2000 Edition

Background

Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in 1999.

Area

land

7,617,930 sq km

note

includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

total

7,686,850 sq km

water

68,920 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the US

Climate

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Coastline

25,760 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

lowest point

Lake Eyre -15 m

Environment - current issues

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 fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Geography - note

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

Irrigated land

21,070 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6%

forests and woodland

19%

other

21% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

54%

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts

Natural resources

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 2,052,095; female 1,954,543) 15-64 years: 67% (male 6,458,083; female 6,322,475) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,040,950; female 1,340,937) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

13.08 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Infant mortality rate

5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English, native languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.74 years (2000 est.)

male

76.9 years

total population

79.75 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (1980 est.)

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Australian

noun

Australian(s)

Net migration rate

4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

19,169,083 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.02% (2000 est.)

Religions

Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Capital

Canberra

Constitution

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Australia

conventional short form

Australia

Data code

AS

Dependent areas

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES

embassy

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600

mailing address

APO AP 96549

telephone

(6) 6214-5600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael THAWLEY

telephone

(202) 797-3000

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February 1996)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term

head of government

Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA)

note

government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

FAX

(202) 797-3168

(6) 6214-5970

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney

Flag description

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; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

Government type

democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

International organization participation

ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

High Court, the Chief Justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general

Legal system

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no state can have fewer than five representatives)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1

elections

Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democratic Party ; Australian Labor Party ; Green Party ; Liberal Party ; National Party ; One Nation Party

Political pressure groups and leaders

Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry

Budget

expenditures

$89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)

revenues

$90.73 billion

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$222 billion (1999)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)

Economy - overview

Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate. Growth in 2000 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets.

Electricity - consumption

173.34 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

186.387 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

89.85%

hydro

8.35%

nuclear

0%

other

1.8% (1998)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.52068 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)

Exports

$58 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners

Japan 20%, EU 14%, ASEAN 11%, US 10%, South Korea, NZ, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1998)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $416.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

26%

services

71% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $22,200 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)

Imports

$67 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

Imports - partners

EU 24%, US 22%, Japan 14%, ASEAN 12% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (1999 est.)

Industries

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force

8.9 million (December 1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

7.5% (1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

709 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

25.5 million (1997)

Telephone system

excellent domestic and international service

domestic

domestic satellite system

international

submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions)

Telephones - main lines in use

92 million (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.29 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

104 (1997)

Televisions

10.15 million (1997)

Airports

408 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

265 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 115 914 to 1,523 m: 120 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways)

total

913,000 km

unpaved

559,669 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 28, cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquified gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.)

total

57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,657,194 GRT/2,206,574 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km

Ports and harbors

Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Railways

broad gauge

3,719 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

172 km NA gauges (1999)

narrow gauge

14,506 km 1.067-m gauge

standard gauge

15,422 km 1.435-m gauge

total

33,819 km (2,540 km electrified)

Waterways

8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Military branches

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$6.9 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,963,948 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 4,282,821 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

135,434 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)

Illicit drugs

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

AUSTRIA