Population, Mid-Year 2019: 8,955,000
Projected Population Mid-Year 2030: 9,176,000
Percentage of Population Under Age 25 Years, Mid-Year 2019: 25%
Percentage of Population 65 Years Or Over, Mid-Year 2019: 19%

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Data Booklet (ST/ESA/SER.A/424).

Share Of The Population Aged Over 65, 2019: 18.8%
Projected Share Of The Population Aged Over 65, 2050: 27.6%
Share Of The Population Aged Over 80, 2019: 5.0%
Projected Share Of The Population Aged Over 80, 2050: 11.2%
Adults Aged 65 And Over Rating Their Own Health As Fair, Poor, Or Very Poor, 2019 (%): 55.1%
Estimated Prevalence Of Dementia Per 1,000 Population, 2021: 18.5
Projected Prevalence Of Dementia Per 1,000 Population, 2050: 33.4

Source: OECD (2021), Health at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ae3016b9-en.

“In line with the “rehabilitation before pension” principle, medical and vocational rehabilitation measures to help older workers who have suffered health impairments were intensified in 2009. Older workers who have suffered health impairments are first eligible for medical rehabilitation measures, before undergoing vocational qualification as a second step in the process. The content and duration of the vocational qualification measure are tailored to each participant’s background, and psychological and sociopedagogical support is also offered. It is the role of the new central occupational health assessment unit “Health Road” (Gesundheitsstrasse), operating nationwide since 2011, to ascertain the work ability of people with diverse health impairments. The aim of the unit is to ensure reciprocal recognition of medical assessments made by the authorities concerned (i.e. the PES and pension insurance institution). This should accelerate procedures and ensure continuous support when a person in poor health remains active in the labour market. An evaluation carried out in 2012 (Hausegger and Reidl, 2012) concluded that the effectiveness of this the unit’s work is limited as long as vocational rehabilitation measures are not implemented on a larger scale. The evaluation suggested that assessments and advice should take a more holistic approach and should offer possible pathways and opportunities for vocational development.

“The study also recommended promoting earlier detection of health problems, as many people who were assessed had already experienced long periods of unemployment. As part of the disability pension scheme reform in 2014, a common “Competence Centre Assessment” (Kompetenzzentrum Begutachtung) was established at the pension insurance institution that is responsible for implementing the “Health Road”. A PES specialist may be included in the assessment process.⁶ In 2014 some 7 000 people were assessed, of which 79% were regarded as capable of working (Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich, 2015). In 2017 an “Early intervention” measure was introduced, whereby people are given an appointment with a case manager by the health insurance after 28 days of sick leave. The basic idea is to strengthen the principle “prevention and rehabilitation before pension”. The aim is to intervene as early as possible, as soon as a severe health problem is recognised. Additional integrated measures combining medical and vocational rehabilitation were introduced by the same law (SVÄG 2017). These reforms are in the right direction.”

Source: OECD (2018). Key Policies To Promote Longer Working Lives: Austria. Country Note 2007 to 2017. OECD Publishing, Paris.

Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated Nov. 11, 2022 by Doug McVay, Editor.