2007 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: 19.6% (male 2,031,313/female 1,936,802) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,881,863/female 6,764,709) 65 years and over: 13.1% (male 1,170,589/female 1,478,806) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

455 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 133 914 to 1,523 m: 143

total

311

under 914 m

13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

144 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 111

under 914 m

15 (2006)

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

Australian Defense Force (ADF)

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

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 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. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. Geography Australia

Birth rate

12.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$258 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$267 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March

geographic coordinates

35 17 S, 149 08 E

name

Canberra

note

Australia is divided into three time zones

time difference

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

AUD

Current account balance

$-41.62 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.51 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$585.1 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Dependent areas

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.

embassy

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600

mailing address

APO AP 96549

telephone

[61] (02) 6214-5600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON

telephone

[1] (202) 797-3000

Disputes - international

East Timor and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims

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, robust business and consumer confidence, and high export prices for raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. 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 and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up in recent years, although the trade balance improved in 2006. Housing prices probably peaked in 2005, diminishing the prospect that interest rates would be raised to prevent a speculative bubble. Conservative fiscal policies have kept Australia's budget in surplus since 2002.

Electricity - consumption

209.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

225.3 billion kWh (2004)

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, 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 - 1.3382 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers

chief of state

Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (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 Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005)

note

government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

Exports

$117 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ 6.5%, India 5% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 797-3168

[61] (02) 6214-5970

consulate(s) general

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

consulate(s) general

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

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 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 Economy Australia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.8%

industry

26.2%

services

70% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$645.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$666.3 billion (2006 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; 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 People Australia

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy

Heliports

1 (2006)

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.)

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$127.7 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 13.9%, China 13.7%, Japan 11%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.6% (2005)

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Industrial production growth rate

-3.5% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.02 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.au

Internet hosts

7,772,888 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

571 (2002)

Internet users

14,663,622 (2006) Transportation Australia

Investment (gross fixed)

26.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

25,450 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

10.66 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.6%

industry

21.2%

services

75.2% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland)

other

93.81% (2005)

permanent crops

0.04%

Languages

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

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 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3

elections

Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.52 years (2006 est.)

male

77.64 years

total population

80.5 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government Australia

male

99%

total population

99%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

4,821,264

males age 18-49

4,943,676

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

3,983,447 (2005 est.)

males age 16-49

4,092,717

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 16-49

135,675 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

142,158

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

37.7 years (2006 est.)

male

36 years

total

36.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 17, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

17 (Canada 1, France 3, Germany 3, Japan 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 3)

registered in other countries

34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 2, Bermuda 3, Fiji 1, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2, Netherlands 1, NZ 2, Panama 3, Portugal 1, Singapore 7, Tonga 1, UK 3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2006)

total

53 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,361,000 GRT/1,532,874 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$17.84 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Australia

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the 1915 landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April

Nationality

adjective

Australian

noun

Australian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

26.37 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

10.66 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

37.03 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

821.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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

3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

877,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

523,400 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

530,800 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate/gas 546 km; gas 31,323 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,808 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]

Population

20,264,082 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.85% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney Military Australia

Public debt

14.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

25.5 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

4,015 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

230 km dual gauge (2005)

narrow gauge

14,831 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)

standard gauge

28,662 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)

total

47,738 km

Religions

Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$48.25 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

336,962 km

total

810,641 km

unpaved

473,679 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

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

country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

11.46 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

18.42 million (2005)

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 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2006 est.)

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2002)