Decibel Shield
European cities › Austria
The loudest cities in Austria, ranked by noise exposure
5 Austria cities make the measured EEA ranking. Vienna leads with exposed-resident Lden of 55–75 dB, while half the country's ranked cities fall at or below Lden 65 dB.
Last updated:
| Austria # | City | Europe # | Lden | Lnight | Source | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vienna | 17 | 55–75 | 45–65 | Road | 1,977,300 |
| 2 | Graz | 24 | 55–75 | 45–65 | Road | 291,000 |
| 3 | Salzburg | 61 | 55–75 | 45–65 | Road | 155,000 |
| 4 | Linz | 118 | 55–70 | 45–60 | Road | 260,300 |
| 5 | Innsbruck | 148 | 55–70 | 45–60 | Road | 144,200 |
Austria's 5 ranked cities are home to 2,827,800 residents. By exposed-resident Lden the field reads Vienna (55–75 dB), Graz (55–75 dB), Salzburg (55–75 dB), Linz (55–70 dB), Innsbruck (55–70 dB), ending at Innsbruck (55–70 dB). The median lands near Lden 65 dB. Road traffic is the dominant source in all 5. The most populous, Vienna at 1,977,300 residents, ranks #17 across Europe with exposed-resident Lden of 55–75 dB. The WHO road-traffic guideline is 53 dB Lden by day and 45 dB Lnight at night, which most of these Austria cities exceed for their noise-exposed residents.
The figures come straight from the country's END strategic noise maps and the EEA's harmonised 2022 dataset — day-evening-night (Lden) exposure for the noise-affected population only. Lnight, the night-time figure, is the level most closely tied to sleep disturbance, which is why the EU reports it separately from the daytime Lden. Open any Austria city below for its full figures, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Austria cities are the noisiest?
By this EEA data the noisiest Austria cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail, aircraft and industrial exposure: Vienna, Graz, Salzburg top the list, led by Vienna at Lden 55–75 dB (road traffic). The full ranking is in the table above.
Austria noise: the numbers
- 5 Austria agglomerations are in the measured European ranking — 14th-most of any country here.
- Loudest: Vienna at exposed-resident Lden 55–75 dB (European #17).
- Quietest ranked: Innsbruck at Lden 55–70 dB; median near Lden 65 dB.
- Road traffic is the dominant source in 5 of the 5.
- Combined population of the 5: 2,827,800.
How this ranking is measured
These are the same measurements behind the European ranking of all 314 cities — the EU Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps (road, rail, aircraft and industry), 2022 reporting round, harmonised by the European Environment Agency, with no estimation by us. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only residents above the 55 dB Lden threshold are reported, so the ranges describe the noise-exposed population.
How loud is your street?
Rankings describe city-wide exposure — your block is its own story. Check it with the free online decibel meter, or open any city above for its full figures.