Austria's Budget for 2025
Expenditures of €123.2 billion and revenues of €105.1 billion are projected, resulting in a net financing balance of approximately -€18.1 billion , with a total budget deficit of about 4.5% of GDP. Expenditures will increase by 2.1% overall, while revenues will rise by 3.5% compared to 2024, with a focus on national defense (€4.39 billion in 2025) and consolidation measures intended to gradually reduce the deficit. Expenditures of €123.2 billion and revenues of €105.1 billion are projected, resulting in a net financing balance of approximately €18.1 billion and a total budget deficit of approximately 4.5% of GDP.
• Total disbursements: €123.2 billion (increase of 2.1%)
• Total revenues: €105.1 billion (increase of 3.5%)
• Net financing balance (deficit): approx. €18.1 billion
• General government deficit: approx. 4.5% of GDP
Key expenditure areas
• National defense: Increase in expenditure to €4.39 billion (+8.6%), including investments in air defense and vehicles.
• Education & Integration: €100 million for Offensive 2025 (e.g., German language support, violence prevention); more funding is planned from 2026 onwards.
• Supreme courts (Constitutional Court, Administrative Court): Slight increases in expenditure (e.g., €20.71 million for the Constitutional Court) with simultaneous consolidation contributions.
Details on the Federal Government since 2025
The current Austrian Federal Government consists of the Federal Chancellor, 13 Federal Ministers, and 7 State Secretaries, totaling 21 members (excluding the Federal Chancellor) or 22 (including the Chancellor). The exact composition and responsibilities (departments) can be adjusted through amendments to the Federal Ministries Act. The government is elected by the National Council and comprises the Federal Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Federal Ministers. State Secretaries support the Ministers. Annual Costs (excluding expense allowances):
• One Federal Chancellor: €23,840.00 per month x 14 = €333,760.00
• 13 Federal Ministers: €247,000.00 per month x 14 = €3,458,000.00
• 7 State Secretaries: €119,000.00 per month x 14 = €1,666,000.00
• Annual Total: €5,457,760.00
Details of Total Disbursements 2025 (in million euros)
• Total: €123,200.00
• 1. Law and Security:
• Presidential Chancellery: €12.7 million
• Federal Legislature: €284.8 million
• Constitutional Court: €20.7 million
• Administrative Court: €27.6 million
• Ombudsman's Office 15.7
• Court of Auditors 48.6
• Federal Chancellery 626.2
• Interior 4,155.1
• Foreign Affairs 655.7
• Justice 2,402.7
• Military Affairs 4,390.8
• Federal Finance Administration 1,559.9
• Housing, Media, Telecommunications and Sport 434.0
• Immigration 693.9
• 2. Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Family:
• Labor 10,345.4
• Social Affairs and Consumer Protection 5,799.5
• Pension Insurance 19,446.8
• Pensions - Civil Servants 13,428.0
• Health 2,840.2
• Family and Youth 8,991.6
• 3. Education, Research, Arts and Culture:
• Education 11,996.1
• Science and Research 7,272.8
• Arts and Culture 670.7
• Economics (Research) 228.5
• Innovation and Technology (Research) 627.1
• 4. Economy, Infrastructure, and Environment:
• Economy 1,366.1
• Mobility 6,029.5
• Agriculture, Forestry, Regulation, and Water Management 2,840.3
• Environment, Climate and Circular Economy 2,193.1
• Fiscal Equalization 3,907.9
• Federal Assets 1,536.9
• Financial Market Stability 0.3 •
5. Cash and Interest:
• Financing, Currency Exchange Agreements 8,384.0
Details Total Revenue 2025 (in million euros)
• Total 105,100.0
• Value Added Tax 40,100.0
• Wage Tax 37,200.0
• Corporation Tax 12,100.0
• Capital Gains Tax 5,500.0
• Income Tax 4,500.00
• Mineral Oil Tax 3,700.0
• Other Taxes 14,300.0
• Other Fees 18,900.0
• Outgoing transfers – 31,200.0
Other details on expenditures in 2025
Unemployment:
An average of 317,540 people were registered as unemployed in 2025. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 7% (registered rate) in August 2025.
The unemployment rate for young people (15- to 24-year-old) was 11.5%, while the unemployment rate for older people (55 years and older) was 4.1%.
People with non-Austrian citizenship were particularly affected by unemployment (12.1%).
Due to the increased unemployment, expenditures in Austria's labor market budget for 2025 rose to approximately €10.35 billion. This represents an increase of about €164 million, or 1.6%, compared to 2024.
Pensions:
In 2025, approximately 1,850,000 people were receiving a pension. Of these, 260,000 are civil servants. Expenditure in billions: €13.428 billion.
For other pensioners, i.e., 1,590,000 people, expenditure in billions: €19.447 billion.
Thus, there is a significant difference per person between retired civil servants and other pensioners.
Asylum seekers:
From 2015 to 2025, Austria received 449,426 asylum applications, according to Statistics Austria. Approximately 50% of asylum applications are granted. Most asylum seekers live in Vienna, as they receive higher levels of financial support there. A proposed, unified Austrian support model has not yet been implemented. The costs for asylum seekers in 2025 amounted to €694 million.
Military:
Compared to 2024, the military budget was increased by 12% to €4.4 billion. Although the European Union has initiated an excessive deficit procedure against Austria, it advocates for higher spending, which means a higher deficit.
Question:
What lessons have the governing parties in Austria (see also the report "Austria Recession 2023–2025") learned from the past, and what are they doing to improve the situation for Austrian citizens?