Austria Population: 8,174,762 (July 2004 est.) Capital: Vienna [ Select Another Country ]

An Introduction to Austria
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrian's have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999.

The Austrian Flag Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red.

Rankings of The Most Populous Countries in the World.

1. China   2. India   3. United States   4. Indonesia   5. Brazil   6. Russia   7. Pakistan   8. Bangladesh   9. Japan 10. Nigeria

11. Mexico 12. Germany 13. Philippines 14. Vietnam 15. Egypt 16. Turkey 17. Iran 18. Ethiopia 19. Thailand 20. United Kingdom

21. France 22. Italy 23. Congo 24. Ukraine 25. South Korea 26. South Africa 27. Burma 28. Colombia 29. Spain 30. Poland

Some interesting facts and figures about Austria. Pop Growth Rate / Year:     • 0.14% Avg. Life Expectancy:     • 76 yrs - Male     • 81.89 yrs - Female Phone Lines:     • 3.881 million (2003) Televisions:     • 4.25 million (1997) Radios:     • 6,080,000 (1997) Internet Code:     • .at Did you know ... People from Austria are called Austrians