Austria: country overview
17 May 2012by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 21 September 2021
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
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Austria
Capital: Vienna
Geographical size: 83 879 km²
Population: 8 576 261 (2015)
Population as % of total EU: 1.7 % (2015)
Gross domestic product (GDP): € 337.162 billion (2015)
Official EU language(s): German
Political system: federal parliamentary republic
EU member country since: 1 January 1995
Seats in the European Parliament: 18
Currency: Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 1 December 2007.
Presidency of the Council: Austria has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU twice: in 1998 and 2006. The next time will be in 2018.
Economy and Trade
The most important sectors of Austria’s economy in 2018 were wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (22.9%), industry (22%) and public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (17.3%).
In terms of imports, 78% come from EU Member States (Germany 41%, Italy 6% and Czechia and the Netherlands 4%), while outside the EU 4% come from Switzerland and 3% from China.
Useful links
The Commission's Representation in Austria
European Parliament office in Austria
Source: European Commission, CIA - The World Factbook