Camilla Jessen
Austria’s population growth now depends entirely on immigration.
Austria’s population of 9 million is increasing exclusively due to immigration, according to new data from the Austrian National Statistical Office, presented during the release of the 2024 Statistical Yearbook on Migration and Integration.
As of this year, 27.8% of Austria’s population—2.51 million people—are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, marking a 38.4% increase since 2015.
“Austria has grown exclusively through migration for many years,” said Stephan Marik-Lebeck, head of the agency’s Demographics Department, do Digi24.
He emphasized that the country’s natural population balance now shows more deaths than births, meaning that without immigration, the overall population would be in sharp decline.
Migration by the Numbers
2.51 million people in Austria have a migrant background (27.8% of the total population).
In 2015, this figure was 1.81 million (21.4%), meaning the migrant-background population has grown by 696,100 people in under a decade.
This includes first-generation immigrants (born abroad) and second-generation immigrants (born in Austria to two foreign-born parents).
Where Do Austria’s Immigrants Come From?
The top seven countries of origin among immigrants in Austria:
- Germany – 239,452 people
- Romania – 155,715
- Turkey – 124,788
- Serbia – 122,459
- Hungary – 112,376
- Croatia – 109,359
- Syria – 104,833
These figures reflect Austria’s position as a central European country with strong historical, economic, and geographic ties to both EU member states and neighboring regions.
The Yearbook projects that Austria’s population could surpass 10 million by 2069, but only if current levels of immigration continue. Without continued migration, however, the population could fall dramatically:
- Projected population in 2069 with migration: 10+ million
- Projected population in 2069 without migration: 6.9 million — a 24% decrease from today
This potential decline mirrors mid-20th century population levels and would present major challenges in areas such as the workforce, healthcare, and social services.
