2004 Edition

Background

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 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 in the name of Great Britain. 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 its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. 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.

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

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

Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

24,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

cultivated grassland)

arable land

6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of

other

93.41% (2001)

permanent crops

0.04%

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; forest fires

Natural resources

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, 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: 20.1% (male 2,044,449; female 1,948,574) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,747,687; female 6,623,995) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 1,121,522; female 1,426,917) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

12.4 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

5.16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, native languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.27 years (2004 est.)

male

77.4 years

total population

80.26 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (1980 est.)

male

100%

total population

100%

Median age

female

37.1 years (2004 est.)

male

35.5 years

total

36.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Australian

noun

Australian(s)

Net migration rate

3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

19,913,144 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.9% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2004 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

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

Territory 2600

FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970

chief of mission

Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER

consulate(s) general

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

embassy

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital

mailing address

APO AP 96549

telephone

[61] (02) 6214-5600

Diplomatic representation in the US

York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168

chancery

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New

telephone

[1] (202) 797-3000

Executive branch

1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)

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

list of candidates to serve as government ministers; from this list, the governor general swears in the final selections for the Cabinet

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

cabinet

Parliament nominates and selects, from among its members, a

chief of state

Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general

head of government

Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11

note

government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

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

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, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, 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 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)

later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held not later than November 2007)

party (as of 1 July 2003) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 34, Australian Labor Party 28, Australian Democrats 7, Green Party 2, One Nation Party 1, Country Liberal Party 1, Australian Progressive Alliance 1, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 86, Australian Labor Party 60, Country Liberal Party 1, independent and other 3

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by

elections

Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held not

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democrats [Andrew BARTLETT]; Australian Labor Party [Mark LATHAM]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]; 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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

(2003)

expenditures

$181 billion, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

$185 billion

Currency

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

AUD

Current account balance

$-30.14 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$233.5 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.2 (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Economy - overview

Australia has an enviable 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, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up to $18 billion in 2003 and to $20 billion in 2004 from $8 billion in 2002. One other concern is the domestic housing bubble.

Electricity - consumption

184.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

198.2 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000), 1.55 (1999)

Exports

$68.67 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 18.1%, US 8.7%, China 8.4%, South Korea 7.4%, New Zealand 7.4%, UK 6.7% (2003)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $571.4 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.5%

industry

26.3%

services

70.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.4% (1994)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$82.91 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 16%, Japan 12.5%, China 11%, Germany 6.1%, UK 4.2% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $33.26 billion (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.1% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

10.19 million (37256)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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 (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

18.2% of GDP (2003)

Unemployment rate

6% (2003)

Internet country code

.au

Internet hosts

2,847,763 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

571 (2002)

Internet users

9.472 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

25.5 million (1997)

Telephone system

areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones

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)

domestic

domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in

general assessment

excellent domestic and international service

international

country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand,

Telephones - main lines in use

10.815 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.347 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

104 (1997)

Televisions

10.15 million (1997)

Airports

444 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 139

over 3,047 m

10

total

305

under 914 m

13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 112

total

143

under 914 m

14 (2004 est.)

Highways

paved

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

total

811,603 km

unpaved

497,513 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 6

by type

bulk 20, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2,

foreign-owned

United Kingdom 2, United States 12

registered in other countries

60 (2004 est.)

total

52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWT

Pipelines

condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

broad gauge

1,957 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

213 km dual gauge (2003)

narrow gauge

14,957 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)

standard gauge

27,095 km 1.435-m gauge (2,828 km electrified)

total

44,015 km (5,290 km electrified)

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2004)

Military branches

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, new Special Operations Command (announced in December 2002)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$14,120.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.8% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

5,061,810 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

4,356,671 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

140,182 (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

the 1999 maritime delimitation established partial maritime boundaries with East Timor over part of the Timor Gap but temporary resource-sharing agreements over an unreconciled area grant Australia 90% share of exploited gas reserves and hamper creation of a southern maritime boundary with Indonesia (see Ashmore and Cartier Islands disputes); Australia asserts a territorial claim to Antarctica and to its continental shelf (see Antarctica)

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 10 February, 2005 @Austria