|
People
With the exception of the population of Vorarlberg and of a small
part of Tirol (Ausserfern), who are mainly descendants of the Alemannians,
the Austrians are by origin a Bavarian people.
Austrian. Some are tall and slim, with fair skin, blue eyes, and
blond hair. Others are short and stocky, with fairly dark skin,
brown eyes, and brown hair. Many others do not fit either description.
Language
German is the official language of Austria while the other 2 percent
of the population speak languages other than German, chiefly Croatian,
Slovenian, Czech, and Turkish.
A number of Austrians speak another language as their first language.
In the province of Burgenland, for example, about 24,500 persons
speak Serbo-Croatian. Burgenland also has some people who speak
Magyar. In Carinthia, about 20,000 people speak Slovenian. Small
groups in Vienna speak either Czech or Slovak.
Religion
About 78 percent of the population of Austria are Roman Catholicism.
Reformed Lutherans and various other Christian denominations account
for 8 percent, and Muslims make up 2 percent. Those without a religion
or whose faith is unknown constitute 12 percent of the population.
Austria and the pope have a concordat (agreement) under which the
Roman Catholic Church in Austria receives financial support from
the national government. But Austrians have freedom of worship.
|
