The figure of 130 208 arrivals from abroad and 94 604
departures to foreign countries produced an international net migration
of 35 604 people in 2011. In relation to Austria’s resident population,
this corresponded to a migration balance rate of 4.3 per 1 000. Migration
gains thus were about a third higher than in 2010 (+27 695 people). Following
a longstanding trend, net-migration losses with Austrian nationals continued
to occur in 2010, at -5°759 people, meaning a significant increase
of migration losses over the previous year (-4 163). This was however
counterbalanced by migration gains with foreign citizens, which in 2011
amounted to 41°363 people, thus accounting for a quarter more than
in 2010 (+31°858). In regional terms and as in previous years, Vienna
continued to predominate as the destination of choice for international
migration to Austria. The federal capital alone accounted for around
40% of all arrivals and for more than a third (36%) of all migration
gains.
About 70% of migration gains with foreign citizens
could be allotted to EU citizens (+28 524 people). The largest sub-group
was formed of German citizens (+6°463 people), followed by Romanians
(+6°163) and Hungarians (+4 359). Further notable migration gains were
equally registered with citizens of Poland (+3 361) and Slovakia (+2 198).
Thus about two thirds (67%) of all immigrants from the EU were citizens
of the twelve countries having accessed the EU since 2004.
Immigration from non-EU-countries also saw a marked
increase in 2011, the migration balance standing at +12 650 people and
thus about 34% higher than in 2010 (+9 415). Almost two fifths of migration
gains with third-country nationals were with citizens of European states
outside the EU, down from two thirds in 2010. Migration gains with the
West Balkans except Slovenia (+2 497 people) and Turkey (+629) were greatly
reduced. In contrast net-migration with Russian (+1 137 people), Asian
(+5 535) and African citizens (+1 214) increased largely over 2010. All
in all there was a significant shift in migration gains of non-EU-citizens
to non-European countries.
At the level of the federal provinces, Vienna remained
the prime destination for international immigration to Austria. The
federal capital accounted for about one third of net migration (36%
or +12 954 people), followed by Upper Austria (+5 307), Lower Austria
(+4 499) and Styria (+3 683). Within the federal provinces, international
immigration focused on the provincial capitals and their environs; in
Tyrol, Salzburg and Carinthia, it also gravitated towards tourist regions
and in the case of Lower Austria towards the southern suburbs of Vienna.
Please consult our German
website for tables and charts containing further information.
