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Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe that is bordered by the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia to the south, Italy to the southwest, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, and Germany to the northwest. It is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, and its capital and most populous city is Vienna. Austria has a rich history, having been a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries. It became a federal, representative democratic republic through the Federal Constitutional Law of 1920, and today, it is a member of the European Union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Government | Federal, representative democratic republic |
| Head of State | President |
| Head of Government | Chancellor |
| Legislative Houses | Federal Council, National Council |
| Number of Federal States | 9 |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Population | 8,959,992 (2023 estimate) |
| Area | 83,871 sq. km (32,383 sq. mi) |
| Location | Central Europe |
| Neighbours | Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany |
| Status | Independent, neutral |
| Member of | European Union |
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What You'll Learn
Austria is a federal republic with nine federal states
Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states. The nine states are: Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg. Vienna is unique in that it is both a city and a federal state. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation calls the federal states provinces.
Austria became a federal, representative democratic republic through the Federal Constitutional Law of 1920. The political system of the Second Republic with its nine federal states is based on the constitution of 1920, amended in 1929, which was re-enacted on 1 May 1945. The president of Austria is the head of state and is directly elected by popular majority vote, with a run-off between the top-scoring candidates if necessary. The chancellor of Austria is head of the government and is selected by the president. The chancellor is tasked with forming a government based on the partisan composition of the lower house of parliament.
The federal states are sub-divided into districts and statutory cities. Districts are further subdivided into municipalities. Statutory Cities have the competencies otherwise granted to both districts and municipalities. Each federal state has an elected legislature, the federal state parliament, and a federal state government headed by a governor. Elections are held every five years (six years in Upper Austria). The federal state constitution determines how the seats in the federal state government are assigned to political parties, with most federal states having a system of proportional representation based on the number of delegates in the federal state parliament.
The legislative and executive powers in Austria are shared by the federal and provincial governments. The federal states can pass laws that stay within the limits of the constitution, and each federal state has representatives in the main Austrian parliament. The federal principle provides for the sharing of tasks – legislative, executive, and financial – between the nine Austrian Provinces and the federal government.
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Vienna is the capital and most populous city
The history of Vienna as a settlement dates back to the Celtic settlement of Vedunia, which was converted by the Romans into the castrum Vindobona in the 1st century. In 1155, Henry II, Duke of Austria, moved the Babenberg family residence to Vienna, which became the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. Vienna was granted city rights in 1221.
During the 16th century, the Habsburgs, who succeeded the Babenbergs, established Vienna as the seat of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, a position it held until the empire's dissolution in 1806. Vienna became the capital of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and later the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867. After World War I, Vienna became the capital of the newly formed republic of Austria in 1918.
Vienna has a rich history and is known for its beautiful architecture, including its Rococo, Gothic, and postmodern buildings. The city is home to several notable sites, such as Schloss Schönbrunn, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Haas Haus building. Vienna is also a cultural hub, offering a vibrant mix of green parks, cafes, theatres, and elegant shopping streets.
The population of Vienna has fluctuated over time, with sharp increases during its time as the capital of Austria-Hungary due to industrialization and migration. In 1910, Vienna was the third-largest city in Europe, with over two million inhabitants. After World War I, the population declined as many Czechs and Hungarians returned to their ancestral countries. Today, Vienna remains the most populous city in Austria, contributing to its cultural and economic significance in the region.
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Austria is a member of the European Union
Austria is a country in central Europe, landlocked and largely mountainous due to its location in the Alps. It is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, or 'Bundesländer', which are further divided into districts and statutory cities.
Austria's membership in the EU is particularly significant given its history of occupation and neutrality. After World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allied forces, and in 1955, the Four Powers (the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union) signed the Austrian State Treaty, declaring Austria to be a free, independent, and neutral state. Austria's subsequent membership in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and its participation in the European Economic Area Agreement allowed it to engage in international trade while maintaining its neutrality.
Austria's accession to the EU required careful preparation to ensure compliance with EU decision-making processes and to define the role of its federal states in the context of European integration. Civil servants were trained to represent Austria effectively in the EU decision-making process. Additionally, reforms were initiated to define the role of the federal states in EU proposals, as Austria's federal structure allows its nine states to participate in internal decision-making.
Austria's membership in the EU has had implications for its relations with other countries. For example, Austria's veto of Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area in 2022 caused considerable outrage in those countries. Austria's participation in the EU also influenced its stance on Brexit, as it had to consider the impact of the UK's withdrawal on trade relations with other EU members.
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Austria has a federal, representative democratic system
Austria is a federal, representative democratic republic consisting of nine federal states. The country's political system is based on the constitution of 1920, amended in 1929, which was re-enacted on 1 May 1945.
Austria's federal structure means that the country is made up of multiple states, each with its own government and constitution. The federal states are further divided into districts and statutory cities. Districts are then subdivided into municipalities. The nine federal states are often referred to as provinces, and they include Vienna, which is unique in that it is both a city and a state.
The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the main legislative body, responsible for preparing and implementing legislation along with the Federal Government or Provincial Governments. The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament, while Provincial Assemblies (Landtage) represent the interests of citizens in the individual provinces. Each federal province is administered by a Provincial Government, headed by a Provincial Governor (Landeshauptmann) elected by the respective Provincial Assembly.
Austria's legal system distinguishes between three different instruments of direct democracy: referendums (Volksabstimmungen), popular initiatives (Volksbegehren), and national opinion polls (Volksbefragungen). A referendum on a bill is required if a majority of the National Council's members or the President demand it, and the result is binding. Substantial changes to the constitution always require a referendum, while changes to parts of the constitution only need a referendum if at least one-third of the National Council or the Federal Council demands it.
The Federal Chancellor, who heads the federal cabinet, is appointed by the President. The President also appoints ministers to the cabinet based on the recommendations of the Chancellor. The federal cabinet answers to the National Council and can be forced to resign through a motion of no-confidence. The President of Austria is the head of state and is directly elected by a popular majority vote, with a runoff between the top-scoring candidates if necessary. The Chancellor of Austria is the head of the government and is tasked with forming a government based on the partisan composition of the lower house of parliament.
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Austria is a largely mountainous country
Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. It is a largely mountainous country, with the Alps forming the physical backbone of the country.
Austria is home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps, which run from east to west across the country. The Central Alps, which stretch from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border, are the highest and largest range in the country. The Central Alps also encompass several other minor ranges and chains, including the Ötztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in Tyrol, which is one of the most mountainous areas of Austria.
The Eastern Alps constitute 62% of the country's total area, with only about a quarter of the country considered low-lying and only 32% of the country below 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. The Bohemian Forest, a low mountain range that is part of the Bohemian Massif, covers approximately 10% of Austria.
Austria's mountainous landscape has had a significant impact on its habitation patterns. The most mountainous province, Tyrol, is the most sparsely inhabited, with only 15% of the land being arable. The Alps have also influenced the country's commercial development, with Austria leveraging its geographic position in the Alpine passes for trade and transportation. Additionally, the Alps have been a major attraction for hikers and skiers, making Austria a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Austria is also a land of lakes, with many of them formed during the Pleistocene Epoch through glacial erosion in the central Alpine district, such as those around Salzkammergut. The largest lakes, which lie partially in neighbouring countries, are Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east.
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