Lexi Webster
Austrians are people who come from the country of Austria, a landlocked country in Central Europe that is bordered by eight other countries. The term Austrian was first used in the early 17th century to refer to members of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. Today, Austrians are described as a nationality or a homogeneous Germanic ethnic group closely related to neighbouring Germans, Liechtensteiners, and German-speaking Swiss.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language | German |
| Political Prestige | Habsburg |
| Location | Bordered by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany |
| Rivers | Danube River |
| Mountain Range | Austrian Alps |
| Population | 91.1% regarded as ethnic Austrians |
| Immigrant Groups | Turks, Serbs, Bosniaks, Germans, Swiss, Hungarians, and Croats |
| Life Expectancy | 81 years |
| Health Index | 0.9 |
| Health Spending Per Capita | Third in the EU |
| Physician Density | 5.2 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants |
| Number of Hospitals | 271 |
| Number of Physicians | 45,596 |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian national identity
The term "Austrian" first entered the English language in the 17th century, referring to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and later, in the 18th century, to the inhabitants of Austria. The territory of present-day Austria has a long history, with various groups settling the region, including Bavarians, other Germanic tribes, Slavic groups, Huns, and Avars. The country was ruled by the Habsburgs from the Late Middle Ages until the establishment of the First Republic after World War I. During this time, the term "Austrian" was used to identify subjects of the House of Austria, regardless of their ethnic ancestry.
After World War I, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919 forbade the unification of Austria and Germany, and the idea of Austrian nationalism gained momentum. The Fatherland Front government, established in 1933, promoted Austrian nationalism and independence from Germany, emphasising the country's Catholic identity. However, the idea of unification persisted, and in 1938, Austria became part of Nazi Germany.
Following World War II, Austrians began to reject their German identity and embrace a broader Austrian identity. This shift was influenced by the desire to distance themselves from the Nazi regime, with some even describing themselves as "Hitler's first victim". The Austrian political elite, some of whom had experienced concentration camps, advocated for the country's independence. The development of a distinct Austrian national identity was a gradual process, with surveys showing that as late as 1956, 46% of Austrians still considered themselves Germans, a number that decreased to 15% by 1964.
Today, Austrian national identity is well-established, with 91.1% of the population regarded as ethnic Austrians. The country's history, culture, language variation, and geopolitical neutrality all contribute to its sense of self. While small groups of German-speaking Swiss and ethnic Germans reside in Austria, the majority of Austrians do not identify as German. The country's diverse population also includes significant groups of Serbs, Turks, Croats, Hungarians, and Romani people, reflecting Austria's multicultural character.
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Austrian immigration and refugees
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic located in Central Europe. Austrian law recognises refugee and asylum seeker status, and the government has a system in place to protect refugees. The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA), which began operations on January 1, 2014, is an Austrian authority directly subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The BFA is responsible for implementing first-instance asylum and alien law procedures (except criminal proceedings and visa matters) and granting residence permits for valid reasons.
In 2015 and 2016, Austria was affected by a large refugee movement. With a population of 8.8 million, around 1 million passed through Austria in 2015, and 100,000 people asked for asylum. In recent years, the number of refugees has decreased but remains significant. Austria has offered asylum or subsidiary protection to approximately 108,000 people in recent years, most of whom did not know the national language or customs. To address this, the Austrian government established mandatory language training and courses on national standards and customs for refugees.
The Integration Act, which came into force in June 2017, aims to integrate people legally residing in Austria into Austrian society by offering systematic integration measures. The Act defines the rights and obligations of those entitled to asylum, subsidiary protection, and third-country nationals with legal residence. It is based on the principle of "integration based on merit", emphasizing the importance of learning the German language, achieving economic self-sufficiency, and respecting Austrian and European laws and values. The Act also ensures uniform criteria for German courses and examinations across Austria.
Austria has amended its Citizenship Act over 40 times since its inception in 1985. Amendments in 2017 and 2021 allowed for the stripping of citizenship from Austrian citizens with dual nationalities who fought in armed conflicts abroad or were convicted of terrorist offences. In 2020, amendments promoted qualified immigration and facilitated the voluntary departure of migrants without legal status. Additionally, descendants of Nazi victims can now apply for Austrian citizenship under facilitated conditions.
While Austria has made efforts to integrate refugees and promote qualified immigration, there are ongoing debates and concerns about immigration in the country. Migration experts fear a 'race to the bottom' in asylum policy across the EU, and violent attacks linked to immigrants have overshadowed political landscapes in Europe. The far-right Austrian party FPÖ has called for the deportation of migrants and advocated for 'homogeneity' instead of diversity. These conflicting perspectives highlight the complexities and challenges Austria faces in managing immigration and refugee protection.
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Austrian dialects and languages
Austria has about 250 spoken languages, but many are only used by small populations. The official language is German, which is used in the media, schools, and for official announcements. Austrian German, also known as Austrian Standard German, Standard Austrian German, Austrian High German, or simply Austrian, is the variety of German written and spoken in Austria. It is distinct from the German spoken in Germany or Switzerland. Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century, when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory education in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard at the time was Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language). Austrian German has the highest sociolinguistic prestige locally and is used in formal situations. In less formal settings, Austrians use Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which are rarely written down.
Alemannic is a group of dialects in the Upper German branch of the Germanic family of languages. It is the main dialect spoken in Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost state, and is also spoken in northern Switzerland. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand. The Alemannic dialect is derived from the language of the Alemanni, a Germanic tribe.
Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and the primary native language of Austria. It has no official orthography, but there are literary efforts, especially in poems, to depict the sound of the pronunciation in the spelling. Austro-Bavarian is also divided into Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, spoken in northern Austria, and Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects, spoken in southern Austria.
In addition to these dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish, Romanian, Slovene, Slovak, Romany, and Czech.
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Austrian history
The territory of what is now Austria was divided into Raetia, Noricum, and Pannonia during the Roman era. Noricum was a Celtic kingdom, the Pannonii were of Illyrian stock, and the Raetians were an ancient alpine people probably akin to the Etruscans. During the Migration Period (c. 6th century), these territories were settled by the Bavarians and other Germanic groups in the west (Alemanni in Vorarlberg, Lombards in Tyrol) and by Slavic groups (principality Carantania), Huns, and Avars in the east.
In the early 17th century, the adjective "Austrian" entered the English language, referring to Habsburg Austria or the "members of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg." From the 18th century onwards, it was also used to denote "a native or inhabitant of Austria." The term "Austrian" was used to identify subjects of the Domus Austriae, the House of Austria, regardless of their ethnic ancestry.
Austria was a part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806. After the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Austria was excluded from the unification of the German Empire in 1871. The following year, Austria joined Hungary to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, acknowledging the Kingdom of Hungary as an independent state bound to the empire.
In 1919, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye forbade the unification of Austria and Germany to prevent the creation of a large German state. However, in 1938, Austria became a part of Nazi Germany. After World War II, Austria declared independence from Germany on April 27, 1945, and developed its own distinct national identity separate from pan-Germanism.
Today, Austria is a diverse country with a rich history and culture. It is known for its strong coffee, art, sports, and music. The country is divided into nine provinces, each with its own unique cultural characteristics influenced by geography and neighbouring countries. While the majority of Austrians are considered ethnic Austrians, the country has welcomed immigrants, refugees, and transmigrants, contributing to its evolving ethnic composition.
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Austrian culture and customs
Austrians have a rich and diverse culture, with a long history that has been influenced by various neighbouring groups and nations. The territory of what is now Austria was settled by several groups during the Migration Period (c. 6th century), including Bavarians, Alemanni, Lombards, Slavs, Huns, and Avars. The country's culture has been shaped by its unique geography and its position as a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by eight other nations with distinct cultures.
Austria is divided into nine federated states or 'Bundeslander', each with its own unique cultural nuances. The country has a diverse ethnic makeup, with 91.1% of the population considered ethnic Austrians, and the remaining being people of non-Austrian descent, largely from surrounding countries, especially former East Bloc nations. The largest immigrant groups include Turks, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, and Hungarians, who have been recognised as a minority group with special rights since the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
The family is the foundation of Austrian social structure, with small families generally living close to each other within a certain town or village. Weekends are typically spent on family activities, such as outdoor pursuits, and sharing meals together. Austrians take pride in their well-maintained homes and observe certain dining etiquette and customs. For instance, when invited to dinner, it is customary to bring a small gift of consumables or chocolates, and flowers in odd numbers. Punctuality is also valued, as it signifies respect.
Austria has a strong literary and musical heritage. Vienna, in particular, has been a cultural centre since the early 16th century, and it became the European capital of classical music in the 18th and 19th centuries, attracting composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn. The country also has several famous palaces, including the baroque-style Belvedere and Schönbrunn, and well-known cemeteries, such as the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna.
In terms of industry and economy, manufacturing is Austria's strongest sector, with iron ore as the country's most important mineral resource. Agriculture is also significant, with products like wheat, corn, wine, dairy, and meat being produced for sale. Tourism contributes substantially to the economy, particularly ski resorts in the Alps and cultural attractions in cities like Vienna and Salzburg.
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Frequently asked questions
The term Austrian was used in the early 17th century to refer to the members of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century onwards, it was used to refer to natives or inhabitants of Austria. The English word Austrian is derived from the country's name, Austria, which comes from the Latinisation of Österreich, the German name for the country.
The vast majority of Austrians are ethnic Austrians. However, there are also small but significant groups of German-speaking Swiss and ethnic Germans residing in the country. Other ethnic groups include Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Croats, and Hungarians.
Austria has experienced several waves of immigration, particularly after World War II. Since 1945, labourers from Southern Europe, the Balkans, and North Africa have migrated to Austria as "guest workers." Many of these workers, especially Bosniaks and Serbs, have settled permanently and established families. More recently, refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Yugoslav wars have also arrived in Austria, contributing to the country's changing ethnic composition.
Austria's national identity has evolved over time. During the Late Middle Ages, the Habsburgs ruled the territory of Austria and acquired additional lands, including Hungary and Bohemia. After World War II and Austria's involvement with Nazi Germany, the country declared independence from Germany in 1945 and developed a distinct national identity separate from German nationalism. Today, most Austrians do not identify as German but rather as ethnic Austrians.
Austria's geography, particularly its mountains and forests, has significantly influenced its culture and regional differences. The Alps, for example, isolated certain regions, leading to distinct cultural characteristics in areas like traditional heritage, food, architecture, and celebrations. Additionally, geographic borders with neighbouring countries have influenced language variations, with Austrians speaking a distinct version of German compared to their German counterparts.
