Vienna – Population Dynamics and Urban Expansion in the 19th Century

Abstract

As the capital of the Habsburg monarchy from the beginning of the 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War, Vienna experienced a huge increase in population. This affected both the city’s urban sprawl and population dynamics. In 1910 the population of Vienna was more than 2 million, but by 1980 had subsequently fallen by half a million. Parallel to the strong population growth, the settlement area of the city and its suburbs increased rapidly in size. While the basic structure of the city remained in place, the area between the city and the suburbs experienced a significant change.

A comparison between a photo taken at the end of the 18th century and a satellite image from 2000 clearly shows that the old urban structures are still recognisable today. Typical and characteristic of a plan of a European city is the development of zonular expansion and the inclusion of villages in its urban expansion.

At the turn of the 20th century, Vienna was a melting pot of people of different languages and origins. Subsequently, Czechs and Slovaks have been recognised as minorities in the Austrian state.