Demographics Austria

1 demographics

1.1 largest cities
1.2 language
1.3 ethnic groups
1.4 religion
1.5 education

demographics


children in austria, near au, vorarlberg

austria s population estimated 8.72 million in april 2016 statistik austria. population of capital, vienna, exceeds 1.8 million (2.6 million, including suburbs), representing quarter of country s population. known cultural offerings , high standard of living.

vienna far country s largest city. graz second in size, 265,778 inhabitants, followed linz (191,501), salzburg (145,871), , innsbruck (122,458). other cities have fewer 100,000 inhabitants.

according eurostat, in 2010 there 1.27 million foreign-born residents in austria, corresponding 15.2% of total population. of these, 764,000 (9.1%) born outside eu , 512,000 (6.1%) born in eu member state.

statistik austria estimated in 2011 81% or 6.75 million residents had no migration background , more 19% or 1.6 million inhabitants had @ least 1 or more parents of migration background. there more 415,000 descendants of foreign-born immigrants residing in austria, great majority of whom have been naturalised.

185,592 turks (including minority of turkish kurds) make second biggest single ethnic minority in austria after germans (2.5%), representing 2.2% of total population. 13,000 turks naturalised in 2003 , unknown number have arrived in austria @ same time. while 2,000 turks left austria in same year, 10,000 immigrated country, confirming strong trend of growth. together, serbs, croats, bosniaks , slovenes make 5.1% of austria s total population.

the total fertility rate (tfr) in 2013 estimated @ 1.42 children born per woman, lower replacement rate of 2.1. in 2015, 42.1% of births unmarried women. life expectancy in 2016 estimated @ 81.5 years (78.9 years male, 84.3 years female).

foreign-born population – top 15 countries:

the birthplaces of foreign-born naturalised residents of austria



largest cities


language

austrian german austria s official language , used in education, publications, announcements , websites. identical german used in germany vocabulary differences. german language standardised between countries of german mother tongue, i.e., germany, austria, switzerland , liechtenstein, significant german speaking minorities: italy, belgium , denmark. (the german dialect speaking population in alsace-lorraine in france has no minority rights.) many local dialects spoken in austria, , though base austrian german, corresponding speakers have degrees of difficulty when trying understand each other.

according 2001 census, austrian german spoken natively 88.6% of population (including 2.5% germans reside in austria) — followed turkish (2.28%), serbian (2.21%), croatian (1.63%), english (0.73%), hungarian (0.51%), bosnian (0.43%), polish (0.35%), albanian (0.35%), slovenian (0.31%), czech (0.22%), arabic (0.22%), romanian (0.21%), etc.

the national , regional standard varieties of german language

the austrian federal states of carinthia , styria home significant indigenous slovene-speaking minority while in easternmost state, burgenland (formerly part of hungarian portion of austria–hungary), there significant hungarian- , croatian-speaking minorities. of remaining number of austria s people of non-austrian descent, many come surrounding countries, former east bloc nations. guest workers (gastarbeiter) , descendants, refugees yugoslav wars , other conflicts, form important minority group in austria. since 1994 roma–sinti (gypsies) have been officially recognised ethnic minority in austria.

according census information published statistik austria 2001 there total of 710,926 foreign nationals living in austria. of these, largest far 283,334 foreign nationals 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 , 4,018 macedonian speakers).

the second largest population of linguistic , ethnic groups turks (including minority of kurds) number of 200,000 300,000 live in austria. turks , kurds largest single immigrant group in austria, closely followed serbs.

the next largest population of linguistic , ethnic groups 124,392 speak german mother tongue though hail outside of austria (mainly immigrants germany, switzerland, south tyrol in italy, romania, or former soviet union); 123,417 english; 24,446 albanian; 17,899 polish; 14,699 hungarian; 12,216 romanian; 10,000 malayali; 7,982 arabic; 6,891 slovak; 6,707 czech; 5,916 persian; 5,677 italian; 5,466 russian; 5,213 french; 4,938 chinese; 4,264 spanish; 3,503 bulgarian. numbers other languages fall off sharply below 3,000.

in 2006, of austrian states introduced standardised tests new citizens, assure language ability, cultural knowledge , accordingly ability integrate austrian society. national rules, see austrian nationality law – naturalisation.

ethnic groups

bilingual sign of oberwart (in hungarian felsőőr) in burgenland.

historically austrians regarded ethnic germans , viewed such, although national identity challenged austrian nationalism in decades after end of world war , more after world war ii. austria part of holy roman empire of german nation until ending in 1806 , had been part of german confederation, loose association of 39 separate german-speaking countries, until austro-prussian war in 1866, resulted in exclusion of austria german confederation , creation of north german confederation led prussia. in 1871, germany founded nation-state, austria not part of it. after world war , breakup of austrian monarchy, politicians of new republic declared name deutschösterreich (republic of german-austria) , part of german republic. unification of 2 countries forbidden treaty of saint-germain-en-laye 1 of conditions imposed victorious allies of world war upon vanquished nation, prevent creation of territorially extensive german state. along events of world war ii , nazism, austria country has made efforts develop own distinct national identity among populace, , nowadays not consider germans, while minority still feels german, movement historically known grossdeutsch , pointing fact consider historic boundaries of german people going beyond boundaries of actual states. today 91.1% of population regarded ethnic austrians.

serbs form 1 of largest ethnic groups in austria, numbering around 300,000 people. historically, serbian immigrants moved austria during time of austro-hungarian empire, when vojvodina under imperial control. following world war ii number of serbs expanded again, , today community large. austrian serbian society founded in 1936. today, serbs in austria found in vienna, salzburg, , graz.

an estimated 13,000 40,000 slovenes in austrian state of carinthia (the carinthian slovenes) croats (around 30,000) , hungarians in burgenland recognised minority , have had special rights following austrian state treaty (staatsvertrag) of 1955. slovenes in austrian state of styria (estimated @ number between 1,600 , 5,000) not recognised minority , not have special rights, although believe state treaty of 27 july 1955 states otherwise.

the right bilingual topographic signs regions slovene , croat austrians live alongside german-speaking population (as required 1955 state treaty) still implemented in view of some, while others believe treaty-derived obligations have been met (see below). many carinthians afraid of slovenian territorial claims, pointing fact yugoslav troops entered state after each of 2 world wars , considering official slovenian atlases show parts of carinthia slovene cultural territory. deceased governor, jörg haider, has made fact matter of public argument in autumn 2005 refusing increase number of bilingual topographic signs in carinthia. poll kärntner humaninstitut conducted in january 2006 states 65% of carinthians not in favour of increase of bilingual topographic signs, since original requirements set state treaty of 1955 have been fulfilled according point of view.

another interesting phenomenon so-called windischen-theorie stating slovenes can split in 2 groups: actual slovenes , windische (a traditional german name slavs), based on differences in language between austrian slovenes, taught slovene standard language in school , slovenes spoke local slovene dialect went german schools. term windische applied latter group means of distinction. politically influenced theory, dividing slovene austrians loyal windische , national slovenes , never accepted , fell out of use decades ago.

religion

in 2001, 74% of austria s population registered roman catholic, while 5% considered protestants. austrian christians, both catholic , protestant, obliged pay mandatory membership fee (calculated income—about 1%) church; payment called kirchenbeitrag ( ecclesiastical/church contribution ). since second half of 20th century, number of adherents , churchgoers has declined. data end of 2016 austrian roman catholic church lists 5,162,622 members, or 58.8% of total austrian population. sunday church attendance 605,828 or 7% of total austrian population in 2015. lutheran church recorded loss of 74,421 adherents between 2001 , 2016.

about 12% of population declared have no religion. in 2001; share had grown 20% 2015. of remaining people, around 340,000 registered members of various muslim communities in 2001, due influx turkey, bosnia-herzegovina , kosovo. number of muslims has doubled in 15 years 700,000 in 2016. 180,000 members of orthodox churches (mostly serbs), 21,000 people active jehovah s witnesses , 8,100 jewish.

the basilica of mariazell austria s popular pilgrimage site

according recent eurobarometer poll 2010,

44% of austrian citizens responded believe there god .
38% answered believe there sort of spirit or life force .
12% answered not believe there sort of spirit, god, or life force .

education


stiftsgymnasium melk oldest austrian school

education in austria entrusted partly austrian states (bundesländer) , partly federal government. school attendance compulsory 9 years, i.e. age of fifteen.

pre-school education (called kindergarten in german), free in states, provided children between ages of 3 , 6 years and, whilst optional, considered normal part of child s education due high takeup rate. maximum class size around 30, each class being cared 1 qualified teacher , 1 assistant.

primary education, or volksschule, lasts 4 years, starting @ age six. maximum class size 30, may low 15. expected class taught 1 teacher entire 4 years , stable bond between teacher , pupil considered important child s well-being. 3rs (reading, writing , arithmetic) dominate lesson time, less time allotted project work in uk. children work individually , members of class follow same plan of work. there no streaming.

standard attendance times 8 am 12 pm or 1 pm, hourly five- or ten-minute breaks. children given homework daily first year. historically there has been no lunch hour, children returning home eat. however, due rise in number of mothers in work, primary schools increasingly offering pre-lesson , afternoon care.

as in germany, secondary education consists of 2 main types of schools, attendance @ based on pupil s ability determined grades primary school. gymnasium caters more able children, in final year of matura examination taken, requirement access university. hauptschule prepares pupils vocational education various types of further education (höhere technische lehranstalt htl = institution of higher technical education; hak = commercial academy; hbla = institution of higher education economic business; etc.). attendance @ 1 of these further education institutes leads matura. schools aim combine education available @ gymnasium , hauptschule, , known gesamtschulen. in addition, recognition of importance of learning english has led gymnasiums offer bilingual stream, in pupils deemed able in languages follow modified curriculum, portion of lesson time being conducted in english.

the university of vienna



the campus of vienna university of economics , business

as @ primary school, lessons @ gymnasium begin @ 8 am , continue short intervals until lunchtime or afternoon, children returning home late lunch. older pupils attend further lessons after break lunch, eaten @ school. @ primary level, pupils follow same plan of work. great emphasis placed on homework , frequent testing. satisfactory marks in end-of-the-year report ( zeugnis ) prerequisite moving ( aufsteigen ) next class. pupils not meet required standard re-sit tests @ end of summer holidays; marks still not satisfactory required re-sit year ( sitzenbleiben ).

it not uncommon pupil re-sit more 1 year of school. after completing first 2 years, pupils choose between 1 of 2 strands, known gymnasium (slightly more emphasis on arts) or realgymnasium (slightly more emphasis on science). whilst many schools offer both strands, not, , result, children move schools second time @ age 12. @ age 14, pupils may choose remain in 1 of these 2 strands, or change vocational course, possibly further change of school.

the austrian university system had been open student passed matura examination until recently. 2006 bill allowed introduction of entrance exams studies such medicine. in 2001, obligatory tuition fee ( studienbeitrag ) of €363.36 per term introduced public universities. there non-state exceptions this, students can still study subsidized education, example within campus system of english teacher training college. since 2008, eu students studies have been free of charge, long time-limit not exceeded (the expected duration of study plus 2 terms tolerance). when time-limit exceeded, fee of around €363.36 per term charged. further exceptions fee apply, e.g. students year s salary of more €5000. in cases, obligatory fee of €17 charged student union , insurance.