Austria

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked federal republic in Central Europe. It has nine states and its capital and largest city is Vienna. The country covers about 83,879 square kilometers and has a population of roughly nine million. It is largely alpine; the Alps dominate the landscape, climate, and economy, and the Danube river flows through the northeast. German is the official language; local dialects are common, and minority languages such as Croatian, Hungarian, Slovenian, and Turkish are used in some areas.

Austria is a federal parliamentary republic. The president is the largely ceremonial head of state, while the chancellor is the head of government and leads the cabinet. The parliament comprises the National Council and the Federal Council. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and uses the euro as its currency. It is a member of the Schengen Area and hosts numerous international institutions and conferences, notably in Vienna.

Economy: Austria has a high-income, diversified economy with a strong service sector, including tourism, banking, and public administration, and a robust manufacturing base in machinery, vehicles, and chemicals. Tourism draws visitors to alpine resorts, cultural sites, and historic cities.

Culture and society: Austria has a rich musical and cultural heritage with composers such as Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Strauss. It maintains a high standard of living, extensive social welfare, and a strong educational system.

History: The region was part of the Habsburg monarchy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, became a republic after World War I, was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, reestablished as an independent republic in 1945, and emerged as a modern European state.