About Austria

Austrian Republic comprises nine Federal lands with rather broad powers. The capital of the country, Vienna, is also in status of Federal land.

Todays Austrian state was formed after the World War I on ruins of Austrian-Hungarian Empire, powerful before.

After the World War II Austria declared neutrality and hadnt participated in any organizations or political groupings since then.

Superior legislative authority of the country is parliament of two houses. President is the head of state.

The whole population of Austria amounts to 8 000 000 people. Popular majority of people are Austrians. The minorities consist of Slovenians, living in Carinthia and Stiria, bordering with Slovenia; Croatians, living in Burgenland, and Hungarians.

The official language in Austria is German, but it has also got many dialects. The speech of an Austrian differs from the speech of a German not only in lexicon, but also in pronounciation and rythm. Local dialects of country folk in Alpine regions differ so much, that a German can hardly understand any of them.

Religion: mainly Catholic - 88%, the rest of the people are mostly Protestants.