Austria: immigration

How many asylum applications does Austria receive?

5,743 asylum applications were made in Austria from January to July 2026, 4,533 of them by first-time applicants, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior asylum statistics. The largest groups were from Syria (1,494) and Afghanistan (1,360). 103 applications came from unaccompanied minors.

The total includes follow-up applications, which is why first-time applicants are shown separately. An application is not a decision; the ministry's monthly report also lists decisions and outcomes. The July report is the latest the ministry's site served on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: Federal Ministry of the Interior asylum statistics

How many foreigners live in Austria?

1,881,300 foreign citizens lived in Austria on 1 January 2026, according to Statistik Austria. The largest groups were Germans (242,300), Romanians (157,700), Turks (123,400) and Serbs (122,500). 28% of the population, 2.55 million people, had a migration background.

Foreign citizens are people without Austrian citizenship. Migration background is a wider group: people whose parents were both born abroad, whether or not they hold Austrian citizenship. The total population on 1 January 2026 was 9,219,113, up 0.2% on a year earlier, according to the population release.

Official sources: Statistik Austria · population release

How many people get Austrian citizenship?

13,700 people were granted Austrian citizenship in the first half of 2026, 17% more than a year earlier, according to Statistik Austria. 3,950 of them lived abroad.

3,927 people received citizenship under the provision for people persecuted under National Socialism and their descendants (section 58c of the Citizenship Act); all but 12 of them lived abroad, and the most common previous citizenships in this group were Israeli and American. 71% of all grants, 9,696 people, were made on the basis of a legal entitlement, including 4,829 people naturalised after at least six years' residence in Austria.

Official sources: Statistik Austria

How many foreign-born people live in Austria?

The UN Population Division puts the share of people born abroad in Austria at 25.5% in 2024. In 2015 the figure was 17.8%. Europe & Central Asia median: 11.7%; Austria is 6th highest of 52. Worldwide: 20th of 193.

How many people move to Austria each year?

In 2025, net migration in Austria was 11,254, according to the UN Population Division. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 157,365; its low point was 2023, at 4,819. It is 17th highest of 52 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 158. Worldwide: 43rd of 193.

How many refugees are in Austria?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees in the country in Austria was 286,651 in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 62,365; Austria is 8th highest of 50. Worldwide: 28th of 169.

How many refugees have fled Austria?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 33. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 62; its low point was 2015, at 0. Europe & Central Asia median: 533; Austria is 40th highest of 49. World rank, highest first: 166th of 189.

How much are remittances to Austria?

0.7% of GDP: that is personal remittances received in Austria for 2025, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 0.8% of GDP; its low point was 2023, at 0.6% of GDP. It is 33rd highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.4% of GDP. Worldwide: 91st of 127.