In 1971, Pope Paul VI dubbed Austria an “isola felice,” a happy island, during a visit by the country’s president to the Vatican. Over time, this evolved into “Die Insel der Seligen,” the island of the blessed, characterizing Austria as a picturesque Alpine republic with a rich cultural heritage, a generous welfare state, delectable foods like Kaiserschmarrn, and some of the world’s finest classical music.
Despite the apparent rise of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, which polls suggest is now the country’s dominant political force, a considerable number of Austrians seem to perceive a threat to their way of life, prosperity, and safety. Paradoxically, Austrians remain the most content with life in the European Union (EU), even as their German neighbors rank as the second least satisfied, according to a recent survey by Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency. In 2022, Austrians rated their life satisfaction at an average of 7.9 on a scale of one to ten, significantly higher than the score of 6.5 for Germans and 5.6 for Bulgarians, the least content. Poles, Romanians, and Finns tied for second place with a score of 7.7, just behind Austria.
Austria and Germany grapple with similar challenges, such as a cost-of-living crisis, an aging population, illegal immigration, and growing social polarization. However, Austria has several factors working in its favor that contribute to the overall national optimism. Its national railways are efficient and affordable, unlike Germany’s overcrowded and chronically unpunctual Deutsche Bahn. Austria has successfully digitized significant portions of its public administration, including the health service, whereas Germany lags behind. Austria’s economy is projected to grow this year, in contrast to Germany, which is forecast to remain in recession. Furthermore, Austria bested Germany in football in November.
Vienna, a symbol of Austria’s post-war resurgence as a prosperous and welcoming place, stands in contrast to Berlin, which is perceived as edgier and dirtier than the rest of Germany. According to an annual index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vienna retained its position in 2023 as the world’s most liveable city, scoring nearly full marks with 98.4 out of 100. No German city made it into the top ten, with Berlin and Frankfurt sharing 17th place.