Austria's Urban-Rural Divide: Exploring The Country's Landscape

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of around 9 million. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous city and state. Austria's population is aging, with 18% under 15 years of age and 14% over 65. The country has a lower urban population (56%) than most other industrialised nations, with 41.25% of its population living in rural areas as of 2020. This is due to the availability of tourism-related jobs in rural areas.

Austria's urban population

Austria has a lower urban population than most other industrialised countries. In 2022, the urban population of Austria was 5,358,240, which was a 1.42% increase from 2021. This figure has been steadily increasing year-on-year since 2019. In 2020, the urban population was 5,238,479, in 2019 it was 5,196,085, and in 2021 it was 5,283,472.

The urban population of a country refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. However, it is important to note that the aggregation of urban and rural populations may not always add up to the total population due to different country coverages.

Vienna, the country's largest city and federal capital, has experienced a decline in population size since 1923, when it had 1.9 million inhabitants. As of 1985, the population of Vienna was estimated to be 1.5 million. This decline was partly due to the annihilation of the city's Jewish population in 1938.

Austria's population is aging, with 18% under the age of 15 and 14% aged 65 or older. The median age at marriage has increased over time, with women marrying at a median age of 23.0 years and men at 25.8 years. The country has a high value on children and family life, with an increasing marriage rate between 1978 and 1982, rising from 4.5/1000 to 4.8/1000.

Austria's rural population

Austria's population is a mix of urban and rural, with a higher percentage of people living in urban areas. As of 2025, the country's population is estimated to be around 9,113,574 people, with 58.6% living in urban areas. This urban population figure is higher than the rural population, which stood at 40.2% in 2024 and 41.25% in 2020.

The definition of "rural population" can vary between countries and is based on national statistical office definitions. In Austria, the rural population refers to individuals residing outside of areas classified as urban according to national criteria. This distinction is not as clear-cut, as there is no universal standard for defining rural and urban areas, and the two exist on a continuum.

Austria's rural areas offer a range of tourist-related job opportunities, which may contribute to the distribution of the population. The country's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with many lakes, especially in the central Alpine district. The Austrian Alps form the country's physical backbone, with majestic mountains and scenic vistas.

Vienna, the capital and largest city

Vienna has a rich history, dating back to early Celtic and Roman settlements. It was once the Celtic settlement of Vedunia, which the Romans converted into the castrum Vindobona in the 1st century. The city was elevated to a municipium with Roman city rights in 212 and became the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. Vienna was granted city rights in 1221 and became the capital of the Austrian Empire in 1804.

Throughout the modern era, Vienna has been one of the largest German-speaking cities in the world. It was the largest in the 18th and 19th centuries, peaking at two million inhabitants before Berlin overtook it at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Vienna is known as the "City of Music" due to its musical legacy, with many famous classical musicians, such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn, having lived and worked in the city. It is also known as the "City of Dreams" as it was home to Sigmund Freud, the world's first psychoanalyst.

Vienna is located in northeastern Austria, at the easternmost extension of the Alps in the Vienna Basin. The city lies on the Danube River and is surrounded by Lower Austria. It is situated about 50 km (31 mi) west of Slovakia and its capital, Bratislava, 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Hungary, and 60 km (37 mi) south of Moravia (Czech Republic).

Vienna has a strong economy, contributing 28.6% of Austria's GDP, with a GDP per capita of €56,600 as of 2024. The city has a diverse range of industries, including life sciences, information and communication technologies, and tourism. It is also a centre for international organisations, hosting the United Nations, OPEC, and the OSCE, among others.

Vienna has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, theatres, opera houses, and musical venues. The historic centre of the city is known for its architectural ensembles, including Baroque palaces and gardens, and the 19th-century Ringstraße, lined with grand buildings, monuments, and parks. The city also boasts beautiful natural spaces, such as the Vienna Woods, the Danube River, and the Stadtpark.

Austria's population growth

Austria's population has been steadily growing since 1950, when it numbered 6.9 million. By 1980, this number had increased to 7.6 million, and in 1985 it was estimated to be 7.48 million. However, between 1961 and 1981, the predominantly rural eastern section of the country grew more slowly than the industrial western region. The population continued to increase, reaching 9,117,083 as of January 5, 2025. This growth can be attributed to a combination of factors, including immigration, fertility rates, and life expectancy.

Austria has a lower urban population than most other industrialised countries, with 56% living in urban areas as of 1985. This is due in part to the availability of tourism-related jobs in rural areas. The urban population has been slowly increasing, reaching 58.3% in 2018 and 58.6% in 2025. Vienna, the country's largest city, saw a decline in population from 1.9 million in 1923 to 1.5 million in the 1980s due to the loss of the city's Jewish population during the Holocaust.

Immigration has significantly changed the composition of Austria's population. While Austrians were once a homogeneous group, four decades of strong immigration from other parts of Europe have led to a more diverse society. In 2018, the percentage of foreign-born people was around 19% of the total population, the second-highest proportion in the EU after Luxembourg. The number of foreigners legally living in Austria has also increased, with 814,800 in 2006, representing 9.8% of the total population at the time.

The total fertility rate in Austria is 1.48 children per woman (as of 2018 estimates), which is below the replacement rate of 2.1. However, births are expected to increase slightly until the end of the 2020s and then decline. The median age at first birth for Austrian women is 29 years (as of 2014 estimates). Life expectancy in Austria is high, at 81.7 years for the total population, with a slight gender disparity: 84.5 years for females and 76 years for males.

The marriage rate in Austria increased from 4.5/1000 to 4.8/1000 between 1978 and 1982, while the median age at marriage increased for both women (from 22.4 to 23.0) and men (from 25.6 to 25.8). Unfortunately, the number of divorces per year also increased during this period, from 11,168 to 14,298.

Austria's population density

Austria's population is not evenly distributed, with urban areas attracting a significant portion of the population. As of 2018, the urban population made up 58.3% of the total population, indicating a higher population density in urban centres compared to rural areas. Vienna, the country's capital and largest city, is home to around 1.5 million people and is an example of a highly urbanised area within Austria.

The distribution of Austria's population has changed over time, with varying rates of urbanisation and rural population growth. Between 1961 and 1981, the western, more industrialised region of the country experienced faster growth than the predominantly rural eastern section. Since then, the rural population has continued to fluctuate, with a high of 42.89% of the total population in 2011 and a low of 34.61% in 1980. As of 2020, the rural population was estimated to be 41.25% of the total.

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