Austria's Geographical Location In Europe: A Map Overview

Austria, officially known as the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country is largely mountainous, with the Alps dominating the west and south. Vienna, located in northeastern Austria, is the capital and largest city.

Austria's neighbouring countries

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by eight countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Austria's landscape is largely characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country.

To the north, Austria shares borders with the Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia. The Czech Republic and Germany together make up most of Austria's northern border, with the Czech Republic bordering 402 km (250 mi) and Germany 801 km (498 mi) of the country. Slovakia, meanwhile, shares a 105 km (65 mi) border with Austria in the north-east.

In the east, Austria borders Hungary, which separates Austria from the Hungarian Plain. This border is 331 km (206 mi) long.

To the south, Austria is bordered by Slovenia and Italy. The border with Slovenia is 330 km (210 mi) long, while the border with Italy is 404 km (251 mi).

Finally, in the west, Austria shares borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Swiss border is 158 km (98 mi) long, while the border with Liechtenstein is much shorter at 34 km (21 mi).

The Alps in Austria

Austria is a landlocked country in East Central Europe, sharing borders with the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The Alps stretch across eight Alpine countries, and about a quarter of Austria is dominated by the Central Eastern Alps in the west and south of the country. The Central Eastern Alps are also referred to as the Austrian Central Alps or Central Alps, and they comprise the main chain of the Eastern Alps. The Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps are also partly in Austria. The Central Alps form the eastern part of the Alpine divide and its central chain of mountains. The highest mountain in the Austrian Central Alps is Grossglockner, which stands at 3,798 meters (12,461 feet). The Pasterze glacier, Austria's most extended glacier, covers parts of the Grossglockner's eastern slope.

The Central Alps have the highest peaks of the Eastern Alps, located between the Northern and Southern Limestone Alps. The Central Alps consist mainly of gneiss and slate rocks from the various Austroalpine nappes, with the exception of the Hohe Tauern and Engadine windows, which are composed of Jurassic rock and limestones, and locally of granite. The Central Alps are separated from the Northern Alps by the Northern Longitudinal Trough, and from the Southern Alps by the Southern Longitudinal Valley. The valleys of the Inn, Salzach, and Enns rivers mark the northern boundary of the Central Eastern Alps, and the Drau river marks their southern border.

The Austrian Alps are a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering spectacular skiing and hiking opportunities. The majestic Austrian Alps stretch across the country, encompassing awe-striking Ice Age valleys, verdant heaths, and alluvial cones within Europe's largest national park, the 700-square-mile Hohe Tauern. The Austrian Alps include the dramatic cities of Salzburg and Innsbruck and the beautiful province of Tirol. The range also boasts Gross Glockner, Austria's highest peak, and some of the world's best winter and summer sports playgrounds.

Vienna, the capital

Vienna is the smallest of Austria's nine states in terms of area but the largest in population. It is the cultural, economic, and political centre of the country, and the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union. It is also the most populous of the cities on the Danube river.

The city is completely surrounded by Lower Austria and lies around 50 km (31 mi) west of Slovakia and its capital Bratislava, 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Hungary, and 60 km (37 mi) south of Moravia (Czech Republic). Vienna is divided into 23 districts, and its landscape is characterised by the abundance of Baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresa (1740-1780) and Franz Joseph (1848-1916), who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture in the city's centre.

Vienna has a rich history, dating back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. From 1558 to 1918, Vienna was an imperial city—until 1806, it was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, and then it became the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1918, Vienna became the capital of the truncated, landlocked central European country that emerged from World War I as a republic.

Vienna is known for its musical legacy, having been home to many famous classical musicians such as Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Schoenberg, Schubert, Johann Strauss I, and Johann Strauss II. It played a pivotal role as a leading European music centre from the age of Viennese Classicism through the early 20th century.

The city has a blend of imperial traditions, music, and endearing charm. It offers majestic sights, including the Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Vienna State Opera, the Museum of Art History, the Museum of Natural History, the Parliament, the Burgtheater, and the City Hall. The former Habsburg summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace, with its beautifully tended gardens, the Gloriette monument, and the world's oldest zoo, is another must-see attraction.

Vienna has been voted the most liveable city in the world many times. It boasts parks, the Vienna Woods, and vineyards. It is a city of green spaces, opulent stores, elegant shopping streets, banks, bookshops, and crowded theatres, as well as boulevards for leisurely strolling.

The population of Austria

Austria is a landlocked country in East Central Europe. It has a population of 9,117,936 as of November 23, 2024, and an area of 83,871 square kilometres. The population is equivalent to 0.11% of the total world population, and Austria ranks 99th in the list of countries by population. The population density is 111 people per square kilometre, with 58.1% of the population living in urban areas. The median age in Austria is 43.4 years.

The capital of Austria is Vienna, located in the northeast of the country. Vienna is the largest city in Austria, with a population of 1.8 million people, or 1.92 million as of 2021. This means that around a fifth of Austria's population lives in the capital. The second-largest city is Graz, with 300,000 residents, followed by Linz (207,000), Salzburg (155,000), Innsbruck (131,000), and Klagenfurt (102,000).

Austria's population has grown over time, reaching close to 6 million by 1900, 7 million in the late 1950s, and surpassing 8 million in 2000. The population was 8.93 million at the beginning of 2021 and is expected to reach 9.94 million by 2080. The population growth is driven almost exclusively by immigration, with net migration gains making up 97% of the total population growth between 2011 and 2021. In recent years, the number of births has been lower than the number of deaths, and the birth rate is below the replacement rate.

In terms of demographics, Austria's population consists of approximately 1.29 million children under 15, 5.93 million people between the ages of 15 and 64, and 1.72 million people aged 65 and over. This means that 14.4% of the population is of preschool or compulsory school age, about two-thirds (66.4%) are of working age, and 19.2% are of retirement age. The senior population is increasing as the Baby Boom Generation reaches retirement age. Additionally, there are 1,801,184 foreign citizens in Austria, making up 19.6% of the total population as of 2024.

The languages of Austria

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The official language of Austria is German, specifically Austrian German, which differs from the German spoken in Germany. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and is the de facto first language of the country, with 97-98% of Austrians speaking it and 93% calling it their mother tongue. It is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements.

Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect spoken in the westernmost state of Vorarlberg and is very difficult for German speakers from other regions to understand. The main dialect in the rest of Austria is Austro-Bavarian, which also differs significantly from Standard German. Austro-Bavarian has no official orthography, but there are literary efforts, especially in poems, to depict the dialect's pronunciation in the spelling.

In addition to German, Austria has several recognised minority languages, including Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Romani, and sign language. These languages have official status in certain regions, and in some cases, native speakers are entitled to schooling and official communication with authorities in their mother tongue. For example, in the state of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German. Similarly, in the state of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian are recognised as official languages alongside German.

Austria's linguistic diversity is partly due to its history as part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included territories of various ethnicities and languages. Immigration has also played a role in diversifying the languages spoken in Austria, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures in the 1960s and 1970s.

Frequently asked questions