Careers, Opportunities in Ministry
| Introduction | Austria |
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Background:
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 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. A constitutional law that same year
declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a
condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet
Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European
Union in 1995, some Austrian's have called into question this
neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered
the European Monetary Union in 1999. |
| Geography |
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Location:
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Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total:
83,870 sq km water: 1,426 sq km land: 82,444 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maine |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,562
km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers |
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Terrain:
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in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m |
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Natural resources:
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oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land:
16.89% permanent crops: 0.99% other: 82.12% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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457 sq km (2000 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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landslides; avalanches; earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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8,174,762 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
15.9% (male 665,680; female 633,560) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,799,411; female 2,764,426) 65 years and over: 16% (male 518,748; female 792,937) (2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 40
years male: 38.8 years female: 41.2 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.14% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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8.9 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.56 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.68
deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 78.87 years male: 76 years female: 81.89 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,000 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian |
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Ethnic groups:
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German 88.5%, indigenous minorities 1.5% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), recent immigrant groups 10% (includes Turks, Bosnians, Serbians, Croatians) (2001) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 4%, other 17% |
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Languages:
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German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Government |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local short form: Oesterreich local long form: Republik Oesterreich |
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Government type:
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federal republic |
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Capital:
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Vienna |
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Independence:
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1156 (from Bavaria) |
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National holiday:
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National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality |
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Constitution:
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1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945) |
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Legal system:
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civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) note - will remain
in office until 8 July 2004 head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6% |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Federal
Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or
Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the states on
the basis of population, but with each state having at least
three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term)
and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members
elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17 elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria (also known as the Liberal Party) or FPOe [Herbert HAUPT]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and other non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human rights |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr. embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335 FAX: [43] (1) 5125835 |
| Economy |
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Economy - overview:
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Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slow growth in Germany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, and again less than 1% in 2003. However, recent data signal that the recovery has started. The government estimates economic growth in 2004 of 1.7-2.1% and of 2.5% in 2005. The government is planning a EURO 500 billion income tax cut in 2004, though some economists doubt it will have stimulative effects in 2004, because it will be offset by higher health insurance contributions and higher taxes on energy. For 2005, Austria plans a tax cut of EURO 2.5 billion and harmonization of the various pension schemes. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden. A key issue is the encouragement of much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $245.5 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.8% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $30,000 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
2% industry: 33% services: 65% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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3.9% (1999) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.2% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.3 million (2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.3% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$67 billion expenditures: $70 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2004 est.) |
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Industries:
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construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.8% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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58.75 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
29.3% hydro: 67.2% other: 3.5% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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54.85 billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber |
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Exports:
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$83.45 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK 4.9%, France 4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$81.59 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 42.6%, Italy 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Switzerland 4.8%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002) |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the only legal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) |
| Communications |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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3.988 million (2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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6.415 million (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: highly developed and efficient domestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2002) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.at |
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Internet hosts:
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367,933 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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3.34 million (2002) |
| Transportation |
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Railways:
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total: 6,021
km (3,552 km electrified) standard gauge: 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified) narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km 0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2003) |
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Highways:
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total:
200,000 km paved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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358 km (1999) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 2,722 km; oil 687 km; refined products 149 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 6
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWT by type: cargo 4, container 2 registered in other countries: 34 (2003 est.) foreign-owned: Netherlands 1 |
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Airports:
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55 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 27 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
| Military |
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Military branches:
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Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK) |
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Military manpower - military age:
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19 years of age (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49: 2,066,467 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49: 1,699,384 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 48,981 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$1.497 billion (FY01/02) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.8% (FY01/02) |
| Transnational Issues |
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Disputes - international:
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minor disputes with the Czech Republic over the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant |
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004