Geography
Area: 83,857 sq. km. (32,377 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Maine.
Cities: Capital--Vienna (2003 pop. 1.6 million). Other
cities--Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt.
Terrain: Alpine (64%), northern highlands that form part of the
Bohemian Massif (10%), lowlands to the east (26%).
Climate: Continental temperate.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Austrian(s).
Population (2003): 8,117,754.
Annual growth rate (2003): 0.41%.
Ethnic groups: Germans 98%, Croats, Slovenes; other recognized
minorities include Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Roma.
Religions: Roman Catholic 73.6%, Lutheran 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other
5.5, no confession 12.0%.
Language: German 92%.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--99%.
Literacy--98%.
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--4.2 deaths/1,000.
Life expectancy--men 75.9 years, women 81.7 years.
Work force (2003, 3.9 million): Services--67%; agriculture
and forestry--4%, industry--29%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated May 1, 1945).
Branches: Executive--federal president (chief of state),
chancellor (head of government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral
Federal Assembly (Parliament). Judicial--Constitutional
Court, Administrative Court, Supreme Court.
Political parties: Social Democratic Party, People's Party, Freedom
Party, Greens.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Administrative subdivisions: Nine Laender (federal states).
Defense (2003): 0.8% of GDP.
Economy
GDP (2004): $290 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2004): 1.9%.
Per capita income (2004): $35,820.
Natural resources: Iron ore, crude oil, natural gas, timber,
tungsten, magnesite, lignite, cement.
Agriculture (2% of 2003 GDP): Products--livestock, forest
products, grains, sugarbeets, potatoes.
Industry (30% of 2003 GDP): Types--iron and steel,
chemicals, capital equipment, consumer goods.
Services: 68% of 2003 GDP.
Trade (2003): Exports--$89 billion: iron and steel
products, timber, paper, textiles, electrotechnical machinery,
chemical products. Imports--$92 billion: machinery,
vehicles, chemicals, iron and steel, metal goods, fuels, raw
materials, foodstuffs. Principal trade partners--European
Union, Switzerland, U.S., and Hungary.
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