2009 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 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 climate-change issues such as the depletion of the ozone layer and more frequent droughts, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Area

total: 7,741,220 sq km country comparison to the world: 6 land: 7,682,300 sq km water: 58,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

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

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%) per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

25,450 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.81% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

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 note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Total renewable water resources

398 cu km (1995)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 2,026,975/female 1,923,828) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,318,743/female 7,121,613) 65 years and over: 13.5% (male 1,306,329/female 1,565,153) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

12.47 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Death rate

6.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 86

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

18,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 196 male: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.63 years country comparison to the world: 7 male: 79.25 years female: 84.14 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 37.3 years male: 36.6 years female: 38.1 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Net migration rate

6.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Population

21,262,641 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Population growth rate

1.195% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Religions

Catholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none 18.7% (2006 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 20 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Urbanization

urban population: 89% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Canberra geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March note: Australia is divided into three time zones

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, Macquarie Island, Norfolk 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007) cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers elections: 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

FAX

[1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

[61] (02) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, 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 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

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

International organization participation

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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 members 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 vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be called no later than 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10, independents 2

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as 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)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Malcolm TURNBULL]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups; environmental groups; social groups; trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $350.3 billion expenditures: $332.4 billion (2008 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.91% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 10.02% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$44.04 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 -$57.68 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$799.8 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 $820.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.5 (2006) country comparison to the world: 111 35.2 (1994)

Economy - overview

Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Emphasis on reforms, low inflation, a housing market boom, and growing ties with China have been key factors over the course of the economy's 17 solid years of expansion. Robust business and consumer confidence and high export prices for raw materials and agricultural products fueled the economy in recent years, particularly in mining states. Drought, robust import demand, and a strong currency pushed the trade deficit up however, while infrastructure bottlenecks and a tight labor market constrained growth in export volumes and stoked inflation through mid-2008. The unwinding of the yen-based carry trade in late 2008 has contributed to a weakening of the Australian dollar. Tight global liquidity has challenged Australia's banking sector, which relies heavily on international wholesale markets for funding. The economy remains relatively healthy despite falling export commodity prices. The government plans to counter slowing growth in 2009 with fiscal stimulus efforts.

Electricity - consumption

222 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

239.9 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)

Exports

$189.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $142.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 22.2%, China 14.6%, South Korea 8.2%, India 6.1%, US 5.5%, NZ 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.4% industry: 26.8% services: 69.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $37,800 (2007 est.) $36,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 4% (2007 est.) 2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.013 trillion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$802.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $784.1 billion (2007 est.) $753.9 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Imports

$194.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $160.2 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 15.4%, US 12%, Japan 9.1%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5%, Thailand 4.5%, UK 4.3%, Malaysia 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 2.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force

11.25 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.1% services: 75% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.298 trillion (31 December 2007) $1.096 trillion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

34.2 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - exports

19.48 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas - imports

5.377 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - production

45.22 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - consumption

953,700 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Oil - exports

332,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Oil - imports

687,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Oil - production

586,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Oil - proved reserves

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

14.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 17.4% of GDP (2004 est.) note: the Commonwealth government eliminated its net debt in 2006, but continues a gross debt issue to support the market for risk-free securities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$32.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $26.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$197.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $290.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$366.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $337.5 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008) $1.312 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008) $298.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008) $667.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 4.4% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.au

Internet hosts

11.756 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 10

Internet users

15.17 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 24

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

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 cellular 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 New Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

9.37 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 24

Telephones - mobile cellular

22.12 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 36

Television broadcast stations

104 (1997)

Airports

464 (2009) country comparison to the world: 17

Airports - with paved runways

total: 325 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 145 914 to 1,523 m: 142 under 914 m: 14 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 139 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 12 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 50 country comparison to the world: 71 by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 24 (Canada 9, France 1, Germany 2, Japan 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Singapore 1, UK 5, US 2) registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Belize 1, Bermuda 1, Dominica 2, Fiji 1, Marshall Islands 1, NZ 1, Panama 4, Singapore 12, Tonga 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 27,105 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,258 km; oil/gas/water 1 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 37,855 km country comparison to the world: 7 broad gauge: 142 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 24,409 km 1.435-m gauge (1,094 km electrified) narrow gauge: 13,304 km 1.067-m gauge (1,193 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 812,972 km country comparison to the world: 9 paved: 341,448 km unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006) country comparison to the world: 45

Australian Defense Force (ADF)

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,999,988 females age 16-49: 4,870,043 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,341,591 females age 16-49: 4,179,659 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 144,959 female: 137,333 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 69

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2008)

Disputes - international

Timor-Leste and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Timor-Leste hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia in the Timor Sea; regional states continue to 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; in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margins covering over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent more than its claimed exclusive economic zone; since 2003, Australia has led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security

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; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines page last updated on November 11, 2009