Introduction: Austria Download PDF

Once the center of Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality.

Capital City: Vienna (+1 GMT)  
Chief of State: President Heinz Fischer  
Head of Govt.: Chancellor Werner Faymann  
Currency: Euro  
Main Cities: Graz, Linz, Salzburg,  
Major Languages: German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3%  
Calling Code: 43  
Voltage: 230  
Stock Exchanges: Wiener Borse AG  
Primary Religions: Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12%  

Main Airports

Innsbruck (INN) (Kranebitten), Salzburg (SZG) (Maxglan), Vienna (VIE) (Wien-Schwechat)

U.S. Embassy

Boltzmanngasse 16, Vienna 1091
tel. (43) (1) 313-39

Corporations

OMV Group (Oil & Gas Operations)
$35.57 Billion USD
Erste Bank (Banking)
$20.57 Billion USD
voestalpine (Materials)
$16.56 Billion USD
Strabag (Construction)
$14.42 Billion USD

Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA
$40,200 (2008 est.)
Inflation Rate
3.2% (2008 est.)
Population
8,210,281 (July 2009 est.)
Country Risk Ratings
A2
Ease of Doing Business
27/181
Global Competitiveness
5.23/134

Statistics

Labor force:
3.633 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$163.6 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - partners:
Germany 29.4%, Italy 8.6%, US 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2008)
Imports:
$168.9 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - partners:
Germany 44.4%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)
Major Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

Rankings

Corruption Perceptions Index
8.1 out of 180
 
The Corruptions Perception Index (CPI) is reported annually by Transparency International, an international civil society organization. The CPI ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption exists in the misuse of public power for private benefit among public officials and politicians. CPI is a composite index determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. The highest ranked country is the country with the least amount of perceived corruption. Index units, 10=least corrupt, 0=most corrupt.

Data collected in 2008

Source: Transparency International

E-readiness Rankings
8.63 out of 70
 
The E-readiness Ranking is reported yearly by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research and advisory firm. The E-readiness Ranking evaluates the technological, economic, political and social assets of countries to assess the information and communications technology infrastructure, and the infrastructures benefits on the country's consumers, businesses and governments. The higher ranked countries have a better ability to leverage digital channels for communication, commerce, and government in order to further development.

Data collected in 2008

Source: EIU

Freedom of the Press
21 out of 194
 
The Freedom of the Press Survey is an annual report by The Freedom House, an organization that promotes and researches advocacy of freedom across countries. The Press Survey assesses the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in every country in the world. Ratings are determined by examining three broad categories: the legal environment in which media operate (0-30 points), political influences on reporting and access to information (0-40 points), and economic pressures on content and the dissemination of news (0-30 points). The highest ranked country has the greatest degree of press freedom. Index units, 1-30: Free, 31-60: Partly Free, 61-100: Not Free.

Data collected in 2008

Source: Freedom House

Global Enabling Trade Report
5.42 out of 118
 
The Global Enabling Trade Report is published yearly by the World Economic Forum, an independent international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Global Enabling Trade Report analyzes which countries around the world enable trade from country to destination by measuring market access, border administration, transport and communications infrastructure, and the business environment. The highest ranked countries have the best factors, policies, and services facilitating the free flow of goods across borders.

Data collected in 2008

Source: World Economic Forum

Index of Economic Freedom
70 out of 155
 
The Index of Economic Freedom is reported annually by the Heritage Foundation, a research and educational institute. The Index of Economic Freedom analyzes a wide range of issues including trade barriers, corruption, government expenditures, property rights, and tax rates to generate an overall ranking of economic freedom. The highest ranked country is the country with the least number of restrictions and constraints on businesses.

Data collected in 2008

Source: Heritage Foundation

Inward FDI Potential Index
0.335 out of 140
 
The Inward FDI Potential Index is reported every three years by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, an organization that promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy. The Inward FDI Potential Index uses several economic factors that are expected to affect an economy’s attractiveness to foreign investors. The higher ranked countries are more attractive to investors. Index units, 0=low scoring country, 1=high scoring country.

Data collected in 2006

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 2006

Tax Misery & Reform Index
144.5 out of 61
 
The Forbes Tax Misery Index is annually compiled by Forbes, an American publishing and media company. The Tax Misery Index reflects the sum of corporate income, personal income and wealth taxes plus employer social security, employee social security and VAT/sales taxes at the highest marginal rate in each locale. The highest ranked countries impose the harshest taxes while those at the bottom are the most tax friendly.

Data collected in 2008

Source: Forbes

The Globalization Index
14 out of 72
 
The Globalization Index is compiled annually by A.T. Kearney and Foreign Policy. The Globalization Index ranks the major developed and developing countries in the world by analyzing key components of global integration, such as economic, personal, technological, and political integration. The highest ranked country is the most globalized.

Data collected in 2007

Source: Foreign Policy