Access to THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1994 provided courtesy of
the libraries of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
======================================================
National Trade Data Bank
ITEM ID     : CI WOFACT WO0017
DATE        : Oct 28, 1994
 
AGENCY      : CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PROGRAM     : WORLD FACTBOOK
TITLE       : World Factbook: Austria
 
Source key      : CI 
Program key     : CI WOFACT 
Update sched.   : Annually         
Data type       : TEXT 
End year        : 1994
Date of record  : 19941020
Keywords 3      :  
Keywords 3      : | Austria 
 
 
                                  Austria
 
 
                                 Geography
 
Location:
     Central Europe, between Germany and Hungary
Map references:
     Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
     83,850 sq km
land area:
     82,730 sq km
comparative area:
     slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
     total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km,
     Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km,
     Switzerland 164 km
Coastline:
     0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
     none; landlocked
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in
     lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
     in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and
     northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Natural resources:
     iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,
     copper, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
     17%
permanent crops:
     1%
meadows and pastures:
     24%
forest and woodland:
     39%
other:
     19%
Irrigated land:
     40 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
     some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil
     pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air
     pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations
     and industrial plants
natural hazards:
     NA
 
 
international agreements:
     party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
     Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered
     Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
     Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber,
     Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
     Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the
     Sea
Note:
     landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe
     with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is
     the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of
     steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
 
                                  People
 
Population:
     7,954,974 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     0.45% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     11.38 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
     10.34 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
     3.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
     7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     76.65 years
male:
     73.44 years
female:
     80.03 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
     1.48 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Austrian(s)
adjective:
     Austrian
Ethnic divisions:
     German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions:
     Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages:
     German
Literacy:
     age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)
total population:
     99%
male:
     NA%
 
 
female:
     NA%
Labor force:
     3.47 million (1989)
by occupation:
     services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry
     8.1%
note:
     an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European
     countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of
     labor force (1988)
 
                                Government
 
Names:
conventional long form:
     Republic of Austria
conventional short form:
local long form:
     Republik Oesterreich
local short form:
     Oesterreich
Digraph:
     AU
Type:
     federal republic
Capital:
     Vienna
Administrative divisions:
     9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,
     Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol,
     Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence:
     12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday:
     National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution:
     1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system:
     civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative
     acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and
     civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
     jurisdiction
Suffrage:
     19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election last held 24
     May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot - Thomas
     KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government:
     Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor
     Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
 
 
cabinet:
     Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice of the
     chancellor
Legislative branch:
     bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
Federal Council (Bundesrat):
     consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis
     of population, but with each province having at least 3
     representatives
National Council (Nationalrat):
     elections last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);
     results - SPOE 43%, OEVP 32.1%, FPOE 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPOE 0.7%, other
     3.1%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 80, OEVP 60, FPOE 33, GAL 10
Judicial branch:
     Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal
     cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic
     cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for
     constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:
     Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;
     Austrian People's Party (OEVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party
     of Austria (FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE),
     Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Peter
     PILZ, chairman; Liberal Forum (LF), Heidi SCHMIDT
Other political or pressure groups:
     Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union
     Federation (primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the
     Austrian People's Party (OEVP) representing business, labor, and
     farmers; OEVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists; Roman
     Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
Member of:
     AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN,
     COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,
     IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
     INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM
     (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
     UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNTAC, UNTSO,
     UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery:
     3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone:
     (202) 895-6700
FAX:
     (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general:
     Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
chancery:
     Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
 
 
mailing address:
     Unit 27937, Vienna
telephone:
     [43] (1) 313-39
FAX:
     [43] (1) 513-43-51
consulate(s) general:
     Salzburg
Flag:
     three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
 
                                  Economy
 
Overview:
     Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with a
     sizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and extensive
     welfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a technically
     skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial firms,
     Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and services
     (tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself with
     only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. Increased export sales
     resulting from German unification, boosted Austria's economy through
     1991, but Austria's GDP growth slowed to 2% in 1992 and -0.5% in 1993
     due to the weak international economy, particularly in Germany - its
     largest trading partner. GDP growth will resume slowly in 1994, with
     estimates ranging from a 0.5% to a 1% increase. Unemployment has risen
     to 7% as a result of the slowdown and will continue to rise in 1994.
     Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level of
     subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary
     capabilities. Austria's government has taken measures to make the
     economy more liberal and open by introducing a major tax reform,
     privatizing state-owned firms, and liberalizing cross-border capital
     movements. Although it will face increased competition, Austria should
     benefit from the continued opening of eastern European markets, as
     well as the 1 January 1994 start of the European Economic Area which
     extends the European Union rules on the free movement of people,
     capital, and goods and services to four members (including Austria) of
     the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Austria has concluded
     membership negotiations with the European Union and is expected to
     join in early 1995, thus broadening European economic unity. The
     government, however, plans to hold a national referendum on the matter
     on 12 June 1994; support for and opposition to membership appears
     about equal.
National product:
     GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $134.4 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
     -0.5% (1993)
National product per capita:
     $17,000 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     3.7% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
     7% (1993 est.)
 
 
Budget:
revenues:
     $52.2 billion
expenditures:
     $60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
     $39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
     machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper
     products, chemicals
partners:
     EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU 12.3%, Japan
     1.5%, US 3.35% (1993)
Imports:
     $48.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
     petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,
     textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
partners:
     EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU 7.5%, Japan
     4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)
External debt:
     $16.2 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
     growth rate -4.5% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
     17,600,000 kW
production:
     49.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
     6,300 kWh (1992)
Industries:
     foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical,
     paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Agriculture:
     accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and
     animals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle,
     pigs, poultry; 80%-90% self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
     transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan
     route and Eastern Europe
Economic aid:
donor:
     ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency:
     1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates:
     Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 12.255 (January 1994), 11.632
     (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989)
Fiscal year:
     calendar year
 
                              Communications
 
 
Railroads:
     5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned
     (0.760-, 1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standard
     gauge of which 3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked;
     339 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 84 km is electrified
Highways:
total:
     95,412 km
paved:
     21,812 km (including 1,012 km of autobahn)
unpaved:
     mostly gravel and earth 73,600 km
Inland waterways:
     446 km
Pipelines:
     crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 km
Ports:
     Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)
Merchant marine:
     29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 158,724 GRT/259,594 DWT, bulk 3,
     cargo 23, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
Airports:
total:
     55
usable:
     55
with permanent-surface runways:
     20
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     4
Telecommunications:
     highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast
     stations - 6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV;
     satellite ground stations for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean
     INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems
 
                              Defense Forces
 
Branches:
     Army (including Flying Division)
Manpower availability:
     males age 15-49 2,018,954; fit for military service 1,693,341; reach
     military age (19) annually 48,710 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
     exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993)
 
 
 
===========================================================================
This section of THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1994 produced by the United States
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was derived from the US Dept. of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Division's NATIONAL TRADE DATA BANK (NTDB) CD-ROM,
November, 1994, SuDoc No. C 1.88:994/11/v.1-2 / Presented by Raleigh Muns,
(srcmuns@umslvma.umsl.edu) University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries.