(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)