Statistics Austria has to annually determine the total population on 31 October for the fiscal equalisation (Fiscal Equalisation Law 2017). For the annual population statistics with reference date 31 October 2020 (valid for the financial year 2022) a total population of 8 926 290 was determined.
The basic procedure of the annual population statistics, which means linking data from the various registers, does not differ from the test census or the actual Register-Based Census. Only the residence analysis is replaced by a statistical procedure, which is based on the experience gained during the test census and the Register-Based Census.
The first reference date for the total population according to the Fiscal Equalisation Law was 31 October 2008 (valid for the financial year 2010). The results were disseminated in November 2009.
According to the final results of the Register-based Census held on 31 October 2011, Austria had 8 401 940 inhabitants. The number of inhabitants has risen by 369 083 people or 4.6% since 2001. By comparison, the increase between 1991 and 2001 was 3.0%. The latest growth of the population was only exceeded in the decade between the years 1961 and 1971. In that period the number of inhabitants increased by 417 000 persons or 5.9%.
The reason for the high population growth between 2001 and 2011 was the result of the increase of immigration into Austria since the turn of the millennium. In contrast, the natural increase (balance of births and deaths) made only a comparatively small contribution to the population growth.
The population increase of 4.6% was not uniform throughout
Austria. Based on a percentage increase, Vienna was the clear winner
with a growth of 10.6%. Besides the federal capital, only Tyrol
The greater proportion of the population lives in eastern Austria. Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland comprise the eastern region with 43% of the population of Austria. The four federal provinces that make up the western region (Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg) count 36% of the population. The southern region (comprising the federal provinces of Carinthia and Styria) is inhabited by 21% of the population.
Please consult our German website for tables and charts containing further information.