Austria is a European nation with a population of approximately 9.2 million people, with almost 27% of the population having a migration background. It is famous for being one of the most prosperous economies of the nations in the EU. The nation is highly developed with important industries being food and luxury commodities, mechanical engineering and vehicle manufacturing. The capital of Austria, Vienna, is the country’s most famous city and the most popular tourist attraction. Vienna ranked as one of the top cities in the world for global quality of living. Austria has successfully combatted hunger and continues to do so. Here are six interesting facts about hunger in Austria.

6 Facts about Hunger in Austria

1. Children, single parents and unemployed people are at high risk of poverty. The number of working poor increased to 331,000 (3.6% of the population) in 2023. Elderly women also experience disproportionately high poverty rates., Addressing hunger can indirectly address poverty. 
2. Europe’s “organic farming country no. 1.” The first organic farm in the world was registered in Austria in 1927, and the country boasts the first national regulations for organic farming. Organic farms comprise 20% of Austria’s farmland and 16% of its agricultural holdings. 
3. Environmental protection is an extremely important item on the nation’s political agenda. Austria has prioritized the availability of clean drinking water throughout the country and, as a result of implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, the water quality in Austria’s lakes was raised to “excellent levels.” The Ministry of Agriculture has worked with the Federal Provinces on a “national concept” to rehabilitate protective forests. And the country is regarded as a pioneer within the European Union in the management of natural resources.  
4. Austria has high food security and low undernourishment rates compared to other nations. The nation is the 12th most food-secure ranked country. The Global Food Security Index 2022 reported 2.5% undernourishment for Austria, with the country above the mean average for the 113 countries in the index on almost all of the 30 metrics comprising the score: affordability, availability, quality and safety and sustainability and adaptation. 
5. Austria and the Food Assistance Convention. Austria joined the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) in 2013. Two federal ministries, along with the Austrian Development Agency, are responsible for international food aid. Austria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management signed a strategic partnership agreement with the U.N.’s World Food Programme for 2023-2025, to focus on increasing the WFP’s budget allocation. 
6. Austria has been a member of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization since 1947. The FAO reports 4.9% moderate or severe food insecurity in Austria as a three-year average from 2021-2023. FAC-eligible food assistance projects are implemented through FAO (as well as WFP). 

Austria has thus focused on keeping its own citizens fed while trying to help other nations address their rates of hunger as well. 

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: August 20, 2024