GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of Vienna's historic architecture featuring a prominent dome and lush gardens.Aerial view of Vienna showcasing the town hall, Votivkirche, and architectural landmarks.

Austria

Europe · Central Europe

Very high safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high for Europe. Living costs are high.

vs Germanyvs Switzerlandvs Czechia
Safety

6th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.421lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#6 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.9per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
71.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€36,546per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
25.1New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
9.9years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 56% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 9% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$76,778 PPP$62,930Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $40,382 a person, $37,388 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2007, $46,623 a person, $39,192 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2008, $51,581 a person, $41,047 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2009, $47,857 a person, $40,687 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2010, $46,611 a person, $41,735 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2011, $51,117 a person, $44,172 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $48,250 a person, $46,156 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $50,305 a person, $47,520 at PPP, inflation 2%2014, $51,315 a person, $48,355 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2015, $43,915 a person, $49,549 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2016, $45,061 a person, $52,398 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2017, $47,164 a person, $53,870 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $51,194 a person, $56,636 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $49,886 a person, $60,355 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2020, $48,716 a person, $58,523 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $53,649 a person, $62,969 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2022, $52,337 a person, $72,287 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2023, $56,580 a person, $74,261 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2024, $58,269 a person, $75,774 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $62,930 a person, $76,778 at PPP, inflation 3.5%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $40,382 a person, $37,388 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2007, $46,623 a person, $39,192 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2008, $51,581 a person, $41,047 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2009, $47,857 a person, $40,687 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2010, $46,611 a person, $41,735 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2011, $51,117 a person, $44,172 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $48,250 a person, $46,156 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $50,305 a person, $47,520 at PPP, inflation 2%2014, $51,315 a person, $48,355 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2015, $43,915 a person, $49,549 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2016, $45,061 a person, $52,398 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2017, $47,164 a person, $53,870 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $51,194 a person, $56,636 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $49,886 a person, $60,355 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2020, $48,716 a person, $58,523 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $53,649 a person, $62,969 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2022, $52,337 a person, $72,287 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2023, $56,580 a person, $74,261 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2024, $58,269 a person, $75,774 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $62,930 a person, $76,778 at PPP, inflation 3.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.0years, at birthVery high
#29 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
84WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
9.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the lowest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
11.5%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
113 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
616EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet113 MbpsVery fast
Mobile113 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Aerial view of Vienna showcasing the town hall, Votivkirche, and architectural landmarks.
How it changed

Austria's Human Development Index

0.930Very high human development

22nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 14th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #20South Korea0.937
  2. #21Slovenia0.931
  3. #22Austria0.930
  4. #23Japan0.925
  5. #24Malta0.924
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.832 in 1990 to 0.930 in 2023.

0.800.880.950.93019902000201020231990: 0.8321991: 0.8351992: 0.8411993: 0.8451994: 0.8511995: 0.8561996: 0.8611997: 0.8651998: 0.8701999: 0.8742000: 0.8792001: 0.8832002: 0.8872003: 0.8892004: 0.8952005: 0.8982006: 0.9022007: 0.9052008: 0.9072009: 0.9072010: 0.9122011: 0.9152012: 0.9162013: 0.9152014: 0.9192015: 0.9192016: 0.9212017: 0.9222018: 0.9252019: 0.9282020: 0.9252021: 0.9302022: 0.9272023: 0.9300.800.880.9519902000201020231990: 0.8321991: 0.8351992: 0.8411993: 0.8451994: 0.8511995: 0.8561996: 0.8611997: 0.8651998: 0.8701999: 0.8742000: 0.8792001: 0.8832002: 0.8872003: 0.8892004: 0.8952005: 0.8982006: 0.9022007: 0.9052008: 0.9072009: 0.9072010: 0.9122011: 0.9152012: 0.9162013: 0.9152014: 0.9192015: 0.9192016: 0.9212017: 0.9222018: 0.9252019: 0.9282020: 0.9252021: 0.9302022: 0.9272023: 0.930

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82 years2024at birthUp 2.7 years from 79.3 years in 2005
Internet users
92%2025of people onlineUp 28 points from 64% in 2006
Urban population
70%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 67% in 2006
Births per woman
1.312024births per womanDown 0.10 from 1.41 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
36%2021of energy usedUp 13 points from 23% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
6.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 3.4 t from 9.8 t in 2005
Forest area
47%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 47% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Vienna tops global liveability rankings, backed by strong public services and high wages. The case for living here is peace, high incomes for Europe and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Austria

Austria is a central European country of imperial grandeur and alpine beauty, where Baroque architecture and classical music traditions sit alongside pristine mountain scenery and excellent skiing. Vienna in particular carries a weight of cultural history that few cities can match, yet everyday life is calm, orderly, and exceptionally high quality. It suits those who appreciate refinement, nature, and a certain quiet elegance, though it can feel a little formal for those craving spontaneity.

Practical facts

  • CapitalVienna
  • LanguagesGerman
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area82,520 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Austria against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Austria

Compare Austria

Borders

CzechiaGermanyHungaryItalyLiechtensteinSlovakiaSloveniaSwitzerland

Side by side

vs Germanyvs Switzerlandvs Czechiavs Hungaryvs SloveniaCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Austria's Human Development Index?

Austria's Human Development Index is 0.930 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #22 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Austria safe?

Austria scores 1.42 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #6 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Austria?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Austria at 71.3 (New York = 100); that is #132 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Austria?

Life expectancy at birth in Austria is 82.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #29 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Austria?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Austria at 199.8, ranked #7 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.