Demographics Of Kitzbühel
Rising 762 meters above sea level, Kitzbühel is part of the Kitzbühel Alps. Covering 58 square kilometres, it features 45% of the land covered in forests, 15% in agriculture, and 3% in urban development. One of the most well-known ski locations worldwide, Kitzbühel draws millions of guests yearly. Considered among the most elite and challenging events in the Alpine Ski World Cup, the annual Hahnenkamm race takes place here.
Based on the current census figures, Kitzbühel boasts a population of 5,111 people with a median age of 47.6 years. The population is split 46.3% men and 53.7% women. Less than the national average of 107, the population density is 88 persons per square kilometer. While the hilly areas are lightly populated, most people live in the metropolitan core and the nearby towns. Population distribution is not equal.
| Demographic Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Total population | 5,111 |
| Population density | 88 people per km² |
| Population growth rate | 0.5% per year |
| Median age | 47.6 years |
| Sex ratio | 86.2 males per 100 females |
| Austrian citizens | 85.8% |
| Foreign nationals | 14.2% |
| Main languages | German (94.8%), Serbian (1.4%), Turkish (0.9%) |
| Main religions | Roman Catholic (75.9%), Protestant (3.9%), Muslim (2.4%) |
| Tertiary education | 23.9% |
| Secondary education | 45.4% |
| Primary education | 30.7% |
| Employed | 47.5% |
| Unemployed | 5.1% |
| Not in the labor force | 47.4% |
| Main occupational sectors | Services (82.4%), Industry (13.6%), Agriculture (4%) |
| Average per capita income | 32,000 euros |
| Gini coefficient | 0.4 |
| Single-person households | 36.8% |
| Two-person households | 35.4% |
| Three-person households | 13.7% |
| Four-person households | 10.6% |
| Five-person or more households | 3.5% |
| Internal migration | 10% |
| External migration | 10% |
| Married | 43.8% |
| Single | 40.5% |
| Divorced | 11.9% |
| Widowed | 3.8% |
Population Growth Trends
Depending on the social and economic situation, Kitzbühel’s population has been varying throughout the years. With 5,636 individuals, the population peaked in 1991; but, the recession and young people’s outmigration caused a fall to 4,838 in 2001. Thanks to the immigration and retirements, the population has somewhat recovered since then; in 2020 it will be 5,111. Still modest, though, at 0.5% annually, the population growth rate compares to the national average of 0.8%.
The net migration (immigrants less emigrants) and the natural increase (births less deaths) define the main causes of population increase or reduction. Kitzbühel’s natural growth is negative, hence more deaths than births are expected. With 38 births and 71 deaths in 2020, 33 persons naturally dropped from the total. In Kitzbühel, net migration is positive—that is, more immigrants than emigrants. There were 141 emigrants and 247 immigrants in 2020, so producing a net increase of 106 persons. Other regions of Austria, Germany, and Eastern Europe are the main immigrant sources.
Age Distribution
Kitzbühel boasts a low percentage of young people and a large concentration of senior citizens, therefore reflecting the aging population. 47.6 years is the median age; it is more than the national average of 44.3 years. The population’s age distribution shows as follows:
- 0-14 years: 11.4% (582 people)
- 15-64 years: 61.5% (3,144 people)
- 65 years and over: 27.1% (1,385 people)
Population aging affects community dynamics including demand for social services, education, healthcare, and leisure as well as other aspects. It presents difficulties for the pension system, the labor market, and the economic growth as well.
Gender Ratio
Kitzbühel boasts a lopsided gender ratio, with more women than men. Less than the national average of 96.9, the sex ratio is 86.2 men for every 100 women. In the elder age groups, where women outnumber men by a great margin, the gender imbalance is particularly evident. For the 65 years and over age group, for instance, there are 64.4 men for every 100 women. The main cause of the gender difference is the 84.7 years female life expectancy compared to 79.9 years for men.
Kitzbühel’s gender ratio has certain effects on the social and financial spheres of the people. For some groups of people, for example, particularly for elderly women, there can be a scarcity of possible partners. Men and women could also have different income levels, work prospects, and purchasing behaviors.
Ethnic Diversity
Kitzbühel boasts a quite varied population with people from many ethnicities and nations. The 2020 census shows 14.2% of the population are foreign nationals and 85.8% are Austrian nationals. The foreign nationals mostly originate from Germany (4.3%), Romania (1.9%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1.4%), Serbia (1.4%), and Turkey (0.9%). Kitzbühel’s ethnic variety reflects both the town’s appeal as a residential region and a tourist attraction as well as the historical and modern migration trends.
Kitzbühel’s ethnic variety affects both the local customs and culture as well as population social cohesiveness and integration. On the one hand, the ethnic variety enhances the cultural scene by providing a range of languages, cuisines, music, art, celebrations, and so forth. Conversely, the ethnic variety could also bring various difficulties including discrimination, linguistic restrictions, cultural conflicts, and segregation.
Languages Spoken
People in Kitzbühel speak many languages and dialects; the town is multilingual. German is Kitzbühel’s official language; 94.8% of the population speaks German either first or second language. Though it is a local variety of the Bavarian dialect with some unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and syntax, the German spoken in Kitzbühel is not the standard German. The languages of neighbors, like Italian and Slovenian, also shape the Bavarian dialect.
Apart from German, additional languages are spoken in Kitzbühel mostly by the visitors and the international residents. Spoken in Kitzbühel, the most often occurring foreign languages are Serbian (1.4%), Turkish (0.9%), English (0.8%), Croatian (0.7%), and Italian (0.6%). The languages used in Kitzbühel reflect the ethnic variety and global appeal of the town as well as the educational and work experience of the people.
Educational Attainment
The people of Kitzbühel have a well-educated background and high degrees of education attained by the citizens. The 2020 census shows 45.4% of those aged 15 and over have completed secondary education (high school or vocational school), 23.9% have completed tertiary education (university or college), and 30.7% have completed primary education (elementary school or lower). With regard to tertiary education, 43.9% for secondary education, and 36.3% for elementary education, the population’s educational level exceeds the national average, at 19.8%.
The population’s educational level has certain consequences for the social and financial spheres of the municipality. The great degree of education, for example, could point to a high degree of human capital, which would improve the local economy’s competitiveness, output, and inventiveness. It might also show a strong degree of public civic consciousness, respect of culture, and social involvement among people.
Occupation Profiles
Working in many fields and industries, Kitzbühel boasts a varied and vibrant occupational profile. The 2020 census shows that 47.5% of those 15 years of age and over are working, 5.1% are unemployed, and 47.4% are not in the labor force—that is, homemakers, students, retirees, etc.).
Sector-based employment distribution looks like this:
- Services: 82.4% (2,021 people)
- Industry: 13.6% (334 people)
- Agriculture: 4% (98 people)
Kitzbühel’s primary employment areas are tourism, trade, health, education, and public administration. About 40% of all jobs and about 60% of all cash generated come from the tourism industry. With capacity of more over 10,000 beds, Kitzbühel boasts over 200 hotels, guesthouses, and residences. To meet the needs and tastes of the guests, the town also boasts several restaurants, bars, cafés, stores, and entertainment venues. Highly seasonal, the travel industry sees highs in winter and summer and lows in spring and autumn. Particularly in the service and hotel sectors, the travel industry also generates great need for employees. The travel industry does, however, also have several difficulties including environmental damage, rivalry from other locations, reliance on outside variables including the weather, the economy, and the epidemic.
Income Distribution
With an average per capita income of 32,000 euros—above the national average of 25,000 euros—Kitzbühel boasts a high income level. Kitzbühel does, however, also exhibit significant income inequality, with a Gini value of 0.4—above the national average of 0.3. Measures of income distribution, the Gini coefficient runs from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality). Kitzbühel boasts an income distribution like this:
- Lowest 20%: 7% of the total income
- Second 20%: 10% of the total income
- Third 20%: 14% of the total income
- Fourth 20%: 20% of the total income
- Highest 20%: 49% of the total income
Kitzbühel’s income distribution captures the social and economic inequalities among many population groups. For example, the income levels of the immigrants and the residents differ greatly; the men and the women differ; the young and the old differ; and the several vocational sectors differ as well. Furthermore influencing the purchase patterns, saving behavior, and population living standards is Kitzbühel’s income distribution.
