9.390-108/09

Vienna, 27 May 2009 – A growing population and stable demographic trends relative to total fertility rate and life expectancy are the main results of population statistics for Austria for 2008. In 2008 the Austrian population grew by 0.4% (36 700 people), almost the same as in the year before (2007: +35 600). On January 1, 2009, according to the final results of Statistics Austria, about 8.355 Mill people lived in Austria, while the annual average for 2008 was 8.337 Mill. In 2008, the population growth – as in past years – was in the main the result of international migration gains of about 34 000 people. A minor birth surplus of about 2 700 people also adds to the overall increase of population.

By January 1, 2009, the number of foreigners increased to 871 000, i.e. a share of 10.4% of the total population. The number of Austrian centenarians amounted to 924 as compared to 651 five years ago. The total fertility rate slightly increased to 1.41 up versus 1.38 in 2007. The life expectancy at birth rose to 77.6 years for men (+0.3 years) and 83.0 years for women (+0.1 years).

According to the results of the register-based census 2006, the population and migration figures have been slightly revised for the years 2002 to 2008.

For more detailed information please refer to the German version.