Country Name:

Australia

Location:

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

Area:

7,686,850 sq km

land:

7,617,930 sq km

water:

68,920 sq km

Coastline:

25,760 km

Climate:

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

Terrain:

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Geography:

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

Population:

20,264,082 (July 2006 est.)

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.)

Average Age:

Total:

36.9 years

Male:

36 years

Female:

37.7 years (2006 est.)

Ethnic Groups:

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

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)

General

Languages:

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8%

Government

Type:

federal parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Canberra

Independence:

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Economy

Currency:

Australian Dollar (AU$)

GDP Growth Rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)

Labour Occupations:

agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.2%
services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Unemployment Rate:

4.9% (2006 est.)

Inflation Rate:

3.8% (2006 est.)

Agriculture Produce:

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

Transportation

Railways:

total: 810,641 km
paved: 336,962 km
unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)

Roads:

total: 810,641 km
paved: 336,962 km
unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)

Airports:

total: 311
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
under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Ports & Harbours:

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

Communications

Mains Telephones:

11.46 million (2005)

Mobile Telephones:

18.42 million (2005)

Television Stations:

104 (1997)

Internet Users:

14,663,622 (2006)

Country Internet Code:

.au