full of artworks in its gallery. The capital also includes stunning museums such as the Museum of Art History, the Sissi Museum, and the Natural History Museum for lovers of works by Rembrandt or Michelangelo.
Salzburg
This city is especially famous for its historic architectural layout and Mozart’s house, which has been converted into a musical art museum. In this place, you will see original compositions, musical instruments, and theaters dedicated to the artist.
You can also visit the Residenzbrunnen fountain and the Salzburg Residenz royal residence. Speaking of palaces, don’t forget the Hohensalzburg Castle with its old Gothic appearance, built about 20 centuries ago. The city of Salzburg also includes a curious garden and several religious sites such as Saint Peter’s Church and Salzburg Cathedral.
Graz
After the capital, the city of Graz is the second largest Austrian city. This city reflects European history and culture; that is why it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will see ancient architectures such as Haus am Luegg, the Landhaus, and the Rathaus or city hall. The Franciscan Church is also a structure that reflects the Gothic period.
Graz also hosts several museums such as the Apothecary Museum, the Main Museum, the Robert Stolz Museum (related to the composer), and finally, the large Armory Museum. To finish, don’t forget to visit Saint Giles Cathedral and Schloss Eggenberg Palace, which all reflect the ancient civilizations that once ruled the city.
Innsbruck
The city of Innsbruck is especially famous for having the best ski resort in the world. Indeed, the Austrian Nordkette slopes are the most difficult to ski. At these resorts, you can use the cable car to get an aerial view of Innsbruck and enjoy the landscape. Also visit the Tyrolean architectural buildings such as the Helbinghaus building, the Goldener, and the Burgriesenhaus, all buildings dating from the 15th century.
Where the Cities Are Located on the Map
Vienna
On the map, the capital is located in the eastern section of Austria. Geographically, it is situated in the middle of Central Europe. Geographic coordinates: 48° 12′ 30″ N, 16° 22′ 23″ E.
Salzburg
On the map, the city of Salzburg is located in the northwest section of the country. It is the city closest to the German border. Geographic coordinates: 47° 48′ 09″ north, 13° 02′ 45″ east.
Graz
Graz is located in the southeastern section of the map. It is about 145 km away from the capital in the southwest direction. It is a city along the banks of the Mur River. Geographic coordinates: 47° 04′ 14″ north, 15° 26′ 17″ east.
Innsbruck
Nestled in the heart of the Alpine mountain range, Innsbruck is an Austrian city located in the western section of Austria. Geographic coordinates: 47° 16′ 00″ north, 11° 23′ 00″ east.
Financial Map of Austria
The Austrian economy is based on international and infranational free trade. It is a system called a free market economy. Thus, the country has established various political and geographical partnerships with neighboring countries.
This has allowed the industry and service sectors to grow. The tertiary sector is more efficient in mechanical industry, chemical industry, and automotive industry. On the other hand, the primary sector is dominated by organic farming. In fact, data shows that 22% of farms are recognized by the EU.
Moreover, the resources and raw materials used in industry are not imported; the Austrian soil is rich in minerals, metals, and agricultural resources. Imports are therefore solely focused on hydrocarbons, although the country possesses oil and gas resources. The tourism sector also constitutes an important part of the country’s economy because the country has numerous natural and cultural reserves.
Some economic indicators of the country
- The current currency of Austria is the Euro
- Austria’s GDP: 455.3 billion US dollars
- Gross Domestic Product per capita: 51,461.95 US dollars
- Unemployment rate: 4.5% of the active population
- Public debt: 74% of the gross domestic product
- Annual GDP growth rate in %: 2.5
- Human Development Index: 0.892
- Active population: 4.26 million inhabitants
Climate Map of Austria
Since 60% of Austrian territory is dominated by mountain ranges, notably the Alps, the climate varies according to the sections of the country.
- The type of climate in the flat areas is characterized by freezing winters and hot, dry summers. This region is located in the eastern section of the country.
- The mountainous areas are characterized by a temperate continental climate. This results in fairly cold winters. However, summers are hot with heavy rains in the early afternoon.
- Finally, cities located at high altitudes are characterized by frequent snowfall during the winter period. However, summers are hot but stormy.
In general, the Austrian territory experiences heavy precipitation throughout the year. In mountainous areas, the annual rainfall is 1000 mm. In contrast, the plains and low-altitude areas have an annual rainfall of 550 mm.
Summer across the territory is quite warm, dry in some places, but generally, rains are abundant in the afternoon. Winter is freezing; however, some areas are snowier than others.
Summer in Austria is characterized by persistent heat waves that raise the temperature up to 26°C. Night temperatures are cool, whereas the days are sunny in the morning and stormy in the late afternoon. In the southern parts of the country, summer temperatures can reach 38°C.
Austrian winter is often snowy. Throughout almost the entire country, temperatures are quite low, but the coldest regions are located at high altitudes. In the mountains, frost can occur as temperatures drop to -22°C.
Climate in the capital: Vienna
Winter temperatures in the capital hover around -3.5°C, especially at the beginning of the year. During this period, fogs are frequent, with an average of 5 to 10 foggy days per month. It snows generously in the capital, and icy winds coming from Russia further lower the temperature down to -20°C.
Summer, on the other hand, is quite warm with average temperatures between 25 and 26°C. Sunshine is maximal in the morning, but in the afternoon, the sky becomes cloudy and storms occur. Some places in the city experience stifling heat, and the temperature can reach 30°C.
Demographic and Administrative Map of Austria
Demographics in Austria
Currently, the Austrian population numbers 9,031,477 inhabitants according to the latest United Nations estimates. This figure represents 0.12% of the global population. As a result, Austria ranks 97th in terms of dependencies by world population. Given that the country’s area is 82,409 km² or 31,818 square miles, the population density is 283 inhabitants per km².
A little more than half of Austrians live in large cities, that is 57.3%, representing 5,159,360 inhabitants. With an average age of 43.5 years, the Austrian population is predominantly aged.
The country shows a growth rate of 0.42% and a birth rate of 0.95% compared to a mortality rate of 0.95%. However, the life expectancy at birth for an Austrian is 81.7 years, and the male-to-female ratio in the country is 105%. The population is mainly composed of Austrians, Germans, Bosnians, and Turks accounting for 80.8%, 2.6%, 1.9%, and 1.8% respectively; the rest is not yet defined.
In terms of religion, more than half of the population is Catholic (57%), the rest is divided between the Orthodox Church (8.7%) and Islam (7.9%). The remainder is not yet defined.
Administrative Map
The levels that make up the country are primarily the federal state, also called the federated state depending on the context. This main division is then subdivided into districts, which in turn are divided into municipalities.
All administrative divisions of the federal state of Austria are subject to legislation and mainly governed by elected civilians. There are nine sovereign states led by an autocratic government and autonomous but non-liberal districts. The leaders of the latter are politicians appointed as governor or magistrate.
Here are the nine states:
- Burgenland
- Carinthia
- Lower Austria
- Upper Austria
- Salzburg
- Styria
- Tyrol
- Vorarlberg
- Vienna
Austria Demolinguistic Data
Austrians are divided into two categories based on their language. There are German speakers and national minorities.
The German speakers
These are Austrians who simply speak German. However, the dialects differ from one region to another. For example, people in large cities speak Hosprache or Standard German, unlike rural inhabitants who speak Hochalemanisch or Bairisch. In Austria, dialects vary into 3 types depending on the regions: Northern Bavarian, Central Bavarian, and Southern Bavarian.
The national minorities
These are mainly immigrants or people of foreign origin. They include: Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Czech, Romani, and Slovenian.
