Austria (Republic of Austria)

Austria Republic of Austria
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	7th best
Capital	Vienna
Land Area	82 409km21
Location	Europe
Population	8.9m2
Life Expectancy	81.58yrs (2017)3
GNI	$53 619 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AT, AUT, 405
Internet Domain	.at6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+438

1. Overview
2. Austria National and Social Development
3. Austria's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Austria's Health
6. Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Austria's Modernity and Learning
8. Austria's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#germany

“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.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Austria is a contrast of spectacular natural landscapes and elegant urban sleeves. One day you´re plunging into an alpine lake, the next you´re exploring a narrow backstreet of Vienna. [...] This is where the Habsburgs built their 600-year empire, and where past glories still shine in the resplendent baroque palaces and chandelier-lit coffee houses of Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg. [... W]hatever it does - mountains, classical music, new media, castles, cake, you name it - Austria does it exceedingly well. Beyond its grandiose cities, Austria´s allure lies outdoors. And whether you´re schussing down the legendary slopes of Kitzbühel, climbing high in the Alps of Tyrol or pedalling along the banks of the sprightly Danube (Donau), you´ll find the kind of inspiring landscapes that no well-orchestrated symphony, camera lens or singing nun could ever quite do justice.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Austria National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
22	Israel	0.919
23=	Slovenia	0.918
23=	Malta	0.918
25	Austria	0.916
26	UAE	0.911
27	Spain	0.905
28	France	0.903
29	Cyprus	0.896
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
14	Iceland	$55 782
15	Germany	$54 534
16	Sweden	$54 489
17	Austria	$53 619
18	Kuwait	$52 920
19	San Marino	$52 654
20	Belgium	$52 293
21	Andorra	$51 167
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.5
2	Norway	30.7
3	Switzerland	32.5
4	Sweden	32.9
5	Netherlands	33.1
6	Finland	34.6
7	Austria	37.5
8	Japan	38.8
9	Germany	39.2
10	Ireland	39.6
11	Belgium	39.9
12	Iceland	40.1
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Austria's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Austria's population is predicted to fall to 8 590 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.41. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
93	Honduras	9.6m
94	Belarus	9.5m
95	Tajikistan	9.1m
96	Austria	8.9m
97	Serbia	8.8m
98	Papua New Guinea	8.6m
99	Switzerland	8.5m
100	Israel	8.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
23	Netherlands	81.7
24	Austria	81.6
25	Denmark	81.4
26	Cyprus	81.2
27	Portugal	81.0
28	San Marino	80.9
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
101=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
172	Croatia	39.7
173	Malta	39.9
174=	France	40.5
174=	Austria	40.5
176	Greece	41.3
177	Spain	41.4
178	Netherlands	41.9
179	Slovenia	42.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
24	Kazakhstan	20.0%
25	Austria	19.0%
26	Sweden	17.6%
27	Equatorial Guinea	17.5%
28	Ireland	16.9%
29	Cyprus	16.0%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
83	Mali	7.6%
84	UK	7.5%
85	Honduras	7.5%
86	Austria	7.1%
87	Uzbekistan	7.0%
88	Bolivia	6.8%
89	Guinea-Bissau	6.8%
90	Slovenia	6.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Austria #austria_freedom #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
4	Netherlands	9.8
5	Iceland	12.9
6	New Zealand	13.3
7	Canada	14.7
8	Austria	14.9
9	Australia	16.0
10	Luxembourg	16.2
	Europe Avg	47.37
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

When it comes to ensuring human rights and freedom, Austria leads the world, setting excellent examples. Austria performs the best in terms of its average Freedom in the World rating. It comes in the best 20 in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₉, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₀, opposing gender inequality₂₁, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₂ and in eliminating modern slavery₂₃. And finally, it does better than average in terms of supporting press freedom₂₄, LGBT equality₂₅, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₆ and in freethought₂₇.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Austria

5. Austria's Health

#alcohol #austria #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
15	Slovenia	56.5
16	UK	57.5
17	Ireland	58.2
18	Austria	58.8
19	Spain	62.6
20	Germany	64.3
21	Portugal	65.0
22	Montenegro	66.6
23	Andorra	67.6
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=48.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
23	UK	57.5
24	Ireland	58.2
25	New Zealand	58.4
26	Austria	58.8
27	Malaysia	59.7
28	Brunei	61.6
29	Turks & Caicos Islands	62.6
30	Spain	62.6
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₉.

36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Austria does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Austria does better than average in terms of childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₃₀, its adolescent birth rate₃₁, its average life expectancy₁₁, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂, its immunizations take-up₃₃ (but low for Europe) and in its fertility rate₁₄ (but high for Europe). But, there's bad news too. Austria does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₄ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₅ (still good for Europe). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its suicide rate₃₆ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₇. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Austria improved by +6.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Austria's peak fertility rate was 2.82 in 1963.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
23	Netherlands	81.7
24	Austria	81.6
25	Denmark	81.4
26	Cyprus	81.2
27	Portugal	81.0
28	San Marino	80.9
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better37
Pos.		2016 Per Capita37
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
168=	Gabon	11.5
168=	Slovakia	11.5
168=	Switzerland	11.5
171	Austria	11.6
172=	Estonia	11.6
172=	Poland	11.6
174	Russia	11.7
175	Seychelles	12.0
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
101=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better34
Pos.		Total %34
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
113	Lesotho	24.5%
114	Malta	24.8%
115	Egypt	24.8%
116	Austria	24.9%
117	Ukraine	25.0%
118	Armenia	25.0%
119	Switzerland	25.6%
120	Portugal	25.7%
	Europe Avg	27.0%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Suicide Rate36
Pos.		2013 Per 100k36
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
68	Suriname	28.7
69	Hong Kong	29.7
70	Poland	30.5
71	Austria	30.9
72	Uruguay	32.3
73	France	33.2
74	Moldova	35.7
75	Switzerland	36.2
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
25	Qatar	25
26	Oman	26
27	Estonia	27
28	Austria	28
29	Greece	29
30	Nicaragua	30
31	Armenia	31
32	Bangladesh	32
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better35
Pos.		1976 %35
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
124	Syria	34.3
125	Ireland	34.5
126	Armenia	34.6
127	Austria	35.1
128	Turkey	35.2
129	Fiji	35.6
130	Finland	35.7
131	Slovenia	36.1
	Europe Avg	38.2
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 %38
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
63	Liberia	16.2%
64	Sweden	16.4%
65	Netherlands	16.9%
66	Austria	17.0%
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
68	Botswana	17.5%
69	Maldives	17.6%
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
	Europe Avg	25.9%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better31
Pos.		2022 Per 100031
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
17	Slovenia	4.4
18	Iceland	5.1
19	Belgium	5.1
20	Austria	5.2
21	Kuwait	5.3
22	Ireland	5.9
23	Andorra	5.9
24	Spain	6.3
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better33
Pos.		2015 Avg %33
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
84	Estonia	93.9
85	N. Korea	93.8
86	Italy	93.8
87	Austria	93.8
88	Argentina	93.7
89	Bulgaria	93.7
90	Serbia	93.5
91	Egypt	93.4
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better30
Pos.		Total Per 100030
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
17	Portugal	3.62
18	Andorra	3.69
19	Ireland	3.76
20	Austria	3.81
21	Germany	3.94
22	Israel	4.01
23	Denmark	4.03
24	Australia	4.08
	Europe Avg	6.30
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

6. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#Austria #austria_and_the_environment #Austria_environment #climate_change #the_environment

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
25	Ghana	58.6
26	Thailand	59.5
27	Spain	59.5
28	Austria	59.6
29	Tunisia	60.1
30	Vietnam	60.6
	Europe Avg	86.45
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

With respect to its responsibility towards the environment, Austria ranks 28th in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Austria comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₄₀. It does better than average in its score on the Green Future Index₄₁ (but low for Europe), its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₃. Austria does not succeed in everything, however. Austria does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₄ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Austria's Responsibility Towards The Environment

7. Austria's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
10	UK	19.4
11	Netherlands	19.5
12	Ireland	19.8
13	Austria	19.9
14=	Czechia	21.8
15	Slovenia	22.5
16	France	26.8
17	Hungary	29.0
18	Spain	30.0
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
12	UK	19.4
13	Netherlands	19.5
14	Ireland	19.8
15	Austria	19.9
16=	Czechia	21.8
16=	Canada	21.8
18	S. Korea	22.2
19	Slovenia	22.5
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₇. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₇. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₈.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₉

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₇, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₇.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2950
2	Israel	4.1150
3	Japan	3.5850
4	Finland	3.1750
5	Sweden	3.1650
6	Denmark	3.0550
7	Taiwan	3.0150
8	Austria	3.0051
9	Switzerland	2.9652
10	Germany	2.8450
11	USA	2.7453
12	Belgium	2.4650
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better54
Pos.		201854
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
1=	Canada	100.0%
1=	Finland	100.0%
1=	Iceland	100.0%
7	Uzbekistan	99.9%
8	Czechia	99.8%
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better55
Pos.		2021 Years55
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
36	Israel	16.1
37	Tonga	16.0
38	Poland	16.0
39	Austria	16.0
40	Estonia	15.9
41	Thailand	15.9
42	France	15.8
43	Palau	15.8
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
4	Denmark	4
5	UK	5
6	Austria	6
7	Finland	7
8	Netherlands	8
9	Belgium	9
10	Slovenia	10
11	Switzerland	11
12	New Zealand	12
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better56
Pos.		2015 Score56
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
24	Portugal	1491
25=	France	1487
25=	Sweden	1487
27	Austria	1477
28	Russia	1476
29	Spain	1475
30	Czechia	1472
31	USA	1463
	Europe Avg	1417
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better57
Pos.		2018 %57
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
11=	Latvia	11
11=	France	11
11=	Belgium	11
14	Austria	12
15	Hungary	14
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
	Europe Avg	25.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better58
Pos.		200658
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
10=	Mongolia	101
11	Netherlands	100
12=	Norway	100
12=	Austria	100
12=	UK	100
15	New Zealand	99
16=	Poland	99
16=	Germany	99
	Europe Avg	96.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better59
Pos.		201659
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
32=	Singapore	83%
32=	Slovakia	83%
34	Spain	82%
35	Austria	81%
36	Ireland	81%
37	Barbados	80%
38	Hungary	80%
39	Kuwait	80%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better60
Pos.		2017 Ratio60
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
24	Czechia	10.1
25	New Zealand	9.7
26	Romania	8.7
27	Austria	7.5
28	Hungary	7.4
29	Guatemala	6.9
30	Saudi Arabia	6.8
31	Vietnam	5.9
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better61
Pos.		202461
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
4	Netherlands	72.6%
5	Denmark	72.3%
6	Austria	70.8%
7	Spain	70.5%
8	Luxembourg	70.0%
9	UK	69.3%
10	Estonia	69.3%
11	Switzerland	69.0%
12	Sweden	68.7%
	Europe Avg	61.0%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Austria's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Europe (2020)62
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank62
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
4	Norway	14.1
5	Switzerland	19.1
6	Sweden	19.2
7	Austria	20.3
8	Germany	20.5
9	Ireland	20.6
10	Luxembourg	21.5
11	Iceland	21.9
12	Belgium	26.1
13	UK	27.7
	Europe Avg	48.48
q=44.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)62
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank62
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
4	Norway	14.1
5	New Zealand	16.3
6	Singapore	19.0
7	Switzerland	19.1
8	Sweden	19.2
9	Austria	20.3
10	Germany	20.5
11	Ireland	20.6
12	Luxembourg	21.5
	World Avg	80.34
q=186.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility in the 2020s (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty in the 2020s (so far), Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

Austria has a good long-term record on keeping corruption low.

World Giving Index Higher is better63
Pos.		2022 %63
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
34=	Macedonia	45.0
34=	Venezuela	45.0
34=	Norway	45.0
34=	Austria	45.0
38	Sri Lanka	44.0
39=	Ethiopia	44.0
39=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	44.0
39=	Paraguay	44.0
	Europe Avg	39.0
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better64
Pos.		2022 Points64
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
19	Japan	73.0
20=	Belgium	73.0
21	France	72.0
22	Austria	71.0
23	Seychelles	70.0
24	USA	69.0
25=	Taiwan	68.0
25=	Bhutan	68.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better65
Pos.		2024 Score65
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Ireland	6.9
16	Lithuania	6.8
17	Austria	6.8
18	Canada	6.8
19	Slovenia	6.8
20	Czechia	6.8
21	UAE	6.8
	Europe Avg	6.37
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
4	Switzerland	4
5	Sweden	5
6	Denmark	6
7	Austria	7
8	Ireland	8
9	Czechia	9
10	Luxembourg	10
11	UK	11
12	Portugal	12
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better66
Pos.		Total Q66
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
7	Finland	189.5
8	Luxembourg	189.3
9=	Denmark	188.7
9=	Austria	188.7
11	France	188.5
12=	Netherlands	188.3
12=	Sweden	188.3
14	Ireland	188.2
	Europe Avg	160.7
	World Avg	108.8
q=195.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
10	Croatia	10
11	Georgia	11
12	Philippines	12
13	Austria	13
14	Germany	14
15	Albania	15
16	Togo	16
17	France	17
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better67
Pos.		2023 Score67
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
4	New Zealand	1.31
5	Austria	1.32
6	Singapore	1.33
7	Portugal	1.33
8	Slovenia	1.33
9	Japan	1.34
10	Switzerland	1.34
11	Canada	1.35
12	Czechia	1.38
	Europe Avg	1.70
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
62	Grenada	62
63	Kenya	63
64	Denmark	64
65	Austria	65
66	Ghana	66
67	Sweden	67
68	Congo, (Brazzaville)	68
69	Bulgaria	69
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
4	Sweden	4
5	Malta	5
6	Australia	6
7	Norway	7
8	Finland	8
9	Denmark	9
10	Switzerland	10
11	Canada	11
12	UK	12
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better68
Pos.		2019 Score68
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
64	Kyrgyzstan	1.47
65	Ghana	1.56
66	Kazakhstan	1.57
67	Austria	1.66
68	Argentina	1.68
69	Madagascar	1.96
70	Finland	2.03
71	Haiti	2.18
	Europe Avg	1.62
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better69
Pos.		Total %69
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
32	Latvia	0.47%
33	UK	0.50%
34	Iraq	0.55%
35	Austria	0.60%
36	Tunisia	0.65%
37	Lithuania	0.67%
38	Israel	0.73%
39	Greece	0.75%
	Europe Avg	1.20%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better70
Pos.		201970
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
23	Cyprus	3.60
24=	Denmark	3.60
25	Australia	3.70
26=	Austria	3.70
27	France	3.80
28=	Germany	3.80
29	UK	4.10
30	Hungary	4.20
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better71
Pos.		2023 %71
1	Slovakia	24.1%72
2	Slovenia	24.3%72
3	Belarus	24.4%73
	...
35	Ireland	30.1%72
36=	Fiji	30.7%74
36=	Myanmar	30.7%75
36=	Austria	30.7%72
39	Uzbekistan	31.2%76
40	Cyprus	31.3%72
41=	Mongolia	31.4%76
41=	Malta	31.4%73
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_austria #religiosity #secularisation

From 2010 to 2020, 15.2% of Austria's Christians stopped describing themselves as Christian (from 80% to 68%) and in the population as a whole, 8.9% fewer said they belonged to a religion.

Religiosity (2018)57
Pos.		Lower is better %57
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
11=	Latvia	11
11=	France	11
11=	Belgium	11
14	Austria	12
15	Hungary	14
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20	Australia	18
21=	Vietnam	18
22	Bulgaria	19
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)77
Pos.		Higher is better %77
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
24=	Latvia	20
24=	Ukraine	20
24=	Mongolia	20
27	Austria	18
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31	Greece	16
32=	Iceland	16
33	Spain	15
34=	Israel	15
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38	Kazakhstan	12
39=	China	12
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₈:

	2010	2020
Christian	80.4%	68.2%
Unaffiliated	13.5%	22.4%
Muslim	5.38%	8.3%
Other	0.204%	0.639%
Buddhist	0.221%	0.297%
Hindu	<0.1%	0.113%
Jewish	0.162%	<0.1%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 77.6% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 12% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)₇₉.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: "The constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief" but "there are some restrictions on speech that might offend religious feelings" which are sometimes abused to protect Christians, at the expense of others.₈₀

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights and Freedom in Austria: 4.3. Freedom of Thought