Austrian economy among top 3 in EU

The Austrian economy blossomed last year. According to the latest data from the EU statistics office, Eurostat , Austria took an impressive third place for 2011 in a direct comparison of GDP per capita in the countries of the European Union (EU), with 129% of the EU average. Austria had only come fifth in 2010.

As in previous years, Luxembourg is once again top by a considerable margin. In 2011 the country generated a value of 274%, which is more than two-and-a-half times the EU average. The Netherlands came second: with GDP per head of 131% of the EU average, they were just ahead of Austria.

Other prosperity indicators such as unemployment rates or the trade balance further cement this position: Austria has the lowest unemployment in the EU and the trade balance has been continously positive for the past ten years.

Bulgaria comes bottom of the table with per-capita GDP of just 45% of the EU average. In Italy and Spain the GDP per head is around the EU average.