Austria

National name
Republik Österreich

Government
Federal republic

Geography
Austria includes much of the mountainous territory of the eastern Alps (about 75% of the area). The country contains many snowfields, glaciers, and snowcapped peaks, the highest being the Grossglockner (3,819 m). The Danube is the principal river.

Historical Background Once the center of power for the large 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. Following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 and Austria’s entry into the European Union in 1995. Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Parliament passed a law in June 2007 that lowered the voting age in Austria to 16. On July 7, 2008, the Austrian government collapsed after months of struggling between the two major political parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party. In September 2008, the right-wing parties made tremendous gains in parliamentary elections.

Capital

Vienna

Government

Austria Vienna Federal Parliamentary republic

Language

Austrian German)

Religion

Roman Catholic Christianity

Area

Total 83,872 km2 (115th) 32,383 sq m

Population

2009 estimate 8,356,707 (93rd) 2001 census 8,032,926

Currency

Euro (€) ²(EUR)

GDP

2010 estimate Total $330.496 billion Per capita $39,454