Population of Austria

Austria has an estimated 2026 population of approximately 9.3 million, continuing a trend of steady growth primarily driven by international migration. The latest official 2024 figure was 9,177,982, reflecting a growth rate of 0.5% and placing the nation 98th worldwide in population size. With a current estimate of 112.3 people per km² (290.8 per sq mi), the population is concentrated in the Danube valley and urban centers, while mountainous Alpine regions remain sparsely populated. This Central European nation is characterized by high levels of urbanization and a high life expectancy, though it faces demographic challenges common to developed nations, such as a low fertility rate.

The population of Austria has undergone significant shifts throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following World War I, the nation transitioned into a smaller, landlocked republic. The population remained relatively stable for decades, though it saw a period of growth during the post-World War II baby boom. This was followed by a era of relative stagnation in the 1970s and 1980s as fertility rates dropped below replacement levels. Starting in the 1960s and accelerating in the 1990s, Austria became a major destination for international migration. Labor recruitment programs brought workers from Southern Europe and Turkey, while the fall of the Iron Curtain and conflict in the Balkans led to significant inflows from Eastern Europe. More recently, global migration events have further bolstered the population total, compensating for a natural decline where deaths frequently outnumber births.

Current estimates indicate an annual population growth rate of 0.5%, a figure that masks a significant internal demographic divide. The crude birth rate stands at 8.4 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate is higher at 9.6 per 1,000 people. This natural decrease means that without positive net migration, the population would be in decline. The fertility rate of 1.31 children per woman is well below the replacement level of 2.1, ranking Austria 188th globally for fertility. Despite these low birth numbers, the population continues to expand due to strong net migration, with approximately 127 people added to the total daily. Projections suggest that this reliance on migration will continue to be the primary driver of growth as the domestic population ages. Life expectancy is a notable strength, reaching 82.0 years and ranking the country 36th globally, which contributes to a rising median age and an increasing proportion of elderly residents.

Austria has a population density of 112.3 people per km² (290.8 per sq mi), with the highest concentrations found in the capital, Vienna, and along the Danube river valley.

The urban population accounts for 69.5% of the total, indicating a highly developed society where major cities like Vienna serve as central hubs for employment, education, and administration.

In the global landscape, Austria holds the 98th position for population size out of 215 countries. Within its immediate region of Central Europe, it ranks 4th out of 6 nations, significantly smaller than neighbors like Germany and Czechia but larger than Switzerland and Slovakia. Regionally, it is the 17th most populous country in Europe among 47 nations. Its population density of 112.3 people per km² (290.8 per sq mi) is relatively moderate for Europe, ranking 22nd on the continent and 96th globally. While the density is much lower than that of Germany or Italy, it is notably higher than that of its western neighbor, Switzerland. The concentration of residents is heavily skewed toward the eastern lowlands and the Vienna basin, reflecting the geographic constraints imposed by the Alpine terrain that covers much of the country.