Upper Austria has Austria’s second-lowest per-capita debt
Wednesday 2nd September 2026 on 12:15 in
Austria
Upper Austria has the second-lowest per-capita debt among Austria’s federal states, according to a recent analysis by Statistics Austria reported by ORF. At 3,336 euros per resident, it trails only Tyrol and is well below the figures recorded in Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland.
When the debt of the federal states and municipalities is calculated per resident, the figures show a wide gap between Austria’s states. Styria has the highest per-capita debt at 8,611 euros, followed by Carinthia at 8,201 euros and Burgenland at 7,783 euros.
Lower Austria and Vienna also recorded relatively high levels, at 7,507 and 7,342 euros respectively. The figures were 5,012 euros in Vorarlberg and 4,297 euros in Salzburg. Tyrol had the lowest per-capita debt, at 3,285 euros, followed by Upper Austria.
Upper Austria Governor Thomas Stelzer of the Austrian People’s Party said the figures confirmed the state’s financial policy. “Those who pay attention to sound finances in good time do not have to respond later with austerity programmes,” Stelzer said in a statement.
Instead of financing additional debt and interest payments, Upper Austria could invest in jobs, infrastructure, education, healthcare and competitiveness, Stelzer said. He also pointed to the state’s introduction of a statutory debt brake in 2018, which was developed into a debt cap during the crises of recent years. According to Stelzer, Upper Austria is also the only federal state to meet the Maastricht criteria.
Tyrol Governor Anton Mattle of the Austrian People’s Party also welcomed the figures. Speaking to the Austria Press Agency, Mattle said Tyrol was “different when it comes to finances” and that its position as the state with the lowest per-capita debt proved the government right. Tyrol would continue its financial policy and aim to remain “the financial model pupil in Austria”, he said.
The Statistics Austria data cover the debt position as of March 31, 2026, calculated under the European System of National and Regional Accounts. They also include state chambers and extra-budgetary entities, meaning legally independent institutions and companies spun off by a federal state.