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About Australia
In land area, Australia is the sixth largest nation after Russia,
Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil. It has,
however, a relatively small population of approximately 19 million
people.
In 1901, the Australian colonies federated to become the Commonwealth
of Australia. As in Canada, the British monarch remains the monarch
of Australia, which is now an independent, democratic nation with
a tradition of religious tolerance and free speech. In 2001, Australia
celebrated its Centenary
of Federation.
Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and
its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the
smallest, flattest continent on Earth. The highest point on the
mainland, Mount Kosciuszko, is only 2228 metres. Apart from Antarctica,
Australia is the driest continent.
Australia has a remarkable diversity of life forms seen nowhere
else in the world, largely because Australian plants and animals
evolved in isolation from other parts of the world.
Immigration
Australia's multicultural society includes its Indigenous peoples
and settlers from countries all around the world. Immigration is
an important feature of Australian society. Since 1945, almost 5.5
million people have come to Australia as new settlers. Migrants
have made a major contribution to shaping modern Australia. People
born overseas and their children make up about two-fifths of the
total population.
Economy
Australia has had one of the most outstanding economies of the
world in recent years. As a high-growth, low-inflation, low interest
rate economy, it is more vibrant than ever before. There is an efficient
government sector, a flexible labour market and a very competitive
business sector.
With its abundant physical resources, Australia has enjoyed a high
standard of living since the nineteenth century. It has made a comparatively
large investment in social infrastructure, including education,
training, health and transport.
The Australian workforce has seen many improvements over the past
decade, leading to the surge in productivity in the 1990s. The complex
and centralised award based industrial relations system has given
way to a more decentralised one with many employees working under
workplace agreements tailored to meet enterprise needs.
Area and population of Australian States and Territories
| State/Territory |
Area
in square kilometres
(mainland only) |
Population* |
| |
Mainland |
State/Terr. |
Capital** |
| Queensland |
1
723 936 |
3.56m |
Brisbane
(1.62m) |
| New
South Wales |
800
628 |
6.46m |
Sydney
(4.08) |
| Australian
Capital Territory (Jervis Bay Territory) |
2
358(72) |
0.31m |
Canberra
(0.31m) |
| Victoria |
227
010 |
4.76m |
Melbourne
(3.46m) |
| Tasmania |
64
519 |
0.47m |
Hobart
(0.19m) |
| South
Australia |
978
810 |
1.49m |
Adelaide
(1.09m) |
| Western
Australia |
2
526 786 |
1.88m |
Perth
(1.38m) |
| Northern
Territory |
1
335 742 |
0.19m |
Darwin
(0.09m) |
| AUSTRALIA |
7
659 861 |
19.15m |
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Sources: area-Auslig; population-Australian Bureau
of Statistics
* Estimated resident population as at 30 June 2000.
** Estimated resident population in major population centres as
at 30 June 2000.
See also a fact
sheet series provided by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade.
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