Austria is a largely mountainous country due to its location at the eastern end of the Alps. This mountain range dominates the western and southern parts of Austria while the country’s lower-lying eastern provinces are in the Danube basin.

The most important sectors of Austria’s economy in 2014 were wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (22.8 %), industry (22.1 %) and public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (17.7 %).

Austria’s main export partners are Germany, Italy and the US, while its main import partners are Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Capital: 

Vienna

Geographical size: 

83 879 km²

Population: 

8 576 261 (2015)

Population as % of total EU: 

1.7 % (2015)

Gross domestic product (GDP): 

€ 337.162 billion (2015)

Official EU language(s): 

German

Political system: 

federal parliamentary republic

EU member country since: 

1 January 1995

Seats in the European Parliament: 

18

Currency: 

 Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999

Schengen area member? 

 Yes, Schengen Area member since 1 December 2007.

Presidency of the Council: 

Austria has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU twice: in 1998 and 2006. The next time will be in 2019.