Lyla Lindsey
Austria's population growth rate is a topic of interest, especially given its ageing population and the impact of immigration on its demographics. As of 2025, Austria's population is around 8.99 million people, with a population density of 111 per square kilometre. The population growth rate has been positive but low in recent years, with a 0.19% increase from 2024 to 2025. This low growth rate is despite a high immigration rate, which has been the primary driver of population growth since native Austrians have had stagnant demographics since World War I. In 2020, the number of births was lower than the number of deaths, and the overall population would have declined without net migration gains.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current population | 8,994,123 |
| Population growth rate (2024-2025) | 0.19% |
| Population growth rate (2023-2024) | 0.2% |
| Population growth rate (2022-2023) | 0.22% |
| Population growth rate (2021-2022) | 0.2% |
| Population density | 111 per Km² (286 per mi²) |
| Median age | 43.6 years |
| Urban population | 5,337,973 (58.57%) |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.53 million (17.1%) |
| Native German speakers | 88.6% |
| Foreigners as % of total population (mid-2006) | 9.8% |
| Total fertility rate | 1.53 |
| Net migration gain (2011-2021) | +539,905 |
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What You'll Learn
Population growth influenced by immigration
Austria's population growth is influenced by several factors, including immigration, which has played a significant role in shaping the country's demographics. In recent years, Austria's population growth has been primarily driven by immigration, with more people migrating to the country than emigrating from it. This net migration gain has contributed significantly to the overall population increase. For example, between January 1st, 2011, and January 1st, 2021, Austria's population grew by 557,500 people, with 539,905 of that increase, or 97%, attributable to net migration.
The impact of immigration on population growth is particularly notable in Vienna, the country's federal capital and largest municipality. In the early 2000s, Vienna's population was stagnant and ageing, but it has since grown rapidly and become younger, largely due to international immigration. Events such as the fall of the Iron Curtain, Austria's accession to the EU, and various conflicts and wars have contributed to this trend. For instance, in 2015 and 2022, an unusually large number of people immigrated to Vienna from third countries due to wars. As of 2024, 34.6% of Vienna's residents above the voting age of 16 were not Austrian citizens and, therefore, excluded from voting in elections.
Austria's overall population growth through immigration has been consistent over the years. In 2020, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of births was lower than the number of deaths, yet the country still experienced a net migration gain of 40,064 people, similar to the previous year. This trend of more births than deaths was also observed in 2012 and 2013.
The source of immigration to Austria has also evolved over time. In the early 1990s, following the wars in the former Yugoslavia, there was an increase in immigration from this region. By 1994, around 665,000 foreigners lived in Austria, representing 8.4% of the total population. Since 2006, more people with EU or EFTA citizenship have immigrated to Austria than from third countries, with 50.2% of immigrants in 2023 holding EU or EFTA citizenship. As of 2021, there were approximately 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population.
In summary, immigration has been a significant driver of population growth in Austria, particularly in recent years. It has helped offset the impact of a declining birth rate and contributed to a more youthful population, especially in cities like Vienna. With ongoing global conflicts and Austria's continued attractiveness as a destination, immigration is likely to remain an essential factor influencing the country's population dynamics.
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Population density
Austria's population density is impacted by various factors, including its history, demographics, and migration patterns. Native Austrians have had stagnant demographics since World War I, with an absolute decline since the 1970s. The number of children born increased rapidly after the Anschluss to the Third Reich in 1938, but birth rates dropped again at the end of World War II and in the early post-war era. This created a "notch" in the population pyramid, with relatively fewer people in the ages 74 to 78 range. The largest cohorts were born in the 1950s and 1960s, creating a Baby Boom Generation that is now reaching retirement age.
Austria's population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. From 2011 to 2021, 97% of Austria's total population growth could be attributed to net migration gains. In recent years, the number of people with foreign citizenship has risen sharply, with 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria as of 2021, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This includes significant communities of Turks, Carinthian Slovenes, Croats, and Hungarians.
The population of Austria is also ageing. The number and percentage of seniors aged 65 and older are increasing, while the base of the population pyramid is comparatively narrow, with fewer children under the age of 15. This trend is expected to continue as the Baby Boom Generation ages and the fertility rate remains below the replacement level. According to the United Nations, Austria's population is projected to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029, reaching a peak of 9.25 million people.
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Urbanisation
Urbanization is a demographic measure that describes the percentage of a country's total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The rate of urbanization is the projected average rate of change in the size of the urban population over a given period. In other words, it is the rate at which the urban population is growing or shrinking.
Austria's population in 2025 is 8,994,123, with a density of 111 people per square kilometre (or 286 people per square mile). The urbanization rate in Austria was 59% in 2021, according to one source, and 58.57% in 2025, according to another. This equates to 5,337,973 people living in urban areas in 2025. The rate of urbanization in Austria is projected to be 0.68% annually from 2020 to 2025.
The share of the urban population in Austria did not change significantly in 2023 compared to 2022, remaining at around 59.53%. However, 2023 still represents a peak in the share of the urban population in Austria. It is important to note that each country has its own definition of what constitutes an "urban center," so international comparisons may be inconsistent.
Austria's population growth rate has been steadily decreasing in recent years. From 2021 to 2022, the population growth rate was 0.2%, which decreased to 0.19% from 2024 to 2025. This means that while the population of Austria is still growing, it is doing so at a slower rate.
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Fertility rate
The fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children a woman will have during her reproductive years (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of each age group in the country. In Austria, the fertility rate is below the replacement rate of 2.1, which is the rate at which a population remains stable. In 2015, 41,783 out of 84,381 newborns had a Catholic mother, 10,760 had a Muslim mother, and 2,595 had a Protestant mother. The following year, the number of newborns with a Muslim mother increased to 12,794, while the number of newborns with a Catholic mother also increased to 43,190. In 2017, 41,259 out of 87,633 newborns had a Catholic mother, 12,514 had a Muslim mother, and 2,635 had a Protestant mother.
Native Austrians have had stagnant demographics since World War I, and their numbers have been in absolute decline since the 1970s. The total population of Austria, on the other hand, has been increasing, primarily due to immigration. In 2006, 9.8% of the population, or 814,800 people, were foreigners living in Austria, one of the highest rates in Europe. By 2010, the number of foreign-born residents had increased to 1.27 million, or 15.2% of the total population, according to Eurostat. In 2018, the percentage of foreign-born people was around 19% of the total population, the second-highest foreign-born proportion in the EU after Luxembourg. The number of people with foreign citizenship rose sharply in the early 1990s and again in recent years, reaching more than 1.53 million at the beginning of 2021, accounting for 17.1% of the total population.
Austria's population growth is almost exclusively driven by immigration. Between January 1st, 2011, and January 1st, 2021, 97% of the country's total population growth of 557,500 people could be attributed to net migration gains of 539,905. The surplus of births during this period was comparatively low. In 2020, the number of births was lower than the number of deaths, a phenomenon that had last occurred in 2012 and 2013. The net migration gain in 2020 was similar to that of 2019, with 136,343 immigrations and 96,279 emigrations resulting in a net gain of 40,064 people.
The population of Austria is projected to continue growing between 2024 and 2029, with a total increase of 0.1 million people (1.1 percent). By 2029, the total population is estimated to reach a new peak of 9.25 million people. The population growth rate in Austria for 2025 is 0.19%, with a population of 8,994,123, a slight increase from 2024, which had a growth rate of 0.2%. The population of Austria has been steadily increasing over the past years, with a growth rate of 0.22% in 2023 and 0.2% in 2022.
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Population distribution by age
As of 2025, Austria's population is 8,994,123, a 0.19% increase from 2024. The median age in Austria is 43.6 years.
In 2022, about 14.38% of Austria's population was aged 0 to 14 years. This age group typically includes children who are not yet part of the workforce. The next age group, from 15 to 24 years, represents early working age. In 2018, this group made up around a sixth of China's home decoration industry customers.
The largest portion of Austria's population falls into the prime working age category of 25 to 54 years. This group is followed by the mature working age group of 55 to 64 years.
Finally, we have the elderly, who are 65 years old and above. Countries with a higher percentage of the population in this age group typically need to invest more in their health sector.
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Frequently asked questions
The population growth rate in Austria is 0.19% as of 2025.
The current population of Austria is 8,994,123 as of 2025.
The population growth rate in Austria has been steadily decreasing since 2022, with a 0.2% increase from 2021 to 2022, a 0.22% increase from 2022 to 2023, and a 0.2% increase from 2023 to 2024.
The population density of Austria is 111 people per square kilometer or 286 people per square mile.
Immigration is a significant factor contributing to the population growth rate in Austria. From 2011 to 2021, 97% of the total population growth was attributed to net migration gains. Additionally, the number of people with foreign citizenship has risen sharply in recent years, with over 1.5 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria as of 2021, representing 17.1% of the total population.
