Austria’s population is struggling with inflation and rising living costs. Around 60 percent say this is a major concern, followed by immigration (45 percent) and Austria’s economic situation (44 percent). One quarter of respondents expect an economic recovery only in 2028 or later, while 14 percent see it in the first half of 2027 and another 14 percent do not expect a recovery at all, according to a recent IMAS survey.
As a result, Austrians see economic growth receding further into the future. Compared with the previous year, the share of those who believe recovery will take three years or longer rose by four percentage points. In 2023, only 19 percent thought it would take that long. At the end of 2025, twice as many respondents as in 2024 said they did not expect a recovery at all—14 percent compared with seven percent. By late 2025, 41 percent could still imagine an economic recovery, in varying degrees, by the end of 2027. At the end of 2024, 51 percent had expected the situation to improve by the end of 2026. Concern about key issues has also intensified: inflation and high living costs worry eight and six percentage points more people, respectively, than a year earlier.
Health the top wish for 2026
When asked openly about their wishes for the new year, the most common response—named by nearly one quarter—was simply good health for themselves and their families. Seventeen percent hope their personal living situation will improve. Twelve percent each wish for academic or professional success and an end to inflation. Nine percent hope to take a vacation, and another nine percent want wars to end. Health has been the top wish for years; at the end of 2023, nearly one third named it. The desire for an end to wars declined to nine percent in 2025, down from 17 percent in 2024 and 21 percent in 2023.
IMAS surveyed 1,022 Austrians aged 16 and over in statistically representative, in-person interviews conducted between November 5 and November 26, 2025.
