Updated Country Profile - Austria

Click here to access the updated Reaching the Nations country profile for Austria. The Church organized its first official congregation in Austria in 1901. There are two stakes in the country. Although few in numbers (less than 4,700 members in 2017), Latter-day Saints in Austria are known for their dedication and strength in leadership. For example, most temple presidents for the Freiburg Germany Temple have been Austrians since the late 2000s. Austrians have also served as mission presidents in Europe during the past several decades. Austria appears the most likely candidate for a temple in Europe at present given the long-term presence of the Church in Vienna, distance to the nearest temple, and well-developed local leadership capable of not only staffing local needs, but also serving in international leadership positions. See below for the Future Prospects section of the article:

Long periods of nongrowth or low growth, low convert baptism rates, continued struggles with member activity, decline in seminary attendance to less than half of earlier levels, the reduction in the complement of full-time missionaries serving in Austria, and the consolidation of both congregations and missions since the early 2000s, demonstrate that expansion of church outreach is unlikely in the medium-term future. Austria demonstrates that Church growth is not guaranteed despite an established local Church leadership, a “critical mass” of local membership, freedom to proselyte, the Church obtaining the highest level of government recognition, and over a century of missionary activity. Nevertheless, Vienna appears a likely candidate for a temple one day due to distance to the nearest temple and a well-established, long-term community of strong members and leaders in the city. Church leaders in Europe began to focus on working with youth and young adults during the mid-2000s in an effort to ensure a continued Church presence in the future once aging members pass away. Institute-oriented outreach programs in coordination with member-missionary initiatives appear to be one of the best options for the Church to maintain its current national outreach and presence while attempting to expand. The Church has yet to break out of the trend of no new wards or branches created since the late 1990s. Progress must be made in integrating new converts in greater numbers to ensure as strong of a Church presence in the decades to come.