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Looking for some fun and interesting facts about Austria for an upcoming trip?

Here you’ll find some general Austria information about government, politics, immigration, history, drinks, famous people, sports, geography, and more.

1. Austria generally excels in democratic protections of political freedoms and civil liberties.

2. Citizens elect a president who then appoints a chancellor. It is a semi-presidential system.

3. The country is frequently governed by a grand coalition between the center left and center right parties, but in recent years has faced growing pressure from a far right, populist party.

4. The country’s political structure is based on the 1920 constitution which established a federal republic with nine states.

5. Austria has a highly industrialized economy and that performs well for its size.

6. Its main trading partners are fellow European Union members and the United States.

7. While tourism plays an important role, it also exports machinery, metals, and vehicles.

8. The country is home to many natural resources, which have been critical for the development of renewable energy production.

9. Turkey and post-soviet states account for the largest sources of immigrants in Austria.

11. In comparison to other European Union members, Austria has a high proportion of foreign-born citizens.

12. Ethnic Turks account for the largest minority ethnic group in the country. This community is in part the result of a worker program that began in the 1960s that was brought on by a labor shortage in Austria.

13. The oil crisis of the 1970s prompted Austria, like many western democracies, to limit further immigration and instead encourage temporary workers to either return home or to fully integrate into Austria.

14. The country began using a national quota system to fill temporary work permits. While workers could come to the country and pay taxes to Austria, the path to citizenship is narrow.

15. The Naturalization Act established jus sanguinis requirements, meaning citizenship is generally earned by proof that one’s family is Austrian.

16. The country has established laws that aim at limiting immigrants and fully assimilating those that come. Part  of these efforts have included integration courses on language, history, and law.

17. Ethnic Turks are underrepresented in the white collar workforce and earn lower wages. They also have lower levels of education on average. These components often impact subsequent generations and further compound inequality, obstructing fuller integration into Austrian society.

18. At the time of World War I (1913-1918), Austria was the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

19. In July of 1914 the empire declared war on Serbia following the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He was assassinated in Sarajevo by a member of Young Bosnia.

20. The revolutionary group was primarily composed of Bosnian Serbs and Croats who sought to end Austro-Hungarian rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

21. The assassination of Ferdinand is considered the event that triggered World War I, which at the time was known as the Great War.

22. As of 2023, 40.6% of the National Council (Nationalrat) seats are held by women.

23. In the Federal Council (Bundesrat), women’s representation is slightly lower at around 35-40%.

24. Austria does not have legally mandated gender quotas, but major political parties have introduced voluntary party quotas.

25. The largest lake in Austria is Lake Neusiedl (Neusiedler See). It is located in the eastern part of the country and extends into Hungary.

26. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, standing at 12,461 feet (3,798 meters) above sea level.

27. The largest mammal in Austria is the European Elk (Moose), though it is rare and only occasionally found in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

28. Austria’s signature white wine grape, Grüner Veltliner, is known for its crisp, peppery, and citrusy flavors. It makes up about one-third of all Austrian vineyards

29. Unlike most capital cities, Vienna has its own vineyards within city limits, producing around 2.5 million liters of wine per year. It’s the only major city in the world with significant urban wine production.

30. As of the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Austria has won a total of 93 Olympic gold medals.

31. Musical legends like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss, and Franz Schubert are from Austria. Vienna is known as the “City of Music.”

32. The first snow globe was created in 1900 by Erwin Perzy, a mechanic in Vienna.

33. Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, founded in 1752, is the world’s oldest continuously operating zoo.

34. The red-white-red flag dates back to 1230, making it one of the world’s oldest national flags still in use.

35. Austria has a village called “F**king” (Now Fugging). This small town became famous for its unusual name, but locals changed the spelling in 2021 to avoid constant sign theft.

36. Traditional Viennese coffee houses are so special that UNESCO declared them part of Austria’s cultural heritage.

27. Every December, Austrians celebrate Krampusnacht, where people dress as Krampus, a horned demon that punishes naughty children.

28. The Austrian capital is regularly ranked as one of the world’s best cities to live in due to its high quality of life, safety, and arts.

29. The largest university in Vienna is the University of Vienna (Universität Wien). Founded in 1365, it is one of the oldest universities in Europe and has over 90,000 students.

30. Healthcare is mandatory and covers nearly 100% of the population. It is funded mainly through social insurance contributions. Austria has a public healthcare system, but residents can also choose private insurance for faster access to specialists and private hospitals.

31. Swarovski was established by Daniel Swarovski in Wattens, Austria, where its headquarters remain today. Unlike natural gemstones, Swarovski crystals are man-made using a proprietary blend of quartz, sand, and minerals, creating an ultra-clear and brilliant effect

32. In March of 1938, Austrian Nazis took over the government while the country was occupied by German troops. Austrian-born Adolf Hitler “reunified” the German Reich and Austria that same year.

33. Austria regained independence on October 26, 1955.

34. The largest cities by population are Vienna, Graz, and Linz.

35. Catholicism is the largest religion in the country.

36. An Austrian engineer, Anselm Franz, played a crucial role in developing the first turbojet engine, which revolutionized aviation.

37. Invented in 1927 by Eduard Haas III, PEZ candies and their iconic dispensers became a global sensation.

38. Austrian ski pioneers helped develop modern skiing styles and techniques, which influenced the sport worldwide.

39. While inspired by a Thai drink, Red Bull as we know it today was co-created and popularized by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz in 1987.

40. Annemarie Moser-Pröll is widely regarded as Austria’s most decorated female athlete. She dominated alpine skiing in the 1970s, securing six overall Alpine Ski World Cup titles—a record for female skiers.

41. As of 2023, the Škoda Octavia was the most popular passenger car model in Austria

42. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most famous Austrian actor worldwide, known for The Terminator series, Predator, and Total Recall.

43. Christoph Waltz is another famous Austrian actor that won two Academy Awards for Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012).

44. While primarily known as the founder of psychoanalysis, Austrian Empire-born Sigmund Freud’s work had a major influence on philosophy, particularly in theories of the self and consciousness. The place of his birth is now part of Czechia, but he also attended the University of Vienna.

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