Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has seen a significant increase in its Muslim population over the years, with immigration from the Balkans, Turkey, and the Middle East contributing to this growth. In 2021, the Muslim population in Austria was estimated to be 745,608, constituting about 8.3% of the country's total population. This marks a notable increase from the 2001 census, where Muslims accounted for 4.2% of the population. The majority of Austrian Muslims have Turkish or Bosniak backgrounds, and they are largely concentrated in the capital city of Vienna and the northern and southern states of the country. While Austria has a history of providing religious freedom and relatively unproblematic relations with the Muslim community, recent years have seen a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and political campaigns targeting Islam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muslim Population in Austria | 745,608 (2021 census) / 686,599 (2016) / 338,988 (2001) |
| Percentage of Total Population | 8.3% (2021) / 7.9% (2016) / 4.2% (2001) / 0.3% (1971) |
| Austrian Muslims Living in Vienna | 216,345 (38%) |
| Austrian Muslims Living in Northern and Southern States | 30% in each region |
| Ethnic Background | Turkish (134,210), Bosnian (96,210), Arab (10,123, mostly Egyptian), Iranian (6,460) |
| Citizenship | 96,052 Austrian citizens (2011) / 24,645 new Muslim Austrian citizens in 2000 |
| Foreign Citizenship | Turkish (21.2%), Bosnian (10.1%), Kosovar (6.7%), Montenegrin (6.7%), Serbian (6.7%) |
| Organisations | Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich (Community of Muslim Believers in Austria) |
| Mosques | 205 registered mosques, hundreds of unregistered prayer rooms, 4 with minarets |
| Education | Approximately 40% of Muslims born in Austria leave school before age 17 |
| Employment | Unemployment is significantly higher among Muslims than the general population |
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What You'll Learn
Muslim population growth in Austria
Islam is the largest religious minority in Austria, with the religion's presence in the country dating back to 1525 when the Ottoman sultans tried to invade the Austrian empire. Although these attempts failed, Islam influenced Austrian culture significantly, and numerous Austrians converted to Islam.
In 1867, a law was passed that guaranteed respect for all religions throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, giving Muslims the right to establish mosques and practice their religion. In 1874, the Recognition Act gave Christian and non-Christian communities, including Muslims, a legal framework to be recognized as religious societies. The largest number of Muslims came under Austrian control after the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878. In 1904, the first Muslim association in Austria, the Islamite Academic Association "Zvijezda", was established by Bosnian Muslim students in Vienna. In 1912, Austria recognized Muslims as a religious society and regulated their religious freedoms with the Islamgesetz (Islam Law).
In 1971, only 0.3% of the Austrian population were registered officially as Muslims. By 1991, this had increased to 2% of the population. The duplication of Muslims in Austria within 10 years has been explained by a growing willingness of Muslims to speak publicly about their religion, in particular, those from Turkey. In 2001, Muslims made up 4.2% of the Austrian population. Due to immigration, especially from the Balkans, Turkey, and the Middle East, the number of Muslims in Austria has grown exponentially over the latest decades. In 2016, there were 686,599 Muslims in Austria, making up 7.9% of the population. The 2021 census in Austria found that there were 745,608 Muslims living in the country, making up 8.3% of the population.
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Austrian Muslims' legal status and rights
Muslims in Austria form nearly nine percent of the population, according to a 2021 census, which found that there were 745,608 Muslims living in the country. The majority of Austrian Muslims are Austrian citizens, and the largest Muslim organisation in the country is the Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich (Community of Muslim Believers in Austria).
Muslims in Austria have wide-ranging rights, including religious education in state schools, the right to halal food, and pastoral care in the military. These rights are guaranteed under Austrian law, which gives Muslims, like Catholics, Jews, and Protestants, a legal framework for recognition as Religionsgesellschaften (religious societies). The Recognition Act of 1874 first provided this framework, and in 2013, Austria granted the status of a recognised religious community to Alevism.
However, in recent years, the Austrian government has taken a harsher stance towards Muslims, with a particular focus on combating Islamic extremism and political Islam. In 2015, a new Islamgesetz was passed, illegalising foreign funding of mosques and the payment of salaries to imams. In 2018, the government announced the closure of several mosques and the deportation of imams, and in the same year, Austria banned headscarves for children in kindergarten.
These actions have been criticised by some as threatening the civil rights of Muslims in Austria and contributing to a climate of Islamophobia. There have been concerns raised about the under-representation of Muslims in mainstream political parties and the targeting of Muslim individuals and organisations in police operations.
Despite these tensions, relations between Muslims and Austria's Catholic majority have been relatively calm compared to many other European countries. Many Austrian Muslims feel closely connected to the country, and a significant number have routine leisure time contact with people of other religions.
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History of Islam in Austria
The history of Islam in Austria dates back to the 9th century, with the arrival of nomadic tribes from Asia. The country's involvement in the Ottoman conquest of Hungary in the 16th century further increased the Muslim population in the region. During this time, the Ottoman Empire ruled over much of the Balkans, bringing with it a significant Muslim presence.
In the late 17th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire expelled many Muslims from the region. However, a small number were allowed to remain after the signing of the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718. The largest influx of Muslims into Austria occurred in 1878, following the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This event marked a significant increase in the Muslim population under Austrian control.
In the early 20th century, Bosnian Muslim students in Vienna established the first Muslim associations in the country, including the "Islamite Academic Association "Zvijezda"" and the "Association of Progressive Islamite Academic Youth "Svijest"". These associations advocated for the recognition of Islam in Austria, which was granted in 1912 with the Islam Act or Islam Law. This act provided a legal framework for Muslim religious societies and accorded them similar rights to other religious communities in the country.
During World War II, the Muslim community in Austria faced challenges due to Nazi rule. An Islamic religious organization, the "Islamic Parish in Vienna," was established in 1942 but faced friction with local Nazi authorities, leading to its registration as a private association under the modified name "Islamic Community in Vienna" in 1943.
In the 1960s and 1970s, substantial Muslim immigration to Austria occurred due to "guest workers" from Yugoslavia and Turkey, marking the beginning of a new wave of Islamic influence in the country. The Community of Muslim Believers in Austria, or "Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich," was organized in 1979 in accordance with the Islam Law.
In recent years, Austria has seen a diverse range of Muslim immigrants, including refugees from the wars in Chechnya and Syria. The Muslim population in Austria continues to grow, with estimates ranging from 686,599 in 2016 to 745,608 in 2021, representing nearly 7.9% to 9% of the total population.
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Austrian Muslims' political representation
Muslims constitute the largest minority religion in Austria, with estimates of their population ranging from 7.9% to 9% of the total population. The 2021 census recorded 745,608 Muslims in Austria, making up 8.3% of the population. The majority of Austrian Muslims have Turkish or Bosniak backgrounds, with the most common foreign citizenships among Austrian Muslims being Turkish (21.2%), Bosnian (10.1%), Kosovar (6.7%), Montenegrin (6.7%), and Serbian (6.7%). Almost 216,345 Austrian Muslims (38%) live in the capital, Vienna, with 30% living in the northern and southern states of Austria each.
Historically, Muslims in Austria enjoyed a relatively tolerant and politically secure environment, with the Islam Act of 1912 providing the legal framework for Islamic life in the country. The act guaranteed Muslims the freedom to publicly practice their religion, autonomously manage their internal affairs, and establish foundations for religious, educational, and charitable purposes. The Islamic Religious Community, recognized in 1979 as the representative body for all Muslims in Austria, further solidified the rights of Muslims in the country, placing them on equal footing with other legally recognized churches and denominations.
However, in recent years, the political climate towards Muslims in Austria has shifted. The rise of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and its anti-Islamic rhetoric has influenced other political parties and public discourse. Concerns about security, identity, and cultural compatibility have led to a perception among some Austrians that Muslims are less able to integrate into Austrian society due to their visible religious symbols and rituals. This has resulted in a crackdown on "political Islam" by the Austrian government, with operations like the infamous 2020 Operation Luxor targeting Muslim civil society organizations and mosques.
Muslims in Austria face underrepresentation in mainstream political parties, with only a handful of legislators in the national parliament. The Austrian government has also been criticized for its Islamophobic policies, such as the ban on religious face veils, which discriminate against Muslim women. Despite these challenges, many Austrian Muslims feel closely connected to the country, and a significant number have regular leisure time contact with people of other religions.
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Austrian Muslims' economic status
Islam is the largest minority religion in Austria, with Muslims making up 8.3% of the country's population as of 2021. This is a notable increase from 0.2% in 1971 and 4.2% in 2001. The majority of Austrian Muslims have Turkish or Bosniak backgrounds, with the most common foreign citizenships among Austrian Muslims being Turkish (21.2%), Bosnian (10.1%), Kosovar (6.7%), Montenegrin (6.7%), and Serbian (6.7%). The number of naturalisations has increased significantly, especially in recent years among Turks and Bosnians. As of 2009, almost half of Muslims in Austria were Austrian citizens, up from 28% in 2001.
Muslims in Austria face significant economic and political challenges. They are severely underrepresented in mainstream parties, with very few legislators in the national parliament. In addition, Muslims in Austria experience higher unemployment rates than the general population, and approximately 40% of Muslims born in Austria leave school before the age of 17.
Historically, Muslims in Austria have had a unique legal status in Europe. The 1874 Recognition Act gave Christian and non-Christian communities, including Muslims, the legal framework to be recognised as religious societies. This provided Muslims with various rights and privileges, such as the right to organise and manage their community affairs independently and establish Islamic endowment funds. The Austrian government has also recognised Islamic theological schools and granted Muslims the right to study Islam in state schools and the army. In addition, Muslim women in Austria are permitted to wear the veil in public and at work.
However, in recent years, there has been a harsh crackdown on Austria's Muslims, with the government freezing assets and bank accounts of individuals and associations, destroying their livelihoods. There have also been concerns about the compromise of religious liberties of Muslims and restrictions on practising Islam in public spaces. Despite a long history of relatively tolerant integration of Muslims, Austria's political leadership has become increasingly anti-Muslim, threatening the civil rights and socioeconomic integration of this minority group.
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Frequently asked questions
The Muslim population of Austria is growing. In 2001, Muslims made up 4.2% of the population. By 2016, this had increased to 7.9% of the population, or 686,599 people. The 2021 census in Austria found that there were 745,608 Muslims living in the country, making up 8.3% of the population.
Islam in Austria can be traced back to 1525 when the Ottoman sultans tried to invade the Austrian empire. While the invasion attempts failed, Islam influenced Austrian culture significantly, and numerous Austrians converted to Islam. In 1867, a law was passed guaranteeing respect for all religions throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, giving Muslims the right to establish mosques and practice their religion. In 1878, after the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest number of Muslims came under Austrian control. In 1904, Bosnian Muslim students in Vienna established the first Muslim association in Austria.
Muslims in Austria form nearly nine percent of the population and are the largest religious minority in the country. However, they lack the economic and political power to be treated seriously and are severely underrepresented in mainstream parties. While the Austrian government provides religious freedom for all communities, there have been recent instances of anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia in the country.
