Passport Power: Austrian Citizenship For Migrants

Austria's population is growing, and immigration is the primary driver of this growth. In 2021, there were 1,587,251 foreigners living in Austria, with the number rising to 1,841,463 in 2023. This is a 13.1% increase compared to 2020. The population of Austrian citizens has also been bolstered by naturalization, with 31,731 people becoming Austrian citizens in 2001. The number of people with Austrian citizenship living abroad is estimated to be 587,620, with most residing in Germany.

How many migrants are living in Austria?

Austria is a Federal Parliamentary Republic located in central Europe. It covers a territory of 83,879 sq. km, and has a population of 9,106,126. Vienna, the capital, is the largest city, with 1,920,000 residents at the beginning of 2021 and 1,982,097 at the beginning of 2023. A fifth of Austria's population lives in the capital.

In 2022, there were 1,587,251 foreigners living in Austria, mainly from Eastern and Central European countries. The two leading countries of origin were Germany, with 217,000 nationals, and Romania, with 138,000 nationals. These were followed by Serbia (122,000), Turkey (118,000), Bosnia (97,000), and Croatia (95,000). Overall, there is a considerable number of Eastern and Central European people residing in the country.

In 2022, 26,664,700 persons with refugee status and 108,781 new asylum applications were registered in Austria. The leading countries of origin for asylum seekers were Afghanistan (22%), India (17.92%), Syria (17.60%), Tunisia (11.64%), Morocco (7.78%), and Pakistan (7.02%).

The Austrian population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. Every year, there are considerably more people migrating to Austria than emigrating from it. In 2022, 154,212 new immigrants arrived, an increase of 13.1% compared to 2020. In 2021, the net migration was 49,097 persons, a significant increase largely due to the arrival of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion.

According to Statistics Austria, one in four Austrians is an immigrant or has a migration background, representing 2.24 million people or 25.4% of the total population. This marks a 24% increase in the last seven years.

How many migrants have arrived in Austria in 2023?

Austria has experienced a notable increase in its foreign population in 2023, with one in four people having a migration background. The number of residents with a migration background reached 2.45 million, accounting for over 27% of the total population. This represents a 35% increase compared to 2015 when the number of foreign residents stood at 1.81 million.

In 2023, 154,212 new immigrants have arrived in Austria, an increase of 13.1% compared to 2020. The foreign population in Austria has surged, reaching 2.45 million in 2023, with Germans being the most represented foreign nationality (1.8 million people).

Vienna, the capital city of Austria, had a population of 1,982,097 residents at the beginning of 2023. Of these, 34.2% were foreign nationals, 39.3% were born abroad, and 44.4% were of foreign origin, meaning they held a foreign citizenship or were Austrian nationals born abroad. The main countries of origin of Viennese who are foreign nationals or were born abroad have hardly changed over the years: at the beginning of 2023, 100,199 people originated from Serbia, 75,907 from Turkey, 69,265 from Germany, and 55,151 from Poland.

The share of Vienna's foreign-origin population (persons with foreign citizenship or Austrian nationals born abroad) was 44.4% in 2023. In four municipal districts, more than half of the population was of foreign origin: Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, Brigittenau, Favoriten, and Margareten. The district of Hietzing is the farthest below the Viennese average in foreign-born residents, with a share of 32%.

Each year, tens of thousands of people move to Vienna from abroad or from Vienna to another country. In 2022, for example, 92,268 people moved to Vienna from abroad, and 43,171 people left Vienna to move to another country. The net migration in 2022 increased significantly, largely due to the arrival of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, amounting to 49,097 people.

The Austrian population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. Every year, there are considerably more people migrating to Austria than emigrating from it. In contrast, the numbers of births and deaths are usually more balanced. 97% of Austria's total population growth between January 1st, 2011, and January 1st, 2021 (+557,500 people) can be attributed to net migration gains (+539,905).

At the beginning of 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. The number of persons with foreign citizenship rose sharply in the early 1990s and again in recent years.

How many migrants in Austria are from conflict-ridden countries?

Austria's population has been growing for decades due to immigration, particularly in recent years due to the arrival of refugees. In 2023, the foreign population in Austria reached 2.45 million, with one in four people in the country having a migration background.

In 2022, 26,664,700 people with refugee status and 108,781 new asylum applications were registered in Austria. The leading countries of origin for asylum seekers were Afghanistan (22%), India (17.92%), Syria (17.60%), Tunisia (11.64%), Morocco (7.78%), and Pakistan (7.02%).

In 2023, Afghans topped the list of asylum applications with 12,000, followed by Indians with 7,600. These migrants are coming from conflict-ridden countries and are seeking refuge in Austria. Many of them are also trying to reach other countries in the EU, such as Germany, Italy, or France.

In addition to those seeking asylum, there are also many migrants from conflict-ridden countries who have settled in Austria. As of January 1, 2022, there were 1,587,251 foreigners living in Austria, with the majority coming from Eastern and Central European countries. However, there is also a significant number of people from Syria, Afghanistan, and other countries affected by conflict and war.

The Austrian government has implemented measures to support and protect refugees, providing them with basic social services, housing, health insurance, and access to the labour market. The country has also seen an increase in internal migration, with 782,995 instances of residence changes within its borders in 2021.

In summary, Austria has seen a significant influx of migrants from conflict-ridden countries in recent years, with many seeking asylum and refuge. The country has taken steps to support and protect these vulnerable populations, contributing to its growing foreign population.

How many migrants in Austria are from EU countries?

Austria's population has been growing for decades due to immigration, particularly in recent years due to the arrival of refugees. In 2023, the country saw a notable increase in its foreign population, with one in four people having a migration background. The number of residents with a migration background reached 2.45 million, accounting for over 27% of the total population. This also represents a 35% increase compared to 2015, when the number of foreign residents stood at 1.81 million.

According to Statistics Austria, in 2022, there were 1,587,251 foreigners living in Austria, mainly from Eastern and Central European countries. The two leading countries of origin were EU member states, with 217,000 Germans (13.67% of the migrant stock) and 138,000 Romanians (8.69%). Moreover, there were 122,000 Serbians, 118,000 Turks, 97,000 Bosnians, and 95,000 Croatians. Overall, there is a considerable number of Eastern and Central European people residing in the country.

In total, 793,000 citizens from other EU countries live in Austria, representing 52% of all foreign citizens in the country. The biggest group among EU citizens are 209,000 Germans, followed by Romanians (132,000), Hungarians (91,000), Croatians (89,000), and Poles (67,000).

In Vienna, 34.2% of the city's residents were foreign nationals, 39.3% were born abroad, and 44.4% were of foreign origin, meaning they either held a foreign citizenship or were Austrian nationals born abroad.

How many migrants in Austria are from non-EU countries?

Austria has experienced significant population growth and diversification since the fall of the Iron Curtain, its accession to the EU in 1995, and the subsequent enlargements of the EU. In 2021, there were 1,587,251 foreigners living in Austria, comprising 17.1% of the country's population. This figure includes both EU and non-EU citizens.

The number of people with foreign citizenship in Austria has risen sharply in recent years. At the beginning of 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This includes citizens from other EU countries, who make up 52% of foreign citizens in Austria, and non-EU citizens, who account for the remaining 48%.

In 2023, there were about 842,600 third-country nationals (TCNs) in Austria, representing 9.3% of the population. TCNs are individuals from non-EU countries. The largest groups among TCNs include Serbian and Turkish nationals. In addition, there were 73,010 non-EU citizens who had fled their countries due to war and were granted temporary protection in Austria as of March 2024.

Austria has been a destination and transit country for migrants, with many asylum seekers passing through on their way to other European countries, particularly Germany. In 2022, there were 26,664,700 persons with refugee status and 108,781 new asylum applications registered in Austria. The leading countries of origin for asylum seekers were Afghanistan, India, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Pakistan.

In summary, while the total number of foreigners in Austria includes citizens from both EU and non-EU countries, the number of migrants specifically from non-EU countries is substantial and has been increasing. The Austrian government has implemented various measures to manage immigration, including integration programs and asylum regulations.

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