Information and statistics

Area
(in km²)

Population

Unemployment
rate

Administrative
division

Capital

The Styrian capital is Graz with a population of about 290,000 inhabitants as of 2008 (of which 252,852 have principal residence status).

Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000 students. Graz's "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003.
Graz is the biggest economic centre in Styria and the third biggest in Austria. About 40% of the economic output of the province of Styria is generated in and around Graz.
Due to its position south east of the Alps, Graz is shielded from the prevailing westerly winds that bring weather fronts in from the North Atlantic to north western and central Europe. Due to this factor Graz is Mediterranean influenced. Graz therefore has more hours of sunshine per year than Vienna or Salzburg and also less wind or rain.

Main cities

Bruck an der Mur: It is located at the confluence of the Mur and Mürz Rivers.  It is an important rail junction in the region. The city has 13,333 inhabitants (2005) and land area of 38.40 km². Impressive cultural monuments as the Kornmesserhaus building, the iron fountain or the church and the former monastery with its late Gothic frescos are typical of the architecture of this historical old town.

Deutschlandsberg: It covers an area of 24 km² and has a population of 8,201 (2005). It is located in southern Austria, near Slovenia and is approx. 35 km from Graz. Popular tourist attractions in that area include the Deutschlandsberg Castle. Vineyards are also characteristic of Deutschlandsberg; it is the town with the largest Schilcher vineyards of western Styria.

Feldbach: It is located in the valley around the river Raab. The city has 4,766 inhabitants (2005) and land area of 3.2 km². With a great history going back as far as to the Stone Age, it has become a modern shopping city. The Tabor, a medieval church castle built in 1474, is a unique sight. Today it hosts several museums.

Judenburg: It is located on the western end of the Aichfeld at the banks of the River Mur. The name of the town literally means Castle of Jews, referring to the town's origin as a trading outpost for trade across the Alps, in which Jews played an important role at the time. Today Judenburg is an industrial and trade centre, with 9,619 inhabitants (2005) and land area of 13.22 km².

Knittelfeld: It is located on the banks of the Mur river. The name of the town has become notorious for the Knittelfeld Putsch of September 7, 2002, a party meeting of the Freedom Party of Austria, which resulted in the 2002 Austrian elections. The city has 12,740 inhabitants (2005) and land area of 4.53 km².

Leibnitz: It is located to the south of the city of Graz, between the Mur and Sulm rivers. Leibnitz acts as a cultural, educational, judicial and economic focus for the surrounding district. It has 7,395 inhabitants (2005) and land area of 5.96 km².

Leoben: It is located on the Mur river. With a population of 25,227 (2005), Leoben is a local industrial centre and hosts the University of Leoben which specializes in mining. The city’s land area is of 107.74 km².

Liezen: It is an economic center on the River Enns. Liezen covers a surface of 56.36 km2 and has a population of 6,990 people, as of the 2005 census. The town is located at 664 meters above sea level.

Mürzzuschlag: With a population of 9,241 (2005) and a land area of 12.26 km2, it is a popular ski-resort town with tourists from all over the world. It is home of the world's largest skiing and wintersports museum.

Murau: It has a population of 2,191 (2005) and a land area of 10.57 km2 . During the Second World War a camp for the German armed forces was located here, in which captured British prisoners of war had been kept.

Bad Radkersburg: It is located at an elevation of 208 m and covers an area of 2.17 km². Its population amounts to about 1,442 (2005) people. Bad Radkersburg is known for its thermal bath. This and the longest sunshine duration in Austria make the town an attractive site of tourism with 100.000 stays per year. Surrounded by bulwarks and bastions, this town was awarded the European gold medal for the preservation of historical monuments in 1978.

Voitsberg: It is a small city, with a population of 10,074 (2001) and a land area of  28.53 km². It grew upon the St. Margaret church at the Tregistbach river.

Weiz: Is a small town of 8,799 inhabitants (2005) and a land area of 5.07km². It is located in the middle of a district that is characterized by a variety of landscapes ranging from the Fischbacher Alps to the fertile plains of the Raabtal valley.