2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,045,783; female 1,949,864) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 6,680,531; female 6,553,141) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,099,275; female 1,403,390) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

444 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 126 914 to 1,523 m: 134

total

294

under 914 m

13 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

150 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 116

under 914 m

14 (2002) Military Australia

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 contiguous 48 states

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 a republic, was defeated in 1999. Geography Australia

Birth rate

12.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$84.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

revenues

$86.8 billion

Capital

Canberra

Climate

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

Coastline

25,760 km

Constitution

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Australia

conventional short form

Australia

Currency

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

AUD

Death rate

7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$176.8 billion (yearend 2002 est.)

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 J. Thomas SCHIEFFER

embassy

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600

mailing address

APO AP 96549

telephone

[61] (02) 6214-5600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

maritime delimitation and resource sharing agreements signed with East Timor resolve dispute over "Timor Gap" hydrocarbon reserves; no agreement reached on dividing Timor Sea with Indonesia (see Ashmore and Cartier Islands disputes); Australia asserts a territorial claim to Antarctica and to its continental shelf (see Antarctica)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.2 (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $894 million (FY 99/00)

Economy - overview

Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy has been offsetting the global slump, and business and consumer confidence remains robust. Australia's emphasis on reforms is another key factor behind the economy's strength. The stagnant economic conditions in major export partners and the impact of the worst drought in 100 years cast a shadow over prospects for 2003.

Electricity - consumption

184.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

198.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

90.8%

hydro

8.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0.9% (2001)

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-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.84 (2002), 1.93 (2001), 1.72 (2000), 1.55 (1999), 1.59 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Parliament nominates and selects, from among its members, a list of candidates to serve as government ministers; from this list, the governor general swears in the final selections for the Cabinet

chief of state

Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFREY (since 11 August 2003)

elections

none; the monarch 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 leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since 20 July 1999)

note

government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

Exports

$66.3 billion (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 18.5%, US 9.6%, South Korea 8.3%, China 6.9%, New Zealand 6.5%, UK 4.7%, Singapore 4.1%, Taiwan 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 797-3168

[61] (02) 6214-5970

chancery

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

consulate(s) general

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

telephone

[1] (202) 797-3000

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Australia

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 known as the Commonwealth 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; 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 Economy Australia

GDP

purchasing power parity - $525.5 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

26%

services

71% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2002 est.)

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 People Australia

Government type

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

Highways

paved

314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)

total

811,603 km

unpaved

497,513 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.4% (1994)

lowest 10%

2%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$68 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 18.3%, Japan 12.3%, China 10.1%, Germany 5.7%, UK 4.6% (2002)

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

5.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.au

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

571 (2002)

Internet users

10.63 million (2002) Transportation Australia

Irrigated land

24,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Labor force

9.2 million (37256)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6.88%

other

93.09% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.03%

Languages

English, native languages

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 mainland territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (150 seats - this is up from 148 seats in 2001 election; members elected by popular vote on the basis of preferential 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 28, Australian Democrats 8, Green Party 2, One Nation Party 1, Country Labor Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 82, Australian Labor Party 65, independent and other 3

elections

Senate - last held 10 November 2001 (next to be held by February 2005); House of Representatives - last held 10 November 2001 (next to be held by February 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.13 years (2003 est.)

male

77.27 years

total population

80.13 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (1980 est.) Government Australia

male

100%

total population

100%

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

Median age

female

36.8 years (2002)

male

35.2 years

total

36 years

Merchant marine

convenience

France 2, UK 2, US 14 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 20, cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 2, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 6

total

51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,415,810 GRT/1,806,554 DWT

Military branches

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$11.39 billion (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.9% (FY02) Transnational Issues Australia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

5,037,538 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

4,339,011 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

142,377 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Nationality

adjective

Australian

noun

Australian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

523,400 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

530,800 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

731,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.664 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 36 km; condensate/gas 243 km; gas 27,321 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,779 km; oil/gas/water 104 km; water 40 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democrats [Andrew BARTLETT]; Australian Labor Party [Mark LATHAM]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Country Labor Party [leader NA]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [John ANDERSON]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Australian Monarchist League [leader NA]; Australian Republican Movement [leader NA]

Population

19,731,984 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.93% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

25.5 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

2,193 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

291 km dual gauge (2002)

narrow gauge

15,456 km 1.067-m gauge

standard gauge

23,648 km 1.435-m gauge

total

41,588 km (4,612 km electrified)

Religions

Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones

general assessment

excellent domestic and international service

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) (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.05 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.6 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations

104 (1997)

Televisions

10.15 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.3% (2002)

Waterways

8,368 km (mainly used by small, shallow-draft craft)