Basics about Austria.

• Area: 82.738 km²
  

• Regions: Austria is divided into 9 federal regions - Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Burgenland, Carinthia and Vorarlberg.

• Climate: continental

• Capital city: Vienna

• Currency: €, Euro (since 01.01.2002, before: Austrian Schilling, ATS)

• Population: Austria has about 8,13 Million inhabitants, increasing at a rate of 0,5 % per year.

• Religion: 78 % of the population are Roman Catholic, 5 % Protestants, 9 % non-denominational

• Official language: German

• Economic growth: GNP +2% per year

• Unemployment: 5,2 %
  

• Political System: Austria is a democratic republic. Legislature is the parliament, which is elected every 4 years. Austria is a democratic Republic. Its legislative bodies are the parliament, the national assembly and the assembly of the provinces. The 183 members of the national assembly and the 9 assemblies of the provinces are elected directly by the population. The assemblies of the provinces elect the members of the national assembly.
  Presently, they are 4 parties represented in the national assembly: the social democrats (SPÖ), The people's party (ÖVP), the Freedom's faction (FPÖ/BZO) and the Green party.
  
  Last election 2006:
  Social democrats 35,34 %
  Christ democrats 34,33 %
  Green party 11,05 %
  Freedom party 11,04 %
  BZÖ 4,11 %
  
  Chancellor: Werner Fayman (SPÖ)
  
  Head of state: Der Bundespräsident. He is elected directly by the people for a period of 6 years. Current President is Dr. Heinz Fischer.