Location:
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:
47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 83,871 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 82,445 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 1,426 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 115

Area - comparative:
about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania
Area comparison map: about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 2,524 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (8): Czech Republic 402 km, Germany 801 km, Hungary 321 km, Italy 404 km, Liechtenstein 34 km, Slovakia 105 km, Slovenia 299 km, Switzerland 158 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins

Elevation:
mean elevation: 910 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
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:
agricultural land: 38.4% arable land 16.5%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 21.1%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 47.2%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 14.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
1,170 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas

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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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