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Austria

 Flag of Austria

Last reviewed: 25 January 2012

Country information

Map of Austria



BRIEF FACTS

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%), Protestant (4.7%), Muslim (4.2%), Other (3.5%), Nondenominational (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, re-elected 2010)
Federal Chancellor: Werner Faymann (SPÖ) (since 2 December 2008)
Foreign Minister: Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) (since 2 December 2008)
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).  Austria was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from January 2009 until the end of 2010.

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