Austria migration trends show concentration in urban areas

Data from the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) reveals that approximately 2.1 million people born abroad live in Austria, accounting for nearly 23 percent of the total population. This figure represents a 4.6 percent increase over the last decade, driven in part by conflicts in Syria and the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The migration trend is heavily concentrated in urban centers. In Vienna, over 65.1 percent of the population originates from third countries. Major cities such as Wels, Salzburg, and Innsbruck also show high concentrations, with foreign-born populations exceeding 36 percent in their respective districts. In contrast, rural areas like Zwettl in Lower Austria report significantly lower figures at 3.8 percent.

While 56 percent of immigrants come from third countries—including Serbia, Turkey, Syria, and Afghanistan—a notable portion also originates from European nations, including EU members and associated states like Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. Vorarlberg follows Vienna as the federal state with the highest proportion of foreign-born residents at 23.7 percent.