Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the Allied effort in World Wars I and II.
In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its location in one of the fastest growing regions of the world economy. Long-term concerns include an aging population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, making it particularly vulnerable to the challenges of climate change. Australia is home to 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world.
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
27 00 S, 133 00 E
Oceania
total: 7,741,220 sq km
land: 7,682,300 sq km
water: 58,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
0 km
25,760 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
mean elevation: 330 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports
agricultural land: 53.4%
arable land 6.2%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 47.1%
forest: 19.3%
other: 27.3% (2011 est.)
25,500 sq km (2012)
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
volcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural freshwater resources
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders; the only continent without glaciers; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world
1.05% (2016 est.)
22,992,654 (July 2016 est.)
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
English 25.9%, Australian 25.4%, Irish 7.5%, Scottish 6.4%, Italian 3.3%, German 3.2%, Chinese 3.1%, Indian 1.4%, Greek 1.4%, Dutch 1.2%, other 15.8% (includes Australian aboriginal .5%), unspecified 5.4%
note: data represents self-identified ancestry, over a third of respondents reported two ancestries (2011 est.)
English 76.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Greek 1.2%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.1%, other 10.4%, unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
Protestant 30.1% (Anglican 17.1%, Uniting Church 5.0%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.8%, Baptist, 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Pentecostal 1.1%, other Protestant 1.3%), Catholic 25.3% (Roman Catholic 25.1%, other Catholic 0.2%), other Christian 2.9%, Orthodox 2.8%, Buddhist 2.5%, Muslim 2.2%, Hindu 1.3%, other 1.3%, none 22.3%, unspecified 9.3% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 17.84% (male 2,105,433/female 1,997,433)
15-24 years: 12.96% (male 1,528,993/female 1,451,340)
25-54 years: 41.55% (male 4,862,591/female 4,691,975)
55-64 years: 11.82% (male 1,347,780/female 1,369,501)
65 years and over: 15.82% (male 1,684,339/female 1,953,269) (2016 est.)
total dependency ratio: 50.9%
youth dependency ratio: 28.2%
elderly dependency ratio: 22.7%
potential support ratio: 4.4% (2015 est.)
total: 38.6 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 39.4 years (2016 est.)
12.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
7.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
5.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
urban population: 89.4% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sydney 4.505 million; Melbourne 4.203 million; Brisbane 2.202 million; Perth 1.861 million; Adelaide 1.256 million; CANBERRA (capital) 423,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
9.4% of GDP (2014)
total population: 82.2 years
male: 79.8 years
female: 84.8 years (2016 est.)
1.77 children born/woman (2016 est.)
72.3%
note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2005)
3.27 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2010)
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
0.16% (2015 est.)
26,900 (2015 est.)
200 (2015 est.)
29.9% (2014)
0.2% (2007)
5.3% of GDP (2013)
total: 20 years
male: 20 years
female: 21 years (2013)
30.5 (2006 est.)
total: 13.3%
male: 14.1%
female: 12.5% (2014 est.)
parliamentary democracy (Federal Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 16 S, 149 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
note: Australia has three time zones
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901; amended several times, last in 1977; note - a referendum to amend the constitution to reflect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 is planned for early 2017 (2016)
common law system based on the English model
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Malcolm TURNBULL (since 15 September 2015); Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby JOYCE (since 18 February 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general
description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 each from the 2 mainland territories; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of state membership renewed every 3 years and territory membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote; members serve terms of up to 3 years)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 July 2016; House of Representatives - last held on 2 July 2016; this election represents a rare double dissolution where all 226 seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives are up for reelection
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party NA - awaiting final results; seats by party NA - awaiting final results; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party Liberal/National Coalition 42.14%, ALP 34.91%, The Greens 9.93%, Katter's Australian Party 0.55%, Nick Xenophon Team 1.86%, independents 2.85%; seats by party Liberal/National Coalition 77, ALP 68, The Greens 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Nick Xenophon Team 1, independents 2
highest court(s): High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); note - each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court beyond the state and territory supreme courts
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: subordinate courts: subordinate courts at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Magistrates' Courts of Australia; Family Court; subordinate courts at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island
Southern Cross constellation (composed of five stars: four large seven-pointed stars, one small five-pointed star), kangaroo, emu; national colors: green, gold
Australian Greens Party [Richard DI NATALE]
Australian Labor Party [Bill SHORTEN]
Country Liberal Party or CLP [Gary HIGGINS]
Family First Party [Bob DAY]
Katter's Australian Party [Bob KATTER]
Liberal National Party of Queensland or LNP [Timothy NICHOLLS]
Liberal Party [Malcolm TURNBULL]
National Party of Australia [Barnaby JOYCE]
Palmer United Party or PUP [Clive PALMER]
other: business groups, environmental groups, social groups, trade unions
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph Benedict HOCKEY (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
chief of mission: Ambassador Morrell John BERRY (since 25 September 2013)
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small, five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars
name: "Advance Australia Fair"
lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK
note: adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem was not used for all official occasions until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" is also played at Royal functions (see United Kingdom)
2% (2016 est.)
Following two decades of continuous growth, low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system, Australia enters 2017 facing a range of growth constraints, principally driven by the sharp fall in global p
The services sector is the largest part of the Australian economy, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of jobs. Australia was comparatively unaffected by the global financial crisis as the banking system has remained strong and inflation is under cont
Australia benefited from a dramatic surge in its terms of trade in recent years, although this trend has reversed due to falling global commodity prices. Australia is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Australia's abundant and
Australia is an open market with minimal restrictions on imports of goods and services. The process of opening up has increased productivity, stimulated growth, and made the economy more flexible and dynamic. Australia plays an active role in the World Tr
$1.189 trillion (2016 est.)
$1.156 trillion (2015 est.)
$1.128 trillion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
$1.257 trillion (2015 est.)
2.9% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)
2.7% (2014 est.)
$48,800 (2016 est.)
$48,300 (2015 est.)
$47,800 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
21.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
22.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
23.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
household consumption: 58.5%
government consumption: 18.7%
investment in fixed capital: 24.3%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 19.4%
imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 28.2%
services: 68.2% (2016 est.)
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
12.63 million (2016 est.)
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.1%
services: 75.3% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2016 est.)
6.1% (2015 est.)
NA%
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
30.3 (2008)
35.2 (1994)
revenues: $420.5 billion
expenditures: $446.4 billion (2016 est.)
33.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
-2.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
46.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
44.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
1 July - 30 June
1.4% (2016 est.)
1.5% (2015 est.)
3% (28 February 2013)
4.35% (31 December 2010)
note: this is the Reserve Bank of Australia's "cash rate target," or policy rate
5.1% (31 December 2016 est.)
5.58% (31 December 2015 est.)
$245.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$223.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.661 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.648 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
$2.158 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.986 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.187 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.289 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.366 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
-$43.85 billion (2016 est.)
-$57.98 billion (2015 est.)
$184.3 billion (2016 est.)
$188.3 billion (2015 est.)
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
China 32.2%, Japan 15.9%, South Korea 7.1%, US 5.4%, India 4.2% (2015)
$203.1 billion (2016 est.)
$207.7 billion (2015 est.)
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
China 23%, US 11.2%, Japan 7.4%, South Korea 5.5%, Thailand 5.1%, Germany 4.6% (2015)
$54.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$49.27 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.692 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.524 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)
$614.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$582.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$441.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$437.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.352 (2016 est.)
1.3291 (2015 est.)
1.3291 (2014 est.)
1.1094 (2013 est.)
0.97 (2012 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
235 billion kWh (2014 est.)
224 billion kWh (2014 est.)
0 kWh (2013 est.)
0 kWh (2013 est.)
67 million kW (2014 est.)
78.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
12.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
7.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
322,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
248,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
332,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
1.2 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)
481,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
1.116 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
42,730 bbl/day (2015 est.)
546,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
62.64 billion cu m (2014 est.)
38.51 billion cu m (2014 est.)
31.61 billion cu m (2014 est.)
6.938 billion cu m (2014 est.)
860.8 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)
385 million Mt (2013 est.)
total subscriptions: 9.08 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (July 2015 est.)
total: 31.77 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (July 2015 est.)
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile telephones
international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber-optic submarine cable provides links to NZ and the US; satellite earth stations - 10 (2015)
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadc (2008)
.au
total: 19.238 million
percent of population: 84.6% (July 2015 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 11
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 175
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 69,294,187
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,887,295,820 mt-km (2015)
VH (2016)
480 (2013)
total: 349
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 155
914 to 1,523 m: 155
under 914 m: 14 (2013)
total: 131
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 101
under 914 m: 14 (2013)
1 (2013)
condensate/gas 637 km; gas 30,054 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,609 km; oil/gas/water 110 km; refined products 72 km (2013)
total: 36,967.5 km
broad gauge: 3,727 km 1.600-m gauge (372 km electrified)
standard gauge: 18,727 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,513.5 km 1.067-m gauge (2,075.5 km electrified) (2014)
total: 823,217 km
paved: 356,343 km
unpaved: 466,874 km (2011)
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2011)
total: 41
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 7, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 5, Germany 2, Singapore 2, South Africa 1, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries: 25 (Bahamas 1, Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 4, Singapore 12, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1) (2010)
major seaport(s): Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Gladstone, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Kembla, Sydney
dry bulk cargo port(s): Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore)
container port(s) (TEUs): Brisbane (1,004,983), Melbourne (2,467,967), Sydney (2,028,074)(2011)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Darwin, Karratha, Burrup, Curtis Island
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force), Royal Australian Air Force, Joint Operations Command (JOC) (2013)
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013)
1.71% of GDP (2012)
1.84% of GDP (2011)
1.71% of GDP (2010)
In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed EEZ; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing
refugees (country of origin): 7,785 (Afghanistan); 5,201 (Iran) (2015)
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
