Country Profile: Austria

Last reviewed: 28 April 2008

Country information

AUSTRIA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 83,871 sq km (32,382 sq miles)
Population: 8.3 million
Capital City: Vienna (1.6million)
Languages: German (98.5%)
Ethnic Groups: : Croats, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma and Sinti (officially recognised)
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (73.6%), Muslim (4.2%), Protestant (4.7%), Other (3.5%) Non-denominational (-12%)
Currency: euro
Major political parties: Social Democratic Party (SPÖ); People's Party (ÖVP); Greens; Freedom Party (FPÖ); Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ)
Government: Federal Republic, Parliamentary Democracy.
Head of State: President Heinz Fischer (elected 2004)
Federal Chancellor: Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) (since 11 January 2007)
Foreign Minister: Ursula Plassnik (ÖVP) (since 2004; re-appointed 11 January 2007)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: In 1995 Austria joined the European Union (EU). Austria is also a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).