Compare countries & regions
Austria vs Germany
Austria and Germany side by side — economy, tax, company setup, visas, housing and study, from official and open data.
Austria
Capital time zone: Europe/Vienna
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Germany
Capital time zone: Europe/Berlin
Full guide →
Economy & society
| Metric | Austria | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2024) | 9.18M | 83.52M |
| GDP (current US$) (2024) | $534.79B | $4.69T |
| GDP per capita (2024) | $58,269 | $56,104 |
| GDP growth (annual) (2024) | -0.7% | -0.5% |
| Inflation (annual) (2024) | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Unemployment (2025) | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| FDI net inflows (2024) | $13.66B | $47.60B |
Business & tax
| Metric | Austria | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax General national corporate income tax rate, national surtaxes included — where a surtax starts above a profit threshold (Portugal, France) the rate is a large company's. Sub-national tax is excluded and shown separately where it applies — a cell reading "15.825% +7–20.3% municipal" means the national rate plus a local business tax. "on trading income" and "on distributed profit" mark countries whose headline rate does not reach all profit. | 23% | 15.825% +7–20.3% municipal |
| Top income tax Top marginal rate on employment income, NATIONAL layer only — that is what makes the column comparable. Where a sub-national layer applies it is added to the cell rather than folded into the number, so "20% +29–35% municipal" is Sweden's national rate plus its municipal one. National surtaxes are included (Germany's solidarity surcharge, France's high-income contribution). Social-security contributions are excluded throughout. | 55% | 47.475% |
| Capital gains Default rate on long-term gains from listed securities, for an individual. Varies by asset, holding period and residency. Where one percentage cannot state the answer the cell says so instead: "effective" = a fixed share of the gain is taxed as ordinary income; "on deemed return" = the tax falls on a notional return, not on realised gains; "as income" = there is no separate capital-gains tax; "Varies" = no single general rate; "No general CGT" = individuals are not taxed on capital gains, though gains that are trading in nature and gains realised in a business still can be. "Listed shares exempt" = long-term gains on listed shares are exempt while other gains are taxed. National surtaxes are included; a sub-national layer is shown beside the rate ("+5% local"). | 27.5% | 26.375% |
| VAT / GST Standard statutory rate. Where one percentage cannot state it the cell says so: "effective" = the statutory rate applies to a reduced tax base; "temporary" = a time-limited rate charged instead of the statutory one, with its end date; "by supply" / "by state" = a band structure with no single standard rate; "No VAT or GST" = the tax does not exist there, which is not a 0% rate. Reduced, zero and exempt categories are not shown. A sub-national sales tax, where one applies on top, is shown beside the rate ("+0–10% provincial"). | 20% | 19% |
| Common entity The private limited-liability form most commonly used by foreign founders. | — | GmbH |
| Min. capital Statutory minimum share capital in the local currency, with a USD conversion at the dated reference rate. "None" = no statutory minimum. Often not required to be paid up in full at registration. | — | €25,000 (≈ $28,074 at the 2026-11-06 rate) |
| Registration fee Government registration fee only, converted to USD. Notary, agent and filing services are not included. | — | $800 |
| Processing days Typical registry processing time once a complete filing is accepted — not the end-to-end setup time. | — | 14 |
| Remote setup Whether registration can be completed without the founder being physically present. | — | No |
| Digital nomad visa Whether a dedicated digital-nomad or remote-work visa exists. A country without one may still allow remote work on another status. | No | No |
Figures are headline national values gathered for comparison, not tax or legal advice. Definitions differ between countries — read each row's basis before comparing, and verify against the official authority before acting.
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Frequently asked questions
Which has lower corporate tax, Austria or Germany?
Germany — Austria 23%%, Germany 15.825% +7–20.3% municipal%.
How do VAT rates compare in Austria and Germany?
Austria 20%%, Germany 19%%.
Is Austria or Germany wealthier per capita?
Austria — Austria $58,269, Germany $56,104 (World Bank, 2024/2024).
Do Austria and Germany offer a digital nomad visa?
Neither does.
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