Capital: Vienna Population: 8,602,112 Conventional Name: Republic of Austria Chief of State: President Heinz Fischer Head of State: Chancellor Werner Faymann National Anthem: Bundeshymne (Federal Hymn) Lyrics/Music: Paula Von Preradovic/Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Or Johann Holzer (Disputed)
Facts about Austria
The Austrian flag, as we know it today, is one of the oldest national flag in the world. It dates from 1191, when Duke Leopold V fought in the Battle of Acre during the Third Crusade.
An Austrian, Josef Madersperger, invented the sewing machine in 1818.
About half of Austrian men are overweight (50.8%, the highest rate in the EU), but only 8.6% of them are obese (4th lowest in the EU-27). In contrast only 20.3% of Austrian women are overweight (lowest rate in the 27 member states), including 8.6% who are obese (also the lowest rate EU wide).
Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Hollywood actor and current governor of California, grew up as an Austrian citizen.
The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was Austrian.
About one fourth of the population of Austria lives in the capital, Vienna.
Among Europeans, Austrian people work the longest, with an average of 45 hours per week.