Population: In May 1991 census, population 7,795,786.

Language: Of native-born population, 99 percent Germanspeaking with small minorities speaking Serbo-Croatian or Slovenian.

Religion: Of native-born and foreign-born population combined, about 78 percent Roman Catholic, 5 percent Protestant, 8 percent other (includes Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox), and 9 percent no denomination.

Education: Public elementary, secondary, and higher education free nine years compulsory. By ninth year, students usually in preuniversity academic schools or vocational education. Literacy 99 percent for population over age fifteen.

Health and Welfare: Social insurance covers all wageearners and salaried employees, self-employed workers, and dependents. Coverage compulsory. State-required health insurance covers 99 percent of population. In 1990 average life expectancy almost seventy-six years (seventy-two for males and seventy-nine for females).

Data as of December 1993