Basic data and indicators

Last updated: October 2011

Basic Data

Population (1 000): 8 375.300 inhabitants (2010)
GDP at market prices: 286 197.3 million Euros (2010)
GDP per inhabitant in PPS (purchasing Power Standards EU 27=100): 126.0 (2010)
GDP growth rate: 2.3 % (2010)
Inflation rate: 1.7 % (2010)
Unemployment rate: 4.4 % (2010)
Government debt/GDP: 72.3 % (2010)
Public balance (government deficit or surplus/GDP): -4.6 % (2010)
Source: Eurostat

Area: 83 870 km²
Capital city: Vienna
Official EU language: German
Currency: Euro
Source: Europa website

Political Structure

Austria is a federal republic. Legislative and executive powers are divided between the Federal Parliament and the nine Provincial Parliaments (Länder).

At federal level, legislative power is held by a bicameral Federal Parliament (National and Federal Council). The National Council (Nationalrat) has 183 members elected for a period of five years by proportional representation of the parties. The Federal Council (Bundesrat) consists of 62 members elected by each of the provincial parliaments. The number of seats for each of the nine Länder depends on their population (e.g. Lower Austria having the highest population, holds most of the seats - twelve). The Federal Council reviews legislation passed by the National Council and can delay but, hardly ever veto, its enactment.

Executive power is held by the Federal Government, led by the Federal Chancellor, answerable to the National Council. The Head of State is the Federal President who is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The Federal Presidency has a mainly ceremonial role and normally acts on the advice of the Government. The President convenes and concludes parliamentary sessions and under certain conditions can dissolve Parliament. The President chooses the Federal Chancellor customarily from the leading party in the National Council. The Vice-Chancellor and Federal Ministers are chosen by the President on the advice of the Chancellor.

The Austrian Federal Constitution was adopted on 1 October 1920, revised in 1929, and reinstated on 1 May 1945.

Austria became a member of the European Union on 1 January 1995.

Head of State: President Heinz Fischer (since April 2004).

Head of Government: Chancellor Werner Faymann (since December 2008).

Information Society Indicators

Percentage of households with Internet access: 73 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with Internet access: 97 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet at least once a week: 70 % (2010)
Percentage of households with a broadband connection: 64 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with a broadband connection: 82 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals having purchased/ordered online in the last three months: 32 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises having received orders online within the previous year: 10 % (2009)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet for interacting with public authorities: obtaining information 34.9 %, downloading forms 21.1 %, returning filled forms 12.0 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises using the Internet for interacting with public authorities: obtaining information 70 %, downloading forms 75 %, returning filled forms 58 % (2009)
Source: Eurostat
Editorial notice: Statistical indicators referenced in this section reflect those of Eurostat at the time the Edition is being prepared.