Lexi Webster
Austria is a federal state comprised of nine provinces, each with its own capital. As of 2024, Austria has a population of 9,159,993 residents, including 1,801,184 foreign citizens, accounting for 19.6% of the total population. The country does not collect data on the ethnicity or race of its citizens, but demographic features such as population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, and religious affiliations provide insight into its population.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Austria's population in 2024
Austria's population comprises various ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. While the country does not collect data on the race or ethnicity of its citizens, it does gather information on the nationality of its residents. According to the Austrian Statistical Bureau, there were 814,800 foreigners legally living in Austria in 2006, accounting for 9.8% of the total population. By 2021, the number of citizens of foreign countries residing in Austria had increased to more than 1.53 million, representing 17.1% of the total population. This growth in foreign citizenship can be attributed to increased immigration, particularly from other EU countries, which account for 52% of foreign citizens in Austria.
German is the most commonly spoken language in Austria, with 88.6% of the population being native German speakers, according to the 2001 census. The remaining 11.4% speak several minority languages, including Slovene, Croatian, and Hungarian. There are also three numerically significant traditional minority groups: the Carinthian Slovenes (14,000 - 50,000), Croats (25,000), and Hungarians (20,000) in Burgenland. These minority groups are protected by law, and their rights are generally respected.
In terms of religion, Austria is predominantly Catholic, with other faiths such as Islam and Protestantism also present. Approximately 15,000 Jews or adherents of Judaism live in Austria, primarily in Vienna, a remnant of the post-World War II community after the Nazi Holocaust.
Christmas Traditions in Austria: Unique Holiday Customs and Culture
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Foreign citizens in Austria
Austria does not collect data on the ethnicity or race of its citizens but does collect data on the nationality of residents. At the beginning of 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the population. This is a significant increase from 1985, when 297,000 foreign citizens accounted for 3.9% of the population. The percentage of foreign citizens rose sharply in the early 1990s and has been increasing since 2001.
Austria's population was 8.93 million at the beginning of 2021, and it is projected to reach 9.94 million by 2080. Vienna, the federal capital, is home to a fifth of the country's population, with 1.92 million residents. Other major cities include Graz (291,000 residents), Linz (207,000 residents), Salzburg (155,000 residents), Innsbruck (131,000 residents), and Klagenfurt (102,000 residents).
The foreign citizens in Austria come from a diverse range of countries. In total, 793,000 citizens from other EU countries live in Austria, representing 52% of all foreign citizens. The largest group among EU citizens is Germans (209,000), followed by Romanians (132,000), Hungarians (91,000), Croats (89,000), and Poles (67,000). Outside the EU, the largest communities are from the Western Balkans, with 122,000 Serbs, 118,000 Turks, and 97,000 citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are also 196,000 citizens from Asia (excluding Turkey and Cyprus), including 55,000 Syrians and 44,000 Afghans. Additionally, 36,000 people hold citizenship from African countries, 24,000 from the Americas, and 1,600 from Australia and Oceania.
Austria has laws and procedures in place for acquiring citizenship. Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, extension of the award, or naturalization. Children born to Austrian mothers or married Austrian fathers are automatically granted citizenship. If the parents are not married, the father can recognize his parenthood within eight weeks, or it can be determined by a court, and the child will be granted citizenship. Austrian citizenship can also be acquired through naturalization after ten years of continuous residence in the country, although this can be reduced to six years if the applicant has substantial personal integration and knowledge of the German language. Spouses of Austrian citizens must have lived in Austria for a minimum of six years with a settlement permit to be eligible for citizenship.
Vaccine Mandates in Austria: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Languages spoken in Austria
Austria does not collect data on the ethnicity or race of its citizens, so there are no statistics on the percentage of white people in the country. However, according to the Austrian Statistical Bureau, there were about 814,800 foreigners legally living in Austria as of mid-2006, representing 9.8% of the total population. This figure rose to 1.53 million in 2021, accounting for 17.1% of the population.
Now, let's discuss the languages spoken in Austria in detail:
Austria's official language is German, specifically Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from the German spoken in Germany. It is the nation's lingua franca and de facto first language, with roughly 97-98% of people in Austria speaking German and over 93% calling it their mother tongue. German is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. However, Austrian German has no official orthography, and local dialects can vary significantly from region to region, with some being nearly incomprehensible to speakers of standard German. The main dialect outside of Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. Vorarlberg uses the Alemannic dialect, or Swiss German, which is spoken by about 300,000 people and is very difficult for most German speakers to understand.
In addition to German and its dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria. According to the 2001 census, 11.4% of the population speaks these minority languages, which can be divided into two groups: traditional minorities and new minorities resulting from recent immigration. Traditional minority languages include Hungarian, Croatian, Slovene, Czech, Slovak, and Romani, which are remnants of the country's history as part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire. These languages still hold official status in certain regions, such as Hungarian, Croatian, and Slovene in Burgenland and Carinthia. New minority languages include Turkish and languages from former Yugoslavia, introduced through immigration waves in the 1960s and 1970s. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language, spoken by over 4% of the population, followed by Turkish at 2.3%. English is also widely spoken in Austria, with just over 40% of the population speaking it, although less than 1% call it their mother tongue.
Travel from Croatia to Austria: Train Options Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Religious affiliations in Austria
Austria does not collect data on the ethnicity or race of its citizens, so it is unclear what percentage of the population is white. However, according to the Austrian Statistical Bureau, there were about 8.93 million residents in Austria at the beginning of 2021. Of these, 1.53 million were citizens of foreign countries, accounting for 17.1% of the total population.
Austria has a rich religious history, and freedom of religion is a statutorily guaranteed right. The country has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to the Habsburg monarchy (1273-1918) which championed Roman Catholicism. The Catholic Church still plays a significant role in the country, with about 55.2% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2021. However, this number has been declining, with a proliferation of other religions, particularly in Vienna.
The second-largest religious group in Austria is made up of those who do not affiliate with or belong to any religion, comprising 22.4% of the population in 2021. This group has been growing, up from 4.3% in 1971.
Islam is the third-largest religious group in Austria, with 8.3% of the population identifying as Muslim in 2021. This is a significant increase from 0.2% in 1971.
There are also smaller but significant religious minorities in Austria, including Protestants (3.8%), Orthodox Christians (4.9%), and Jews (about 15,000 people). The number of Protestants has been declining, down from 6% in 1971. However, the number of Orthodox Christians has grown, up from 2.2% in 2001.
The Austrian government recognizes the independence and autonomy of religious groups, and the state and church are considered partners on an equal footing. Legal recognition implies recognition of a church or religious community as a legal personality under public law, endowing it with certain rights and responsibilities.
Children of Elisabeth of Austria: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Population density in Austria
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of around 9 million people. The country has a total land area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 sq mi), giving it an overall population density of approximately 107 people per square kilometre. However, this density varies significantly across different regions and municipalities within Austria.
The capital city, Vienna, is the most populous city and state in Austria, with a population of approximately 1.92 million people as of 2021. Vienna is home to about one-fifth of Austria's total population, and it played a significant role in the country's history as the centre of the Habsburg monarchy. Due to Vienna's substantial population in a relatively concentrated area, it exhibits a higher population density than most other regions in Austria.
Other major cities in Austria include Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Klagenfurt. Graz, the second-largest city, has a population of 291,000, while Linz has 207,000 residents, Salzburg 155,000, Innsbruck 131,000, and Klagenfurt 102,000. These cities, along with Vienna, represent the urban centres of Austria and contribute significantly to the country's overall population density.
In contrast to the urban centres, Austria also has several small municipalities with very low populations. For example, Gramais in Tyrol is the smallest municipality, with only 41 citizens, followed by Namlos in Tyrol with 65 residents, and Tschanigraben in Burgenland with 67 residents. These municipalities showcase the diverse population distribution across Austria, with some areas having much lower population densities than the national average.
Austria's population composition has been influenced by historical events and immigration patterns. Native Austrians have had stagnant demographics since World War I, and their numbers have been in absolute decline since the 1970s. However, immigration has played a significant role in shaping the country's population. In the early 1990s and more recently, immigration caused a sharp increase in the number of foreign citizens residing in Austria. As of 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This diversity in the population, with a significant proportion of foreign-born residents, further contributes to the varying population densities across different regions of Austria.
Exploring Austria: Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Austria does not collect data on the race or ethnicity of its citizens, so there is no definitive answer to this question. However, according to the Austrian Statistical Bureau, there were about 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria at the beginning of 2021, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This suggests that around 83% of Austria's population may identify as Austrian, although this is not necessarily indicative of racial identity.
According to the 2001 population census, 88.6% of Austria's population are native German speakers, with 96% speaking Austro-Bavarian and 4% speaking Alemannic. The remaining 11.4% speak several minority languages, including Slovene, Croatian, and Hungarian.
As of January 1, 2024, Austria had a population of approximately 9,159,993 residents, including 1,801,184 foreign citizens (19.6% of the total population).
