Austria: An African Country? Exploring Geographic Confusion

is austria a country in africa

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. It is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country is divided into nine states (Bundesländer), with both regional and federal governments exercising executive power.

Austria has a rich history, having been a part of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It has a strong cultural heritage, including its well-known musical legacy.

In terms of geography, Austria is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The country is known for its stunning Alpine landscapes, including popular ski resorts and hiking trails.

Austria has a population of around 9 million people and covers an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles). The official language is German, and the capital city is Vienna, which is also the most populous city in the country.

Austria has a strong economy, with a high GDP per capita, and it is known for its high standard of living. The country has a history of neutrality in foreign affairs and is a member of the European Union.

In conclusion, Austria is a country located in Central Europe with a diverse landscape, a rich history, and a thriving economy.

Characteristics Values
Country Austria
Continent Europe
Region Central Europe
Area 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi)
Population 9,170,647
Capital Vienna
Official Language German
Government Federal parliamentary republic
Head of State President Alexander Van der Bellen
Head of Government Chancellor Karl Nehammer
Currency Euro
GDP per Capita €46,200
Relationship with Africa Long-standing relationships with North African countries

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Austria's relationship with North African countries

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is not a country in Africa. However, Austria has long-standing relationships with the countries of North Africa and the Maghreb. Regular contacts at the working level, as well as official visits at all political levels, are evidence of the good state of relations with the countries of the Southern Mediterranean.

Austria has a history of supporting peace processes in the Middle East, with the aim of achieving a two-state solution in a peaceful Israeli-Palestinian neighbourhood within secure and mutually recognised borders. Austria also actively provides humanitarian aid in crisis areas and supports efforts to find political solutions.

In recent years, Austria has taken steps to strengthen its economic and diplomatic relations with Africa. In 2022, trade between Austria and sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 2.28 billion euros, with South Africa, Mali, and Nigeria being the main export markets.

Austria has also shown its commitment to North Africa by providing financial aid during natural disasters. For example, the Austrian Federal Government provided two million euros from the Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by natural disasters in Morocco and Libya.

Additionally, Austria has a strong relationship with the League of Arab States, an international organisation of Arab states founded in 1945. Regular ministerial meetings between the European Union and the League of Arab States are seen as an important opportunity to deepen and institutionalise relations between the two organisations.

Austria also played a role in the Arab Spring movement, which began in 2011 and expressed the aspirations of the people in the Southern Mediterranean countries for better living conditions and democratic participation in their countries' politics.

In summary, Austria maintains good relations with North African countries and actively engages in the region through political, economic, and humanitarian efforts.

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Austria's involvement in the European Union

Austria is a member of the European Union and has been since 1995. It is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country consists of nine states, and both regional and federal governments exercise executive power.

In 1948, Austria became a founding member of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), which provided an ideal forum for the country to give resonance to its foreign and European political interests. It was via this organisation that ERP funds were allocated. Austria's choice of neutrality in 1955 was interpreted by critical contemporaries as a ‘detour on the way to Europe’. However, Lujo Tončić-Sorinj, who later became Foreign Minister, addressed this theme in the summer of 1958 at the ‘Vienna Europe Discussions’, recalling that Austria was prepared to make this ‘sacrifice’ to stand for a greater Europe.

In 1956, Austria became a member of the Council of Europe, and in 1957, it signed the European Convention on Human Rights. In 1958, Austria sought to arrive at an arrangement with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and concluded a customs and trade agreement. In 1960, Austria became a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

In 1989, Austria sent a letter to Brussels expressing its desire to join the European Union. This was followed by EU accession in 1995. Since joining the EU, Austria has committed itself to joining the Economic and Monetary Union and adopting the Euro. The country has also participated in the Schengen Agreement, which has removed internal borders and strengthened controls at external frontiers.

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Austria's geography and natural resources

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country occupies an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) and has a population of around 9 million.

Austria is a largely mountainous country because of its location in the Alps. The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps, and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria. Of the total area of Austria (83,871 km2 or 32,383 sq mi), only about a quarter can be considered low-lying, and only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft). The Alps of western Austria give way somewhat into low lands and plains in the eastern part of the country.

The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country. They may be subdivided into a northern and a southern limestone range, each of which is composed of rugged mountains. These two ranges are separated by a central range that is softer in form and outline and composed of crystalline rocks. The highest elevation in the Austrian Alps is the Grossglockner, which rises to 3,798 metres (12,460 feet).

The Austrian foothills at the base of the Alps and the Carpathians account for around 12% of the country's total landmass. The foothills in the east and areas surrounding the periphery of the Pannonian Lowlands amount to about 12% of the total landmass. The second greater mountain area (much lower than the Alps) is situated in the north. Known as the Austrian granite plateau, it is located in the central area of the Bohemian Massif and accounts for 10% of Austria. The Austrian portion of the Vienna Basin makes up the remaining 4%.

Forests cover around 47% of Austria's total land area, or 3,899,150 hectares in 2020. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 2,227,500 hectares, and planted forest covered 1,671,500 hectares. Of the naturally regenerating forest, 2% was primary forest, and around 23% was found within protected areas.

Agriculture employs only a small percentage of Austria's workforce and accounts for a tiny portion of the GDP. Because of the country's mountainous terrain, only about half of the land can be cultivated. Agricultural areas are found mainly in the east—particularly in Burgenland, Steiermark, Kärnten, and Niederösterreich—and farms are usually small or medium-sized. Crops include sugar beets, wheat, corn, barley, potatoes, apples, and grapes. Pigs and cattle are also raised.

Austria's natural resources include arable land, beautiful scenery, and minerals. The country is a leading producer of natural magnesite, a magnesium carbonate used extensively in the chemical industry. Other important mineral resources include iron, lignite, anhydrous gypsum, lead, zinc, and antimony.

Austria's manufacturing sector accounts for a significant portion of the GDP. Iron and steel production has long been a leading industry. An important Austrian innovation in steelmaking was the basic oxygen process, or LD process, originally named for the cities of Linz and Donawitz.

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Austria's economy and industry

Austria is a highly developed industrialized country with a strong social focus and a significant service sector. It is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, and its economy is characterised as a free-market economy. The most important industries in Austria are food and luxury commodities, mechanical engineering and steel construction, chemicals, and vehicle manufacturing.

Austria's industrial and commercial sectors are dominated by medium-sized companies, which make up 99.6% of all companies in the country. The construction of plants and systems is an increasingly important and highly export-oriented share of the economy, as is the electronics sector. Austria is also known for its arts and crafts, including fine handcrafted items, customised jewellery, ceramics, and glassware.

Tourism is a vital pillar of the Austrian economy, accounting for around 10% of its GDP. The country is mountainous and has one of the largest natural land reserves in Central Europe.

In the field of agriculture, Austria is witnessing a strong trend towards organic farming, with 22% of farms being organic—the highest proportion among EU member states. Austrian farms are small and fragmented, and production is relatively expensive. The agricultural sector has been undergoing substantial reform under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and it now contributes less than 3% to the country's GDP.

Austria has an abundance of natural resources, including iron ore, non-ferrous metals, important minerals, and earths. The country also has its own sources of petroleum and natural gas, and it is a leader in the European Union in hydroelectric power generation.

Regarding international trade, Germany has historically been Austria's main trading partner. However, since Austria became a member of the European Union, it has gained closer ties to other EU economies and reduced its economic dependence on Germany. Trade with other EU countries now accounts for almost 66% of Austrian imports and exports. Additionally, expanding trade and investment in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe is a significant element of Austrian economic activity, accounting for about 14% of imports and exports.

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Austria's history and politics

Austria's History

The history of Austria covers the history of Austria and its predecessor states. In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture (c. 800 BC), who first organised as a Celtic kingdom referred to by the Romans as Noricum, dating from c. 800 to 400 BC. At the end of the 1st century BC, the lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire. In the Migration Period, the 6th century, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, occupied these lands until it fell to the Frankish Empire established by the Germanic Franks in the 9th century. The name Ostarrîchi (Austria) has been in use since 996 AD when it was a margravate of the Duchy of Bavaria and from 1156 an independent duchy (later archduchy) of the Holy Roman Empire (962–1806).

Austria was dominated by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine from 1273 to 1918. In 1806, when Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, Austria became the Austrian Empire, and was also part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary: the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When this empire collapsed after the end of World War I in 1918, Austria was reduced to the main, mostly German-speaking areas of the empire (its current frontiers), and adopted the name, the Republic of German-Austria. However, union with Germany and the chosen country name were forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles. This led to the creation of the First Austrian Republic (1919–1933).

Following the First Republic, Austrofascism tried to keep Austria independent from the German Reich. Engelbert Dollfuss accepted that most Austrians were German and Austrian, but wanted Austria to remain independent from Germany. In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, which was supported by a large majority of Austrians. After the German defeat in World War II, the German identity in Austria was weakened. Ten years after the Second World War, Austria again became an independent republic as the Second Austrian Republic in 1955. Austria joined the European Union in 1995.

Austria's Politics

Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president as head of state and a chancellor as head of government and chief executive. The politics of Austria reflect the dynamics of competition among multiple political parties, which led to the formation of a Conservative-Green coalition government for the first time in January 2020, following the snap elections of 29 September 2019, and the election of a former Green Party leader to the presidency in 2016. Austrian politics takes place within the constitutional framework of a federal semi-presidential republic, with a President (Bundespräsident) serving as head of state and a Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) as head of government. Governments, both local and federal, exercise executive power. Federal legislative power is vested both in the Federal Government and in the two chambers of Parliament; the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The Judiciary of Austria is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.

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