Airports - with paved runways:
total: 326
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 148
914 to 1,523 m: 140
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 139
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 110
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 27,105 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,258 km; oil/gas/water 1 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 37,855 km country comparison to the world: 7 broad gauge: 142 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 24,409 km 1.435-m gauge (1,094 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 13,304 km 1.067-m gauge (1,193 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 812,972 km country comparison to the world: 9 paved: 341,448 km
unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)
Waterways:
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006) country comparison to the world: 45
Merchant marine:
total: 45 country comparison to the world: 73 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 20 (Canada 7, Germany 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Singapore 2, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries: 29 (Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 1, NZ 1, Panama 5, Singapore 11, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Brisbane, Cairns, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Gladstone, Geelong,Hay Point, Hobart, Jervis Bay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide,Port Dalrymple, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, PortWalcott, Sydney
Military ::Australia
Military branches:
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal AustralianNavy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,275,667
females age 16-49: 5,082,543 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,377,411
females age 16-49: 4,210,442 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 144,232
female: 136,525 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 42
Transnational Issues ::Australia
Disputes - international:
In 2007 Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary; dispute with Timor-Leste hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia in the Timor Sea; regional states continue to express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margins covering over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent more than its claimed exclusive economic zone; since 2003, Australia has led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security
Illicit drugs:
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Austria (Europe)
Introduction ::Austria
Background:
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. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
Geography ::Austria
Location:
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 83,871 sq km country comparison to the world: 113 land: 82,445 sq km
water: 1,426 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 16.59%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 82.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
84 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%)
per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People ::Austria
Population:
8,214,160 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 609,748/female 581,144)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,785,091/female 2,756,402)
65 years and over: 18% (male 612,613/female 865,283) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.6 years
male: 41.5 years
female: 43.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.042% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Birth rate:
8.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Death rate:
10.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Net migration rate:
1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 197 male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.65 years country comparison to the world: 31 male: 76.74 years
female: 82.71 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:
Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
Languages:
German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 47
Government ::Austria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence:
12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:
1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place
Legal system:
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER reelected president with 79.3% of the vote
note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially-open party lists)
elections: National Council - last held on 28 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2013)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%; seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]; AustrianPeople's Party or OeVP [Josef PROELL]; Freedom Party of Austria orFPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austriaor SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent butprimarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber;OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, CatholicAction
other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), AustraliaGroup, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SchengenConvention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christian PROSL
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William C. EACHO III
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner
National anthem:
name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)
lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
note: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was now associated with the Nazi regime
Economy ::Austria
Economy - overview:
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Following several years of solid foreign demand for Austrian exports and record employment growth, the international financial crisis and global economic downturn in 2008 led to a recession that persisted until the third quarter of 2009. Austrian GDP contracted 3.8% in 2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010. Unemployment has not risen as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly because its government has subsidized reduced working hour schemes to allow companies to retain employees. Such stabilization measures, stimulus initiatives, and the government's income tax reforms pushed the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP in 2009 and about 5% in 2010, from only about 1.3% in 2008. The international financial crisis caused difficulties for some of Austria's largest banks whose extensive operations in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe faced large losses. The government provided bank support - including in some instances, nationalization - to prevent insolvency and possible regional contagion. In the medium-term all large Austrian banks will need additional capital. Even after the global economic outlook improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation to offset growing unemployment and Austria's aging population and exceedingly low fertility rate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$332.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $326.4 billion (2009 est.)
$339.3 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$366.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 -3.8% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $39,800 (2009 est.)
$41,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 29.4%
services: 69.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.63 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 27.5%
services: 67% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 4.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2007) country comparison to the world: 127 31 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
21% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Public debt:
68.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 66.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 0.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.03% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 6.82% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$173.4 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 18 $175.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$402.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $402.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$659.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $606.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$53.58 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 43 $72.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$228.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - production:
66.78 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - consumption:
68.37 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - exports:
14.93 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
19.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
25,410 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - consumption:
273,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - exports:
52,970 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - imports:
298,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - production:
1.668 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - consumption:
8.232 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - exports:
3.961 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - imports:
10.96 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - proved reserves:
16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Current account balance:
$8.012 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $8.73 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$157.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $135.7 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 30.96%, Italy 8.17%, Switzerland 4.99%, US 3.99% (2009)
Imports:
$156 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $138.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 45.07%, Switzerland 6.76%, Italy 6.66%, Netherlands 4.03% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$18.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$755 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 17 $864.2 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$290.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $286.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$297.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $290.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.253 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.773 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 59
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)
Broadcast media:
Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, was the main broadcast source until commercial radio and television service was introduced in the 1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German TV stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.at
Internet hosts:
3.266 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 29
Internet users:
6.143 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 43
Transportation ::Austria
Airports:
55 (2010) country comparison to the world: 84
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,721 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 6,399 km country comparison to the world: 29 standard gauge: 5,927 km 1.435-m gauge (3,688 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 384 km 1.000-m gauge (15 km electrified); 88 km 0.760-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 107,262 km country comparison to the world: 40 paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,696 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
358 km (2007) country comparison to the world: 91
Merchant marine:
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 141 by type: cargo 2
registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Military ::Austria
Military branches:
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 6 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation; conscripts cannot be deployed in military operations outside Austria (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,960,781
females age 16-49: 1,926,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,595,379
females age 16-49: 1,566,884 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 49,455
female: 47,046 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 150
Transnational Issues ::Austria
Disputes - international:
while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closed its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan (Middle East)
Introduction ::Azerbaijan
Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from oil production, the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.
Geography ::Azerbaijan
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andRussia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 86,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 112 land: 82,629 sq km
water: 3,971 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:
large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.62%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 76.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
30.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%)
per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
People ::Azerbaijan
Population:
8,303,512 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 1,042,132/female 926,495)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 2,807,717/female 2,908,221)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 204,410/female 349,697) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.5 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.805% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Birth rate:
17.75 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Death rate:
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Net migration rate:
-1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.124 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 46 male: 58.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.01 years country comparison to the world: 156 male: 62.86 years
female: 71.67 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups:
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%,Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 171
Government ::Azerbaijan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: Azarbaycan
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)
rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, BardaRayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, QazaxRayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, XanlarRayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimliRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, ZardabRayonu
cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi (Nakhichevan)
Independence:
30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:
adopted 12 November 1995; modified by referendum 24 August 2002
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 89%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with smaller percentages
note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - YAP 45.8%, CSP 1.6%,Motherland 1.4%, independents 48.2%, other 3.1%; seats by party -YAP 71, CSP 3, Motherland 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Creation 1,Hope Party 1, Social Welfare 1, Civil Unity 1, Whole AzerbaijanPopular Front 1, Justice 1, independents 42
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; CivilSolidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI]; Civil Unity Party[Sabir HACIYEV]; Classic People's Front of Azerbaijan [MirmahmudMIRALI-OGLU]; Democratic Reform Party [Asim MOLLAZADE]; GreatCreation Party [Fazil Gazanfaroglu MUSTAFAYEV]; Hope (Umid) Party[Iqbal AGAZADE]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAYILOV]; Liberal Party ofAzerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Motherland Party [FazailAGAMALI]; Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Open SocietyParty [Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Social Democratic Partyof Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)];Social Welfare Party [Hussein KAZIMLI]; United Popular AzerbaijanFront Party or AXCP [Ali KARIMLI]; Whole Azerbaijan Popular FrontParty [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP[President Ilham ALIYEV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Azerbaijan Public Forum [Eldar NAMAZOV]; Karabakh LiberationOrganization
International organization participation: