Austria's Neighbors: Who Are They?

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over 8 million people. It is surrounded by several countries, including Switzerland to the east, Liechtenstein to the north and east, Italy to the south, Slovenia to the south, Slovakia to the east, Hungary to the east, Germany to the north, and the Czech Republic to the north. The country has a mountainous landscape, with its highest point being about 12,461 feet above sea level, and 68% of the country is over 1,640 feet.

Austria borders Germany to the north

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by eight countries in total, with Germany to the north, the Czech Republic to the northeast, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Austria's eastern border is shared with Hungary and Slovakia, while to the south lie Slovenia and Italy.

Austria's border with Germany is its longest, stretching 801 km (497-498 mi) from east to west. The border runs from the tripoint of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria in the west to the point where the two countries meet with the Czech Republic near the village of Schwarzenberg-am-Bohmerwald in the east. The border between Germany and Austria separates the German state of Bavaria from the Austrian states of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Tyrol.

One of the border crossings between the two countries is the Ammer Saddle, a mountain pass in the Alps between Bavaria and Tyrol. The westernmost third of Austria is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, between 32 and 60 km (20 and 37 mi) wide. The westernmost point of Austria is on the Rhine river in the state of Vorarlberg.

Germany is a sovereign state occupying an area of about 137,988 sq mi. It has a population of over 10.6 million, with its capital and largest city being Berlin and Munich, respectively.

The Czech Republic is also to the north

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a predominantly mountainous landscape. It shares its northern border with Germany and the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is also to the north of Austria.

The Czech Republic is a unitary parliamentary state occupying an area of approximately 30,450 square miles with a population of over 10.6 million. Prague is the capital and largest city, with other major cities including Plzen, Ostrava, and Brno. The country is the most non-religious and sixth safest in the world. The border between the Czech Republic and Austria is about 249 miles long, with towns on the border including Ceske Velenice, Mikulov, and Drasenhofen in the Czech Republic and Gmund and Breclavin in Austria.

Austria's landscape is largely dominated by mountains, particularly in the west and south, with the Alps, the Central Eastern Alps, the Northern Limestone Alps, and the Southern Limestone Alps all partly within its territory. The highest point in the country is about 12,461 feet above sea level, and 68% of the country is over 1,640 feet.

Austria has a population of over 8.8 million people and is a member of the European Union and the United Nations. It is a German-speaking country, as one might expect given its proximity to Germany. In addition to the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Austria also shares borders with Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Austria is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west

Switzerland and Austria share a boundary in two places. The 112-mile Austria-Switzerland boundary is divided by Liechtenstein, with the shortest stretch reaching through the Alpine Rhine into Lake Constance, and the longest extending through the Grison Alps. The current Austria-Switzerland boundary is the outcome of the establishment of the Helvetic Republic around 1798. The Austria-Liechtenstein boundary is 21 miles long.

Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are all surrounded by Germany to the north. Germany's border with Austria is the longest for both countries, at 497 miles, and runs from east to west. The western point is where the three countries meet at the Rhine River, while the eastern end is where Germany and Austria meet the Czech Republic near Schwarzenberg-am-Bohmerwald village.

To the east, Austria is bordered by Slovakia and Hungary

Slovakia has a population of over 5,435,343 and occupies an area of about 19,000 sq mi. The landscape is mostly mountainous, and the official language is Slovak. Slovakia gained independence on January 1, 1993, after the Velvet Divorce. The lower course of the River Morava forms a large part of the border with Austria. There is a crossing point at the border that connects Berg in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia. The only motorway crossing between the two countries is in Jarovce.

Hungary occupies an area of about 35,920 sq mi in Central Europe and has a population of over 9,797,561. The largest city and capital of Hungary is Budapest, with other major urban regions including Gyor, Pecs, Szeged, and Debrecen. The current borders of Hungary were established by the Trianon Treaty, which was signed in 1920. From the end of World War II until 1989, Austria and Hungary were separated by an electric border fence. However, in 1989, with the collapse of communism in Hungary, the fence was removed. In October 2017, Hungary's foreign affairs minister announced the opening of six new crossing points on the border with Austria.

Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary were all once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed in 1918. The three countries share a similar geographic landscape, dominated by mountains. The diverse landscape of Austria ranges from the Alps in the west and south to the Pannonian plain in the east and the Bohemian Forest in the north.

To the south, Austria is surrounded by Italy and Slovenia

Slovenia is a parliamentary state with over two million residents and occupies an area of about 7,827 sq miles. The official language of Slovenia is Slovene. The border between the two countries is dominated by the Pohorje massif, Karawank chain, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Julian Alps. The Sentilj-Spielfeld checkpoint is the busiest crossing, with facilities for processing and screening migrants.

Italy is an independent European state in Southern Europe with over 61 million residents, occupying an area of about 116,350 sq miles. It is the most densely populated state in Southern Europe and the sixth most populated European country. The Austria-Italy border has about 251 miles with numerous border passes. One of the border passes is Birnlucke, which is situated between the Zillertal Alp and Venediger Group. Birnlucke forms the boundary between the valleys of Ahrntal and Krimmler Achental in South Tyrol, Italy, and Salzburg in Austria. The Brenner Pass is one of the Eastern Alpine range's principal passes, which goes through the Alps. Other mountain passes between Italy and Austria include Timmelsjoch, Staller Saddle, Reschen Pass, Plocken pass, and Hochjoch.

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over 8.8 million. It is largely mountainous, with 68% of the country being over 1,640 ft. The highest point is about 12,461 ft above sea level. Austria occupies an area of about 32,385 sq miles.

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