Last updated

Coordinates: 47°20′N13°20′E﻿ / ﻿47.333°N 13.333°E﻿ / 47.333; 13.333


Republic of Austria

Republik Österreich  (German)
Location of Austria (dark green)

 in Europe  (green & dark grey)
 in the European Union  (green)  [ Legend ]

and largest city
48°12′N16°21′E﻿ / ﻿48.200°N 16.350°E﻿ / 48.200; 16.350
Official language
and national language
German [a] [b]
Recognised languages
Ethnic groups
Demonym(s) Austrian
Government Federal parliamentary republic
Alexander Van der Bellen
Sebastian Kurz
Werner Kogler
Legislature Parliament
Federal Council
National Council
Establishment history
since 1945
  State Treaty in effect
27 July 1955
14 December 1955
1 January 1995
83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi)(113th)
 Water (%)
 January 2020 estimate
Increase2.svg8,902,600 [5] (98th)
106/km2 (274.5/sq mi)(106th)
GDP  (PPP)2018 estimate
$461.432 billion [6]
 Per capita
$51,936 [6] (17th)
GDP  (nominal)2018 estimate
$477.672 billion [6] (29th)
 Per capita
$53,764 [6] (13th)
Gini  (2019)Increase Negative.svg 27.5 [7]
low ·  14th
HDI  (2018)Increase2.svg 0.914 [8]
very high ·  20th
Currency Euro () [c] (EUR)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 Summer (DST)
Driving side right
Calling code +43
ISO 3166 code AT
Internet TLD .at [d]

Austria ( /ˈɒstriə/ ( Loudspeaker.svg listen ), /ˈɔːs-/ ; [9] German : Österreich [ˈøːstɐʁaɪ̯ç] ( Loudspeaker.svg listen )), officially the Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich, Loudspeaker.svg listen  ), is a landlocked East Alpine country in the southern part of Central Europe. It is composed of nine federated states (Bundesländer), one of which is Vienna, Austria's capital and its largest city. It is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Austria occupies an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) and has a population of nearly 9 million people. While German is the country's official language, [10] many Austrians communicate informally in a variety of Bavarian dialects. [11]

Austria initially emerged as a margraviate around 976 and developed into a duchy and archduchy. In the 16th century, Austria started serving as the heart of the Habsburg Monarchy and the junior branch of the House of Habsburg – one of the most influential royal dynasties in history. As an archduchy, it was a major component and administrative centre of the Holy Roman Empire. Early in the 19th century, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power and the leading force of the German Confederation but pursued its own course independently of the other German states. Following the Austro-Prussian War and the compromise with Hungary, the Dual Monarchy was established.

Austria was involved in World War I under Emperor Franz Joseph following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the presumptive successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne. After the defeat and the dissolution of the Monarchy, the Republic of German-Austria was proclaimed with the intent of the union with Germany, which eventually failed because of the Allied Powers and the state remained unrecognized. In 1919 the First Austrian Republic became the legal successor of Austria. In 1938, the Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, who became the Chancellor of the German Reich, achieved the annexation of Austria by the Anschluss. Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and an extended period of Allied occupation, Austria was re-established as a sovereign and self-governing democratic nation known as the Second Republic.

Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy with a directly elected Federal President as head of state and a Chancellor as head of the federal government. Major urban areas of Austria include Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. Austria is consistently ranked in the top 20 richest countries in the world by GDP per capita terms. The country has achieved a high standard of living and in 2018 was ranked 20th in the world for its Human Development Index. Vienna consistently ranks in the top internationally on quality-of-life indicators. [12]

The Second Republic declared its perpetual neutrality in foreign political affairs in 1955. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and [13] joined the European Union in 1995. [14] It plays host to the OSCE and OPEC and is a founding member of the OECD and Interpol. [15] Austria also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995, [16] and adopted the euro currency in 1999. [17]


Ostarrichi Document (name circled).jpg
Ostarrichi Document (zoomed).jpg






Venus of Willendorf, 28,000 to 25,000 BC. Museum of Natural History Vienna 2011-07-09 gasometer 28.JPG

The first record showing the name Austria is from 996, where it is written as Ostarrîchi , referring to the territory of the Babenberg March. [23] In 1156, the Privilegium Minus elevated Austria to the status of a duchy. In 1192, the Babenbergs also acquired the Duchy of Styria. With the death of Frederick II in 1246, the line of the Babenbergs was extinguished. [24]

As a result, Ottokar II of Bohemia effectively assumed control of the duchies of Austria, Styria, and Carinthia. [24] His reign came to an end with his defeat at Dürnkrut at the hands of Rudolph I of Germany in 1278. [25] Thereafter, until World War I, Austria's history was largely that of its ruling dynasty, the Habsburgs.

Middle Ages




17th and 18th centuries

The Battle of Vienna in 1683 broke the advance of the Ottoman Empire into Europe. Anonym Entsatz Wien 1683.jpg



19th century

The Congress of Vienna met in 1814-15. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Congress of Vienna.PNG



Map of the German Confederation (1815-1836) with its 39 member states Deutscher Bund.svg
Map of the German Confederation (1815–1836) with its 39 member states



As a result, ruling Austria–Hungary became increasingly difficult in an age of emerging nationalist movements, requiring considerable reliance on an expanded secret police. Yet, the government of Austria tried its best to be accommodating in some respects: for example, the Reichsgesetzblatt, publishing the laws and ordinances of Cisleithania, was issued in eight languages; and all national groups were entitled to schools in their own language and to the use of their mother tongue at state offices.

An ethno-linguistic map of Austria-Hungary, 1910 Austria Hungary ethnic.svg
An ethno-linguistic map of Austria–Hungary, 1910


Austria's exclusion from Germany caused many Austrians a problem with their national identity and prompted the Social Democratic Leader Otto Bauer to state that it was "the conflict between our Austrian and German character." [40] The Austro-Hungarian Empire caused ethnic tension between the German Austrians and the other ethnic groups. Many Austrians, especially those involved with the pan-German movements, desired a reinforcement of an ethnic German identity and hoped that the empire would collapse, which would allow an annexation of Austria with Germany. [41]


20th century

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked World War I, one of the most disastrous conflicts in human history Ferdinand Schmutzer - Franz Ferdinand von Osterreich-Este, um 1914.jpg









Interwar period and World War II




Adolf Hitler speaking at Heldenplatz, Vienna, 1938 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0922-500, Wien, Heldenplatz, Rede Adolf Hitler.jpg
Adolf Hitler speaking at Heldenplatz, Vienna, 1938

His successor Kurt Schuschnigg acknowledged Austria as a "German state" and that Austrians were "better Germans" but wished for Austria to remain independent. [64] He announced a referendum on 9 March 1938, to be held on 13 March, concerning Austria's independence from Germany. On 12 March 1938, Austrian Nazis took over government, while German troops occupied the country, which prevented Schuschnigg's referendum from taking place. [65] On 13 March 1938, the Anschluss of Austria was officially declared. Two days later, Austrian-born Hitler announced what he called the "reunification" of his home country with the "rest of the German Reich" on Vienna's Heldenplatz. He established a plebiscite confirming the union with Germany in April 1938.


The liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp, 1945 KZ Mauthausen.jpg
The liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp, 1945


Austria in 1941 when it was known as the "Ostmark" OstmarkMap.png
Austria in 1941 when it was known as the "Ostmark"




Contemporary era

The United Nations Office in Vienna is one of the four major UN office sites worldwide. Uno City Kaiserwasser.jpg



Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the Lisbon Treaty in 2007. Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg







The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna WienParlament.jpg
The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna
The Leopoldine Wing of Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, home to the offices of the Austrian president Wien - Hofburg, Leopoldinischer Trakt.JPG

The Parliament of Austria is located in Vienna, the country's capital and most populous city. Austria became a federal, representative democratic republic through the Federal Constitution of 1920. The political system of the Second Republic with its nine states is based on the constitution of 1920, amended in 1929, which was reenacted on 1 May 1945. [86]

The head of state is the Federal President (Bundespräsident), who is directly elected by popular majority vote, with a run-off between the top-scoring candidates, if necessary. The head of the Federal Government is the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler), who is selected by the President and tasked with forming a government based on the partisan composition of the lower house of parliament.




The Nationalrat is the dominant chamber in the legislative process in Austria. However, the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, has a limited right of veto (the Nationalrat can—in almost all cases—ultimately pass the respective bill by voting a second time. This is referred to as Beharrungsbeschluss, lit. "vote of persistence"). A constitutional convention, called the Österreich -Konvent [88] was convened on 30 June 2003 to consider reforms to the constitution, but failed to produce a proposal that would command a two-third majority in the Nationalrat, the margin necessary for constitutional amendments and/or reform.


Since 2006

The Federal Chancellery on Ballhausplatz Wien - Bundeskanzleramt1.JPG
The Federal Chancellery on Ballhausplatz





Foreign relations

The European Parliament: Austria is one of the 28 EU members. Inauguration EYE2014 Parlement europeen Strasbourg 9 mai 2014.jpg







Branches of the Austrian Armed Forces
Leopard 2A4 Austria 4.JPG
Austrian Army
Leopard 2 main battle tank
Eurofighter Typhoon AUT.jpg
Austrian Air Force
Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft

In 2012, Austria's defence expenditures corresponded to approximately 0.8% of its GDP. The Army currently has about 26,000 [93] soldiers, of whom about 12,000 are conscripts. As head of state, Austrian President is nominally the Commander-in-Chief of the Bundesheer. Command of the Austrian Armed Forces is exercised by the Minister of Defence, as of May 2020: Klaudia Tanner.



Administrative divisions

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine states (German: Bundesländer). [14] The states are sub-divided into districts ( Bezirke ) and statutory cities ( Statutarstädte ). Districts are subdivided into municipalities (Gemeinden). Statutory Cities have the competencies otherwise granted to both districts and municipalities. Vienna is unique in that it is both a city and a state.

Austria's constituent states are not mere administrative divisions but have some legislative authority distinct from the federal government, e.g. in matters of culture, social welfare, youth and nature protection, hunting, building, and zoning ordinances. In recent years, it has been questioned whether a small country should maintain ten subnational legislatures.[ citation needed ] Consolidation of local governments has already been undertaken at the Gemeinde level for purposes of administrative efficiency and cost savings ( Gemeindezusammenlegung).

State CapitalArea
(sq km)
(1 Jan 2017)
per km2
GDP (euro)
(2012 Eurostat)
GDP per
Burgenland Eisenstadt 3,965291,94273.67.311 bn25,600
Carinthia Klagenfurt 9,536561,07758.817.62 bn31,700
Lower Austria Sankt Pölten 19,1781,665,75386.949.75 bn30,800
Salzburg Salzburg 7,154549,26376.823.585 bn44,500
Styria Graz 16,4011,237,29875.440.696 bn33,600
Tyrol Innsbruck 12,648746,15359.028.052 bn39,400
Upper Austria Linz 11,9821,465,045122.353.863 bn38,000
Vienna 4151,867,5824,50081.772 bn47,300
Vorarlberg Bregenz 2,601388,752149.514.463 bn38,900
[95] [96]

Corrections system

The Ministry in charge of the Austrian corrections system is the Ministry of Justice. [97] The Ministry of Justice is based out of Vienna. [97] The head of the prison administration falls under the title of Director General. [97] The total prison population rate as of July 2017 2017 is 8,290 people. [97] Pre-trial detainees make up 23.6%, female prisoners make up 5.7%, juveniles make up 1.4%, and foreign prisoners make up 54.2% of the prison system. [97] . Since 2000 the population has risen over 2,000 and has stabilized at over 8,000. [97]


A topographic map of Austria showing cities with over 100,000 inhabitants Oesterreich topo.png
A topographic map of Austria showing cities with over 100,000 inhabitants

Austria is a largely mountainous country because of its location in the Alps. [98] The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria. Of the total area of Austria (84,000 km2 or 32,433 sq mi), only about a quarter can be considered low lying, and only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft). The Alps of western Austria give way somewhat into low lands and plains in the eastern part of the country.





Koppen-Geiger climate classification map for Austria Koppen-Geiger Map AUT present.svg
Köppen-Geiger climate classification map for Austria




Vienna International Centre with the United Nations Office at Vienna and the DC Tower 1 13-08-30-wien-by-RalfR-123.jpg






Since the fall of communism, Austrian companies have been quite active players and consolidators in Eastern Europe. Between 1995 and 2010, 4,868 mergers and acquisitions with a total known value of 163 bil. EUR with the involvement of Austrian firms have been announced. [110] The largest transactions with involvement of Austrian companies [111] have been: the acquisition of Bank Austria by Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank for 7.8 billion EUR in 2000, the acquisition of Porsche Holding Salzburg by Volkswagen Group for 3.6 billion EUR in 2009, [112] and the acquisition of Banca Comercială Română by Erste Group for 3.7 bil. EUR in 2005. [113]

Tourism in Austria accounts for almost 9% of its gross domestic product. [114] In 2007, Austria ranked 9th worldwide in international tourism receipts, with 18.9 billion US$. [115] In international tourist arrivals, Austria ranked 12th with 20.8 million tourists. [115]

Infrastructure and Natural Resources

The Kolnbrein Dam in Carinthia Verbund malta.jpg
The Kölnbrein Dam in Carinthia

In 1972, the country began construction of a nuclear-powered electricity-generation station at Zwentendorf on the River Danube, following a unanimous vote in parliament. However, in 1978, a referendum voted approximately 50.5% against nuclear power, 49.5% for, [116] and parliament subsequently unanimously passed a law forbidding the use of nuclear power to generate electricity although the nuclear power plant was already finished.

Austria currently produces more than half of its electricity by hydropower. [117] Together with other renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass powerplants, the electricity supply from renewable energy amounts to 62.89% [118] of total use in Austria, with the rest being produced by gas and oil power plants.



Children in Austria, near Au, Vorarlberg AuVorarlberg5.JPG
Children in Austria, near Au, Vorarlberg

Austria's population was estimated to be nearly 9 million (8.9) in 2020 by the Statistik Austria. [120] The population of the capital, Vienna, exceeds 1.9 million [121] (2.6 million, including the suburbs), representing about a quarter of the country's population. It is known for its cultural offerings and high standard of living.

Vienna is by far the country's largest city. Graz is second in size, with 291,007 inhabitants, followed by Linz (206,604), Salzburg (155,031), Innsbruck (131,989), and Klagenfurt (101,303). All other cities have fewer than 100,000 inhabitants.

According to Eurostat, in 2018 there were 1.69 million foreign-born residents in Austria, corresponding to 19.2% of the total population. Of these, 928,700 (10.5%) were born outside the EU and 762,000 (8.6%) were born in another EU Member State. [122] There are more than 483,100 descendants of foreign-born immigrants. [123]

Turks form one of the largest ethnic groups in Austria, numbering around 350,000. [124] 13,000 Turks were naturalised in 2003 and an unknown number have arrived in Austria at the same time. While 2,000 Turks left Austria in the same year, 10,000 immigrated to the country, confirming a strong trend of growth. [125] Together, Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Macedonians, and Slovenes make up about 5.1% of Austria's total population.

The total fertility rate (TFR) in 2017 was estimated at 1.52 children born per woman, [126] below the replacement rate of 2.1, it remains considerably below the high of 4.83 children born per woman in 1873. [127] In 2015, 42.1% of births were to unmarried women. [128] Austria subsequently has the 12th oldest population in the world, with the average age of 44.2 years. [129] The life expectancy in 2016 was estimated at 81.5 years (78.9 years male, 84.3 years female). [130]

Statistics Austria estimates that nearly 10 million people will live in the country by 2080. [131]

Largest cities



The national and regional standard varieties of the German language Continental West Germanic languages.png
The national and regional standard varieties of the German language


According to census information published by Statistik Austria for 2001 [11] there were a total of 710,926 foreign nationals living in Austria. Of these, the largest by far are 283,334 foreign nationals from the former Yugoslavia (of whom 135,336 speak Serbian; 105,487 Croatian; 31,591 Bosnian – i.e. 272,414 Austrian resident native speakers in total, plus 6,902 Slovenian and 4,018 Macedonian speakers).



In 2006, some of the Austrian states introduced standardised tests for new citizens, to assure their language ability, cultural knowledge and accordingly their ability to integrate into the Austrian society. [133] For the national rules, see Austrian nationality law – Naturalisation.

Ethnic groups

Bilingual sign of Oberwart (in Hungarian Felsoor) in Burgenland Oberwart - Felsoor.JPG
Bilingual sign of Oberwart (in Hungarian Felsőőr) in Burgenland


Austrians may be described either as a nationality or as a homogeneous Germanic ethnic group, [138] that is closely related to neighboring Germans, Liechtensteiners and German-speaking Swiss. [139] Today 91.1% of the population are regarded as ethnic Austrians. [140]

The birthplaces of foreign-born naturalised residents of Austria COB data Austria.PNG
The birthplaces of foreign-born naturalised residents of Austria

The Turks are the largest single immigrant group in Austria, [141] closely followed by the Serbs. [142] Serbs form one of the largest ethnic groups in Austria, numbering around 300,000 people. [143] [144] [145] Historically, Serbian immigrants moved to Austria during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when Vojvodina was under Imperial control. Following World War II the number of Serbs expanded again, and today the community is very large. The Austrian Serbian Society was founded in 1936. Today, Serbs in Austria are mainly found in Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz.





Religion in Austria (2017) [147] [148] [149]

   Catholic Church (56.9%)
   Eastern Orthodoxy (8.8%)
   Protestantism (3.3%)
   Islam (8%)
   Buddhism (0.3%)
   None or other (22.7%)

In 2001, about 74% of Austria's population were registered as Roman Catholic, [150] while about 5% considered themselves Protestants. [150] Austrian Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, [151] are obliged to pay a mandatory membership fee (calculated by income—about 1%) to their church; this payment is called "Kirchenbeitrag" ("Ecclesiastical/Church contribution"). Since the second half of the 20th century, the number of adherents and churchgoers has declined. Data for 2018 from the Austrian Roman Catholic Church list 5,050,000 members, or 56.9% of the total Austrian population. Sunday church attendance was 605,828 or 7% of the total Austrian population in 2015. [152] The Lutheran church also recorded a loss of 74,421 adherents between 2001 and 2016.

The 2001 census report indicated that about 12% of the population declared that they have no religion; [150] according to ecclesiastical information this share had grown to 20% by 2015. [153] Of the remaining people, around 340,000 were registered as members of various Muslim communities in 2001, mainly due to the influx from Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. [150] The number of Muslims has doubled in 15 years to 700,000 in 2016. [154] About 180,000 are members of Orthodox Churches (mostly Serbs), about 21,000 people are active Jehovah's Witnesses [155] and about 8,100 are Jewish. [150]

The Basilica of Mariazell is Austria's most popular pilgrimage site. Mariazell Basilika 3.jpg
The Basilica of Mariazell is Austria's most popular pilgrimage site.

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2010, [156]



Stiftsgymnasium Melk is the oldest Austrian school. Melk Stift Altstadt.jpg
Stiftsgymnasium Melk is the oldest Austrian school.






The University of Vienna Wien - Universitat (3).JPG
The University of Vienna
The campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Wien 02 Campus WU a.jpg
The campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business






Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Wolfgang-amadeus-mozart 1.jpg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)



The Vienna State Opera StateOperaViennaNightBackside.jpg
The Vienna State Opera




Conchita Wurst is also a renowned singer from the Austrian stock.

Art and architecture

The Belvedere Palace, an example of Baroque architecture Botanischer Garten Der Universitat, Wenen, Oostenrijk Aug 02, 2019 04-27-11 PM.jpeg
The Belvedere Palace, an example of Baroque architecture


Cinema and theatre

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a well-known Austrian and American actor Arnold Schwarzenegger by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a well-known Austrian and American actor

Sascha Kolowrat was an Austrian pioneer of filmmaking. Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Josef von Sternberg, and Fred Zinnemann originally came from the Austrian Empire before establishing themselves as internationally relevant filmmakers. Willi Forst, Ernst Marischka, and Franz Antel enriched the popular cinema in German-speaking countries. Michael Haneke became internationally known for his disturbing cinematic studies, receiving a Golden Globe for his critically acclaimed film The White Ribbon (2010).

The first Austrian director to receive an Academy Award was Stefan Ruzowitzky. A number of Austrian actors also pursued international careers, among them Peter Lorre, Helmut Berger, Curd Jürgens, Senta Berger, Oskar Werner, and Klaus Maria Brandauer. Most notably, Hedy Lamarr and Arnold Schwarzenegger became international movie stars in Hollywood. Christoph Waltz rose to fame with his performances in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained , earning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2010 and 2012. Max Reinhardt was a master of spectacular and astute theatre productions. Otto Schenk not only excelled as a stage actor, but also as an opera director.

Science and philosophy

Karl Popper Karl Popper.jpg
Karl Popper






Stefan Zweig Stefan Zweig2.png
Stefan Zweig



Food and beverages



Wiener Schnitzel, a traditional Austrian dish Wiener-Schnitzel02.jpg
Wiener Schnitzel, a traditional Austrian dish



The most important wine-producing areas are in Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Vienna. The Grüner Veltliner grape provides some of Austria's most notable white wines [161] and Zweigelt is the most widely planted red wine grape. [162]







Ski racer Franz Klammer won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. Fischer Sports franz-klammer 1976.jpg






See also

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Austria–United States relations are bilateral relations between Austria and the United States.

Austria–Russia relations Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria and Russia

Austria–Russia relations refers to the bilateral relationship between Austria and Russia and their predecessor states. Since October 1955, the Republic of Austria maintains the constitutionally-mandated status of neutrality; the country is a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEEC). Austria joined the EU in 1995. Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a partner of ASEAN, a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the leading member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Austria–Serbia relations Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria and the Republic of Serbia

Austrian-Serbian relations are foreign relations between Austria and Serbia and their predecessor states. Austria has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Vienna and a general consulate in Salzburg. Also Austria is a European Union member and Serbia is a European Union candidate.

The Hungarian community in Austria numbers 25,884 according to the 2001 Census. Of these, 10,686 were in Vienna and 4,704 in Burgenland. The total number of Hungarian-speakers is estimated at around 40,000, with 6,600 in Burgenland. Most of the Burgenland Hungarians live near the two district capitals of Oberwart/Felsőőr and Oberpullendorf/Felsőpulya. The Hungarian Group Advisory Council is the oldest of the official minority advisory councils in Austria.

Social Democratic Party of Austria one of the oldest political parties in Austria

The Social Democratic Party of Austria, founded and known as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria until 1945 and later the Socialist Party of Austria until 1991, is a social-democratic and pro-European political party in Austria. Founded in 1889, it is the oldest extant political party in Austria. Along with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), it is one of the country's two traditional major parties.

The dissolution of Austria-Hungary was a major geopolitical event that occurred as a result of the growth of internal social contradictions and the separation of different parts of Austria-Hungary. The reason for the collapse of the state was World War I, the 1918 crop failure and the economic crisis.

Since its foundation in 1889, the Social Democratic Party has often been one of the main political forces in Austria. At the start of the First World War it was the strongest party in parliament, and on the ending of that war in 1918 the party leader Karl Renner became chancellor of the First Republic. The party lost power in 1920, but retained a strong base of support in the capital Vienna. A period of rising political violence culminated in the banning of the Social Democratic Party under the Austrofascist dictatorship (1934–38).


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