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 ]
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% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 16.5% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.8% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 21.1% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 47.2% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 14.4% (2016 est.)
[see also: Land use 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; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria’s other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution

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:
note 1: 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

note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers