Upper Austria

Upper Austria is one of the nine states within the Republic of Austria.

It serves as a vital economic and cultural hub for the country. The state's capital is the city of Linz.

Geographically, it shares borders with Germany and the Czech Republic. It also touches several other Austrian states, including Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg. By land area, it is the fourth-largest state in Austria. By population, it ranks as the third-largest. As of 2023, the state had approximately 1.53 million inhabitants.

The history of this region involves many shifting political boundaries. During the era of Roman rule, the land south of the Danube river was part of the province of Noricum. Following the Migration Period, various Germanic peoples moved into the area. In the early medieval period, the expansion of the Avars and Slavs reached the Enns river. Meanwhile, the western parts of modern Upper Austria belonged to the old Bavarians. By the year 788, the Duchy of Bavaria fell under Carolingian rule. This led to the creation of the Avar March as control expanded eastward.

Political identity continued to evolve through the Middle Ages. After the Treaty of Verdun in 843, the region belonged to the East Frankish Realm. However, Hungarian raids caused great devastation during the first half of the 10th century. The region was later consolidated as part of the Stem Duchy of Bavaria within the Holy Roman Empire. Much of the area belonged to the County of Traungau within early medieval Bavaria. In 1156, the March of Austria became the Duchy of Austria under the House of Babenberg. By the mid-13th century, the area was called the Principality above the Enns River.

The House of Habsburg eventually took control of the Duchy of Austria by the end of the 13th century. Over time, the term "Upper Austria" began to be used in different ways. It described western regions above the Enns within Austria proper. It also referred to certain Habsburg lands beyond the main Austrian territory. In 1453, the territory was elevated to the Archduchy of Austria. By 1490, the area above the Enns, centered in Linz, gained provincial autonomy. The region saw religious shifts, including a Protestant majority by 1550 and the Counter-Reformation in the early 17th century.

Modern history brought significant territorial and political changes. In 1779, the Innviertel was ceded from the Electorate of Bavaria to Upper Austria via the Treaty of Teschen. During the Napoleonic Wars, French armies occupied the state on several occasions. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, the name Upper Austria was officially adopted. During World War II, the region became Reichsgau Oberdonau under Nazi Germany. Following the war in 1945, the state was partitioned. The American army occupied the southern zone, while the Soviet army controlled the north.

Today, Upper Austria is the leading industrial region in Austria. It plays a massive role in the national economy. In 2009, the state accounted for about one-quarter of all Austrian exports. The Gross domestic product (GDP) was 65.9 billion € in 2018. This represented 17.1% of the total economic output of Austria. The GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 39,500 € in 2018. This figure is 131% of the average for the EU27.

The state is organized into 15 districts and 438 municipalities. It also contains three statutory cities: Linz, Steyr, and Wels. Historically, the land is divided into four distinct regions. These are the Hausruckviertel, Innviertel, Mühlviertel, and Traunviertel. The population is largely Christian, though religious demographics have changed over time. In 2023, about 800,000 people were Catholic and 43,847 were Protestant. The state constitution supports a united Europe and the principle of subsidiarity. This principle helps ensure that regions maintain their own autonomy while participating in European decisions.