Global View: Austria

I have to admit, Austria is one place I've always wanted to go. I haven't been fortunate enough to visit yet, but I am planning to include Vienna on my list of destinations for the European vacation I am taking early next year.

General Information

Officially known as the Republic of Austria, this tiny European nation encompasses just over 32,000 square miles of territory and has a population of just over 8 million, almost 2 million of whom live in the capital, Vienna.

Nearly three-quarters of Austria's citizens are Roman Catholic and nearly all Austrians speak German as their daily language.

Government

Austria is a federal parliamentary democracy with an executive branch consisting of a federal president, a chancellor, and a cabinet, a legislative branch that features a bicameral parliament, and a judiciary consisting of a constitutional court, and administrative court, and a supreme court.

The parliament, known as the Federal Assembly, is made up of the National Council and the Federal Council. The National Council has 183 members, while the Federal Council has 62 members. In the judiciary, the justices of the three courts are appointed by the federal president.

Economy

Austria's economy relies on services for most of its gross domestic product, nearly 70 percent, although industry makes up a significant portion as well with about 30 percent of GDP. Austria's growth rate for its gross domestic product last year nearly three and a half percent, and per capita income was healthy at nearly $45,000. Unemployment was 4.4 percent in 2007.

Primary trade partners include the European Union, Switzerland, the United States, and China, and Austria has a nearly even trade balance.

Austria Abroad

Austria is a member of the European Union, the Economic and Monetary Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Vienna plays host to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, as well as several other notable organizations. Militarily, Austria has a policy of neutrality, does not participate in any defense alliances, and does not allow foreign military bases on its soil. Austria does, however, participate in NATO's Partnership for Peace and is a regular contributor of peacekeeping forces to conflict areas around the globe, including the African nation of Chad and as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Source: U.S. Department of State