Lyla Lindsey
Upper Austria and Lower Austria are two of the nine states of Austria. The names Upper and Lower Austria are derived from the earlier names 'Austria above the Enns' and 'Austria below the Enns', referring to the river Enns. Upper Austria is the fourth-largest Austrian state by land area and the third-largest by population, with a GDP of 65.9 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 17.1% of Austria's economic output. Lower Austria is the largest state by land area and the second-most populous state, with a GDP of 61 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 15.8% of the country's economic output. The two states have distinct histories, cultural features, and geographical characteristics that distinguish them from each other.
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Geography and borders
Upper Austria and Lower Austria are two of the nine provinces that are strictly 'Austria'. Upper Austria, or Oberösterreich, is one of the nine states of Austria and is the country's leading industrial region. It is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg. Upper Austria is the fourth-largest Austrian state by land area and the third-largest by population. Its capital is Linz.
Lower Austria, or Niederösterreich, is another one of the nine states of Austria and is the youngest state capital in Europe. It is in the heart of Europe and has been a cultural melting pot due to its location at the crossroads of Alpine, Pannonian, and northern and southern European climate zones. This has resulted in a variety of landscapes, including alluvial forests and steppes, alpine pastures and lakes, gorges, and hilly landscapes. Lower Austria is also one of the most important wine-producing areas of the country.
Upper Austria was occupied by the French army during the Napoleonic Wars and was partitioned between the American and Soviet zones after World War II. It has a rich history, including a period of Protestant majority in 1550 and control by Bavaria in the early 17th century.
Lower Austria also has a long history, with some of the oldest traces of human habitation in Austria found in the Gudenus Cave in northwestern Lower Austria, dating back 70,000 years. It was also a commercial centre for the mining, processing, and trading of copper and tin during the Bronze Age.
Both Upper and Lower Austria have unique geographic features, cultural significance, and historical backgrounds that distinguish them from each other and contribute to their respective roles within Austria today.
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Population and demographics
Upper Austria and Lower Austria are two of the nine states of Austria, with Upper Austria bordering Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg. Upper Austria's capital is Linz, and it is the fourth-largest Austrian state by land area and the third-largest by population. The population of Upper Austria as of the end of 2023 was 1.53 million, with 800,000 of those inhabitants being Catholic, 43,847 being Protestant, and 7.4% practising Islam. The state is divided into 15 districts, three Statutarstädte, and 438 municipalities.
Lower Austria, on the other hand, is the largest of the nine states by land area and the most populous, with 1.68 million inhabitants as of 2020. The state is divided into 20 districts and four Statutarstädte. The capital and largest city of Lower Austria is Sankt Pölten, located in the northeastern part of the state. Other major cities include Krems an der Donau, the oldest city in Austria, and Waidhofen an der Ybbs, known for its medieval architecture.
In terms of demographics, Upper Austria has a higher proportion of Christians, with 73.4% of people identifying as Christian in the last census in 2021, compared to 62% in Lower Austria in 2020. Upper Austria also has a lower proportion of people with no religious affiliation, with 17.3% practising no faith compared to 22% in Lower Austria.
Both Upper and Lower Austria have experienced population growth, largely due to immigration. In Upper Austria, the population grew by 6.7% in 2023, while in Lower Austria, the population is expected to grow by 0.5% annually until 2040. The majority of immigrants to both regions come from other European countries, with Germany being the most common country of origin nationwide.
When it comes to health, both Upper and Lower Austria face similar challenges. Cancer is a significant problem, with lung cancer being the leading cause of cancer deaths in Austria. Additionally, risk factors such as smoking, dietary risks, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and air pollution contribute to health issues in both regions.
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History
Upper and Lower Austria are two of the nine provinces that are strictly 'Austria'. Upper Austria is the country's third-largest state by population and fourth-largest by land area. Its capital is Linz, and it borders Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg. Lower Austria, meanwhile, borders the Czech Republic to the north and has been a cultural melting pot due to its location in the heart of Europe.
Upper Austria was once part of the Duchy of Bavaria. In the mid-13th century, it became known as the Principality above the Enns River, with this name first recorded in 1264. In 1564, Upper Austria, along with Lower Austria and the Bohemian territories, fell under Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. In the early 17th century, the area was under the control of Bavaria again for a few years. During the Napoleonic Wars, Upper Austria was occupied by the French army several times. In 1918, after the fall of Austria-Hungary, the name "Oberösterreich" was used to refer to the province of the new Austria.
Lower Austria has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of landscapes due to its location at the meeting point of Alpine, Pannonian, and northern and southern European climate zones. It is also one of the most important wine-producing areas in Austria, along with Burgenland, Styria, and Vienna.
In terms of religion, Upper Austria has a majority Christian population, with a significant proportion of Catholics. In 2001, 79.4% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, about 4.4% were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4.0% were Muslims, and 8.8% were of no confession. By the end of 2020, the proportion of Catholics had decreased to 62%, while Protestants made up about 3.1% of the population.
Lower Austria, on the other hand, has a longer history of human habitation, with traces dating back more than 70,000 years found in the Gudenus Cave in northwestern Lower Austria. Upper Paleolithic remains are also more numerous in Lower Austria, particularly in the Wachau region. This includes the Venus of Galgenberg, a 32,000-year-old figurative representation of a woman found near Stratzing, and the 26,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf discovered near Krems an der Donau.
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Politics
Upper Austria and Lower Austria are two of the nine federal states of Austria. Each federal state has its own elected legislature, the federal state parliament, and a federal state government (Landesregierung) led by a governor (Landeshauptmann or Landeshauptfrau). 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 political system of Austria's nine federal states is based on the constitution of 1920, amended in 1929 and re-enacted on 1 May 1945. Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor who is the head of government and a president who is the head of state. The president is directly elected by popular majority vote, with a run-off between the top-scoring candidates if necessary. The chancellor is selected by the president and tasked with forming a government based on the partisan composition of the lower house of parliament. The government can be removed from office by either a presidential decree or a vote of no confidence in the lower chamber of parliament, the Nationalrat.
Austria has a multi-party system. From 1945 to 1983, Austrian politics had a two-party system, with the SPÖ on the center-left and the ÖVP on the center-right being the only parties to form a government. Since 1983, the right-wing Freedom Party has gained more seats, influencing the coalitions that emerge. Upper Austria is a swing state and usually has a signal character in nationwide elections. The conservative Austrian People's Party dominates in rural areas, while the Social Democratic Party of Austria has strongholds in the cities of Linz, Wels, and Steyr. The Freedom Party of Austria also has a strong presence in Upper Austria, particularly in the Innviertel.
On the federal level, there are two main types of elections in Austria: presidential elections and elections to determine the composition of the National Council (Nationalrat), the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The upper house, the Federal Council, consists of delegates from the states and is not directly elected. Austrian election law distinguishes between the \"active\" right to vote and the \"passive\" right to be elected, with different minimum age requirements. In 2007, the voting age was lowered from 18 to 16 for all federal elections.
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Economy
Upper Austria is one of the nine states of Austria and is the country's leading industrial region. It accounted for approximately a quarter of the country's exports as of 2009. The state's gross domestic product (GDP) was 65.9 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 17.1% of Austria's economic output. Upper Austria's GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 39,500 euros or 131% of the EU27 average in the same year.
Upper Austria's capital, Linz, is the second-largest city in Austria. The state has a population of around 1.5 million people, of which around 7% were European Union/European Economic Area/Switzerland/UK citizens, and 6.5% were third-country nationals as of 2021. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg. With an area of 11,982 square kilometres, it is the fourth-largest Austrian state by land area.
Upper Austria is primarily known for its industrial sector, which includes manufacturing, engineering, construction, and transportation. The state has a strong focus on exports, contributing significantly to Austria's economic growth. The financial sector is also prominent in Upper Austria, with companies exploring opportunities to strengthen their market positions and expand their product portfolios.
In contrast, Lower Austria is known for its wine production, with the Grüner Veltliner grape providing some of Austria's most notable white wines. The region also has a strong presence in cider production, with 'Most', a type of cider or perry, widely produced in Lower Austria. Additionally, Lower Austria has a rich history of human habitation, with some of the oldest traces of human settlement in Austria found in this region, dating back more than 250,000 years.
Both Upper and Lower Austria have played significant roles in Austria's overall economic development, with Upper Austria contributing significantly to the country's industrial growth and exports, while Lower Austria is known for its agricultural and viticultural strengths.
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Frequently asked questions
Upper Austria and Lower Austria are separated by the river Enns, with Upper Austria being located west of Lower Austria. The river Enns flows north into the Danube Valley, which both provinces run through. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, while Lower Austria is located in the northeastern corner of the country.
Upper Austria is a swing state that usually has a signal character in nationwide elections. Lower Austria is the second-most-populous state in Austria and is dominated by the conservative Austrian People's Party in rural areas.
During the Ottoman wars in Europe, Lower Austria was the target of repeated raids by the Tatars and Ottoman Akinji mounted paramilitary units, with many people taken into slavery. During World War I, Lower Austria included the city of Vienna, which became a separate state in 1921. Upper Austria, on the other hand, was occupied by the French army on more than one occasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
