Migration#

Migration: More or less permanent change of residence by an individual or a group of people. A distinction is made between internal migration, immigration and emigration. The extent of such movements has not been determined in terms of exact statistics and can, at least in part, only be estimated. Between 1945 and 1991 approximately 3.8 million persons came to Austria as immigrants, refugees, transmigrants, guest workers or family members. These persons saw Austria as their destination, temporary host country or a country of transit. Some 1.2 million have remained in Austria but many of them will return to their country of origin on reaching retirement age or on account of their inability to find employment. Had it not been for immigration, Austria's resident population would be at least 0.7 million smaller. Inbound and outbound migration are by and large in equilibrium: While the number of foreigners legally resident in Austria is approximately 600,000, more than 430,000 Austrians are resident in foreign countries, mostly in Germany (183,000) and Switzerland (29,000).