Interesting Facts About Austria

By: Want To Know It

Austria (officially the Republic of Austria) is a country in central Europe. It is not to be confused with Australia, a country in the Southern Hemisphere. Here are some interesting facts about Austria that you probably don’t know!

Interesting Facts About Austria

Almost 90% of the population speak German, which is also the official language.
In 1867, Austria and Hungary joined together to create the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This joint empire ended at the end of World War I (1918).
Austria joined the United Nations in 1955.
The official currency is the euro.
The name Austria derives from a Germanic word ‘austro’, meaning ‘east’.
Over 60% of Austria’s electricity is supplied by renewable sources.
Winters in Austria are very cold. However, the summers can be relatively hot. The temperatures range between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Children enter primary school at the age of six. They spend four years in primary school and are usually taught by the same teacher for the entire time.
Almost three quarters of the population are Roman Catholics.
The candy PEZ was invented in Austria.
The first Youth Winter Olympics will be held in Austria (in 2012).
Football (soccer) is a popular sport in Austria. However, the national side has had little success over the years.