The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1999 to 2025 Europe

Background Austria, in 27 editions.

The entry for Austria published Background in 27 editions of 36, from 1999 to 2025. The text changed in 14 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
14
the first edition with it
1999
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (1999 to 2025).

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2011 edition

Same as 2010

Open the 2011 entry

The same text in 5 editions, 2010 to 2014.

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.

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. In January 2009, Austria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term.

Cite this page

Central Intelligence Agency. “Austria: Background.” The World Factbook, 1999–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/austria/background.

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