Leslie Massey
Austria has a population of around 8.93 million people, with 5.93 million in the 15-64 age range and 1.72 million aged 65 or over. The population density is 111 people per square kilometre, with 58.57% of the population living in urban areas. The median age in Austria is 43.6 years, and the population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. In 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 8.93 million |
| Population rank | 99 |
| Population density | 111 per Km² (286 per sq. mi) |
| Total land area | 82,409 Km² (31,818 sq. mi) |
| Urban population | 58.57% (5,337,973 people) |
| Median age | 43.6 years |
| Foreign citizens | 1.53 million (17.1%) |
| Single-person households | 1.51 million (17%) |
| Families with children | 1.4 million (57% of all families) |
| Children under 15 | 1.29 million |
| Persons aged 15-64 | 5.93 million |
| Persons aged 65+ | 1.72 million |
| Persons with no religion | 20% |
| Roman Catholics | 73.8% |
| Protestants | 4.9% |
| Muslims | 4.2% |
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Population growth rate
Austria's population growth rate has been impacted by various factors, including historical events, immigration, and fertility rates. As of 2025, Austria's population is estimated to be around 8.93 million.
Historically, the population of Austria has been influenced by significant events such as World War I and II, which resulted in a deficit of births. Following World War I, there was a noticeable decline in native Austrian births, contributing to a "notch" in the population pyramid. However, the population increased rapidly after the Anschluss to the Third Reich in 1938. The post-World War II era and the early post-war years also witnessed a drop in birth rates, reflected in the demographics of the present-day population.
Immigration has played a crucial role in shaping Austria's population growth rate. Since the early 1990s, there has been a sharp increase in the number of foreign citizens residing in the country. By the beginning of 2021, approximately 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries called Austria home, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This trend is particularly evident in the post-Baby Boom era, where reduced birth rates have been partially offset by immigration. Between January 1st, 2011, and January 1st, 2021, Austria's population growth of +557,500 people was predominantly attributed to net migration gains of +539,905.
Austria's fertility rate has also influenced its population growth rate. The Baby Boom Generation, born primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, contributed to a significant increase in the population. However, the subsequent reduction in birth rates has resulted in a comparatively narrow base of the population pyramid. As of 2023, 32% of newborns had mothers with foreign nationality, highlighting the impact of immigration on fertility rates.
The population growth rate in Austria has led to an aging population. The number of senior citizens aged 65 and above is increasing, with the Baby Boom Generation gradually reaching retirement age. This shift has implications for the potential workforce, as the population of working-age individuals is aging as well. Despite the overall growth in population, the number of preschool and compulsory school-age children remains relatively stable, comprising around 14.4% of the total population.
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Immigration
Austria has a population of around 8.93 million people. The population density is 111 per km², with a total land area of 82,409 km². 58.57% of the population is urban, and the median age is 43.6 years.
Austria has seen significant immigration in recent decades, with the number of people with foreign citizenship rising sharply in the early 1990s and again in the 2010s. At the beginning of 2021, there were over 1.53 million foreign citizens living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This is a notable increase from 1985, when only 3.9% of the population were foreign citizens. The majority of foreign citizens in Austria are from other EU countries, who make up 52% of the total number of foreign citizens.
Austria's flexible immigration model, the Red-White-Red Card, offers qualified third-country workers and their family members a single permit for working and settling permanently in the country. Third-country nationals who are not EEA citizens or Swiss nationals require a residence permit if they plan to stay longer than six months. There are various types of residence permits available, including the Red-White-Red Card, Blue Card, and Settlement Permit. For stays of up to six months, third-country nationals do not need a residence permit but will need a visa. For some third-country nationals, a visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, depending on their citizenship.
Austria's population growth between 2011 and 2021 can be largely attributed to net migration gains. In recent years, there have been considerably more people immigrating to Austria than emigrating from the country. This has contributed to the ageing of the Austrian population, as the number of senior citizens aged 65 and above continues to increase.
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Median age
The median age in Austria is 43.6 years. This is influenced by the country's ageing population, with the number of senior citizens aged 65 and above increasing. In fact, the number of Austrian citizens in the 15-64 age range is around 5.93 million, while those aged 65 and above total 1.72 million. This means that 19.2% of the population is of retirement age, while 66.4% are of working age.
Austria's population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. In 2021, there were more than 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This is a sharp increase from 1985, when only 3.9% of the population were foreign citizens. The majority of foreign citizens in Austria come from other EU countries, with 793,000 citizens from countries like Germany, the UK, Italy, and Poland.
The Austrian population is ageing, with the number of senior citizens increasing and the number of births declining. In 2023, 32% of newborns had mothers with foreign nationality, and the birth rate has been decreasing since World War II. The largest cohorts were born in the 1950s and 1960s, and this Baby Boom Generation is now reaching retirement age.
The ageing population in Austria is also reflected in the country's household composition. Single-person households represent 17% of the population, and the majority of these are elderly people, particularly women who have remained single after the death of their spouses. Among households with multiple people, there are 2.46 million families, including married and unmarried couples with or without children, as well as single parents with children living in joint households.
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Fertility rate
Austria's fertility rate in 2025 is 1.584 births per woman, a 0.44% increase from 2024. The fertility rate has been steadily increasing since 2021, when it was 1.563 births per woman. A fertility rate of 2.1 and above is considered stable, while a rate of 2 and below leads to an aging population and a decrease in the overall population.
Austria's population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. Between January 1st, 2011, and January 1st, 2021, 97% of the country's total population growth could be attributed to net migration gains. The number of persons with foreign citizenship in Austria rose sharply in the early 1990s and again in recent years. 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 total population. This is the second-highest foreign-born proportion of all EU countries, after Luxembourg.
The Austrian Statistical Bureau reported that in mid-2006, 814,800 foreigners legally lived in Austria, representing 9.8% of the total population, one of the highest rates in Europe. Of these foreign residents, 305,100 were from the former Yugoslavia, and 110,800 were from Turkey. Due to a growing naturalization rate, 330,000 people have been naturalized between 1985 and 2003, representing about 4% of the Austrian population.
According to Eurostat, there were 1.27 million foreign-born residents in Austria in 2010, corresponding to 15.2% of the total population. Of these, 764,000 (9.1%) were born outside the EU, and 512,000 (6.1%) were born in another EU member state. In 2018, the percentage of foreign-born people was around 19% of the total population. As of 2023, the most common groups of foreign residents in Austria were German (official nationwide), Turkish, Yugoslavian, and Hungarian.
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Population density
Austria's population density is 111 people per square kilometre (or 286 per square mile). This figure represents a 0.19% increase from 2024, when the population density was 107.02. The population density in 2023 was 106.81 people per square kilometre, a 0.22% increase from 2022.
Austria's total land area is 82,409 square kilometres (31,818 square miles). 58.57% of the population is urban, with 5,337,973 people living in cities as of 2025. The median age in Austria is 43.6 years.
Austria's population is growing almost exclusively through immigration. Between 2011 and 2021, 97% of the country's total population growth (+557,500 people) was due to net migration gains (+539,905). The number of people with foreign citizenship has been rising sharply since the early 1990s, with 1.53 million citizens of foreign countries living in Austria as of 2021, accounting for 17.1% of the total population. This is a notable increase from 1985, when foreign citizens made up 3.9% of the population.
Austria's population includes several minority groups. The largest single ethnic minority is made up of ethnic Turks (including Turkish Kurds), who number around 350,000 people, or 3% of the total population. There are also significant communities of Carinthian Slovenes (14,000–50,000, depending on the source), Croats (25,000), and Hungarians (20,000).
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Frequently asked questions
The population of Austria is around 8.93 million.
The population density of Austria is 111 per Km² (286 people per square mile).
In 2021, there were 1.53 million foreign citizens in Austria, making up 17.1% of the total population.
1.72 million Austrian citizens are 65 or older, making up 19.2% of the population.
In 2001, 74% of Austrians identified as Christian. By 2018, this had dropped to 73.8%.
