(pop. 395,000)
Other Cities/towns:
Adelaide,
Alice Springs,
Brisbane (1.6 million)
Darwin,
Hobart,
Melbourne (3.5 million),
Sydney (4.2 million),
Perth (1.3 million)
Government:
Democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign.
Constitution:
9 July, 1900.
Independence (federation): 1 January 1901.
Geography:
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.
Area: 7.7 million km² (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of the 48 contiguous
United States.
Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying plateaus with deserts; fertile plain in southeast.
Climate:
Relatively dry, ranging from temperate in the south to tropical in the north.
People:
Nationality: Australian(s).
Population: 27.1 million (2024)
Real GDP per capita: $59,500 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups: English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, only 2.9% Australian Aboriginal.
Religions: Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 21%, other non-Christian 5%, no religion 15%.
Languages: English
(official), Italian 12,4%, Greek 9.2 %, Cantonese 7.9 %, only 51,000 people speaking
an Australian Indigenous Language at home.
Literacy: 88%.
Transparency: Rank 11 (out of 180 countries); Score 77, on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).
Australia is ranked in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 between
Luxembourg and
Canada.
Natural resources:
Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten,
mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum.
Agriculture products:
Wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry.
Industries:
Mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel.
Exports - commodities: coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery, and transport equipment.
Exports partners: China 29%,
Japan 19%,
South Korea 10%,
India 7%,
Taiwan 6% (2022)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment, and parts; crude oil and petroleum products.
Imports partners: China 28%,
United States 10%, South Korea 6%, Japan 6%,
Singapore 5% (2022)
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
(Source: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CIA The World Factbook and others)
Administrative Map of Australia
Topographic Map of Australia
Google
Earth Map Australia
Geoscience Australia
Fimiston Open Pit gold mine at Kalgoorlie, also known as Super Pit gold mine, was Australia's largest open-cut gold mine until 2016 when the Western Australian Newmont Boddington gold mine surpassed it.
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
Wikipedia: Australia
