Updated: March 2009
Austria
Overview | World Vision's history in Austria | World Vision in Austria today
OverviewAustria is a small, landlocked country located in the hub of central Europe. It is bordered to the north by Germany and the Czech Republic and to the south by Italy and Slovenia. The western border touches Switzerland, while the eastern border touches both Hungary and Slovakia. The Alps, Europe’s highest mountain range, cover the southern and western portions of the country. Austria’s major river, the Danube, runs through the north where the terrain is mostly flat or sloping. The climate is generally temperate, with moderate summers and cold, snowy winters. Most Austrians live along the eastern border where the temperatures are warmer, the land is flatter, and the soil is more fertile. Farming provides for 80 percent of household food requirements. Natural resources include iron ore, crude oil, natural gas, timber, tungsten, magnesite, and lignite.Though 91.1 percent of the population is considered Austrian, there are many ethnic groups represented, including Germans, Turks, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, and Bosnians. German is the official language, spoken by 88.6 percent of the population. Other languages include Turkish, Serbian, and Croatian. |
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| The Republic of Austria was officially established in 1919 with the treaty of St. Germain, which officially ended the Habsburg Empire, a dynasty that flourished for nearly 750 years. Following the dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy in World War I, Austria, once a center of power, entered a period of increased political instability. When Germany threatened to invade in 1938, Austria was too weak to maintain independence and was annexed by German forces. Austria did not officially regain independence until 1955 when the victorious Allies, who had occupied the country since the end of World War II, signed the Austrian State Treaty, returning all of Austria’s properties. Austria is now a federal republic consisting of nine states, headed by a president. In the years following World War II, Austria’s government achieved political stability, and in 1995, Austria was admitted into the European Union. Austria also has a strong, steadily growing economy with an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. Services account for nearly 70 percent of the economy. Other important economic contributors include industries, such as construction and machinery, and agricultural products, such as grains and potatoes. Austria participates in trade with other nations belonging to the European Union, and in 2002, they converted to the euro, a change that has been widely successful. Austria’s education system provides compulsory education through age 9. Both primary and secondary schools have near 90 percent enrollment rates, and the average Austrian receives 15.1 years of schooling. Back to top World Vision's history in AustriaWorld Vision first opened an office in Austria in 1978, offering the people the opportunity to sponsor children and families living in impoverished communities around the world.Back to top World Vision in Austria todayToday, with the help of numerous child sponsors and donors, the cooperation of local government officials, and grants from public institutions, World Vision in Austria is actively involved in development and relief projects around the world. Austrians sponsor more than 13,000 children and families and support 16 long-term development programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.For more information on World Vision’s work in Austria, please contact the United States office. Back to top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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