Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a country of extremes. It is one of the world's most urbanised countries, yet it has one of the lowest population densities. It is known for its harsh Outback, yet it is home to some of the world's most iconic cities. Australia has the highest ratio of international students per head of population, and its tertiary graduation rate is the highest among OECD countries. It has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and its healthcare expenditure is high. Australia is also home to many unique species, including some of the world's most venomous creatures. With its diverse ecosystems, it is one of 17 megadiverse countries. Did you know that Australia has the highest number of...
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Highest ratio of international students per head of population | 812,000 international students enrolled in universities and vocational institutions in 2019 |
| Highest tertiary graduation rate among OECD countries | 49% |
| Highest percentage of the population with higher education qualifications | 30.9% |
| Highest number of unique native species | 600,000 estimated native species |
| Highest number of marsupial species | Two-thirds of the world's 330 species of marsupials |
| Highest number of plant species | About 10% of the world's known plant species |
| Highest number of reptile species | About 10% of the world's known reptile species |
| Highest number of invertebrate species | 320,500 species, with insects being the largest class |
| Highest number of fungi species | Over 15,000 species, with potentially tens of thousands more |
| Highest rate of skin cancer in the world | N/A |
| Cleanest air in the world | Cape Grim in northwest Tasmania |
| Second-highest female suffrage | Women were granted the right to vote and stand in elections in 1902 |
| Highest ratio of coastal-dwelling citizens | 89% of its population living in urban areas |
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What You'll Learn
International students per capita
Australia has the highest ratio of international students per capita in the world by a large margin. In 2019, there were 812,000 international students enrolled in Australian universities and vocational institutions, representing an average of 26.7% of the student population. This number grew to 786,891 students in 2023, with a population of 26.45 million residents, which equates to 1 international student per 33.6 people.
International education is one of Australia's largest exports, contributing almost $32 billion to the economy each year and supporting 130,000 jobs. International students also have a significant influence on the country's demographics, with a large proportion remaining in Australia after graduation on various skill and employment visas.
The Australian government encourages international students to study, work, and stay in regional areas such as Adelaide, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. In 2023, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland were the states attracting the largest portion of international students. New South Wales had the largest number of international students, with up to 333,913 students, while Queensland had the largest regional area proportion at 5%.
The top source country for enrolments is China, contributing 22-24% of regional area enrolments, followed by Nepal at 7%-8%, then Malaysia, South Korea, and the US at 3% each.
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Marsupial species
Marsupials are a diverse group of mammals that give birth to undeveloped young that continue to develop in a pouch on their mother's abdomen. They are known as "pouched mammals".
Australia has the highest number of marsupial species, with around 250 species of marsupials native to the country. This accounts for about 70% of all extant marsupial species. The oldest known marsupials are from North America, where they evolved around 125-160 million years ago. However, the first marsupials in Australia arrived around 70 million years later, after migrating from South America, across an Antarctic land bridge.
There are several well-known marsupial species native to Australia, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallabies, and quokkas. The largest extant marsupial is the red kangaroo, while the smallest is the long-tailed planigale, weighing as much as a teaspoon of sugar.
Australian marsupials can be divided into three main groups:
- Dasyurids: These are meat-eating marsupials, including quolls, the Tasmanian devil, and dunnarts.
- Peramelemorphs: These are omnivorous marsupials, such as bilbies and bandicoots.
- Diprotodonts: These are primarily herbivorous marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and wombats.
The presence of so many marsupial species in Australia is partly due to the early disappearance of terrestrial placentals in the Cenozoic era, allowing marsupials to dominate the ecosystem.
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Endemic flora and fauna
Australia is a continent of rich biodiversity, with a wide variety of endemic flora and fauna. The country's geographic isolation, long-term tectonic stability, and unique climate patterns have contributed to the development of its unique plant and animal life.
Flora
Australia is home to a diverse range of plant species, with over 27,700 plant species recorded in the latest studies. The country's vast size and varying regional climates, from the rainforests of North Queensland to the dry vegetation of the Red Centre, contribute to this diversity.
One of the most iconic Australian flora is the eucalyptus tree, also known as the gum tree. With over 700 species, eucalyptus trees dominate the landscape and are well-adapted to the Australian climate. The leaves of these trees are the primary food source for koalas, and they are vital for various ecosystems.
Acacias, or wattles, are another significant group of Australian plants. The golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia's national floral emblem. Acacias can survive in a range of climates, from coastal regions to arid deserts. Banksias, named after botanist Sir Joseph Banks, are also distinctive Australian plants known for their unique flower spikes and woody seed cones. They play a crucial role in providing nectar for birds, mammals, and insects.
Fauna
The fauna of Australia is equally diverse, with a large variety of animals. Marsupials, such as kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, and wombats, are some of the country's most iconic species. Australia is home to half of the world's marsupial species, and these pouch-bearing mammals occupy many ecological niches that placental mammals occupy elsewhere.
Australia also has a high number of endemic birds, with over 800 species, half of which are endemic. The emu, the second-largest living bird by height, is native to Australia and is known for its speed, comparable to that of horses. The Kookaburra, an Australian kingfisher bird, is notable for its laughter-like call.
In terms of reptiles, Australia has the highest diversity of lizards in the world, with over 360 species, including the iconic saltwater crocodile, the largest living reptile species. The country also boasts a wide range of amphibians, with over 200 species, 93% of which are endemic.
Conservation Efforts
To protect its unique flora and fauna, Australia has established over 500 national parks and passed legislation such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, invasive species, habitat destruction, and urban expansion pose significant threats to native species, with 86 flora and fauna species now critically endangered. Conservation efforts are essential to preserve Australia's remarkable biodiversity for future generations.
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Women's suffrage (second, after New Zealand)
Australia has a long history of women's suffrage, with the country being the second in the world to grant women the right to vote, after New Zealand. The movement for women's suffrage in Australia gained momentum during the 19th century, with women advocating for change through letters, speeches, rallies, and marches. The first group of women to gain the right to vote in Australia were propertied women in the colony of South Australia, who were granted the vote in local elections in 1861. However, they were not allowed to vote in parliamentary elections.
The South Australian Parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment (Adult Suffrage) Act on 18 December 1894, granting women in the colony the right to vote and stand for parliament. This made South Australia the first electorate in the world to give equal political rights to men and women. The Act was the result of a decade-long struggle by women's suffrage groups, including the influential Women's Suffrage League founded by Mary Lee and Mary Colton. Before the 1894 Bill, there had been three unsuccessful attempts to gain equal voting rights for women in South Australia. The 1894 petition had over 11,600 signatures and was around 400 feet long, demonstrating the strong support for women's suffrage.
The right for women to vote and hold office was not uniformly established across Australia until 1908, when the remaining Australian states legislated for women's suffrage in state elections. The first female local government councilor, Grace Benny, was elected in 1919, and the first female state parliamentarian, Edith Cowan, was elected in 1921. Dorothy Tangney became the first female Senator, and Enid Lyons was the first female Member of the House of Representatives in 1943. These women paved the way for future female political leaders in Australia and demonstrated the important role that women play in the country's political landscape.
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Skin cancer rates
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the country, with data showing almost a million cases of skin cancer in 2015. Over 750,000 cases are diagnosed and treated each year, and it kills more than 2,000 people annually. The risk of developing melanoma before the age of 75 is 1 in 24 for males and 1 in 34 for females.
The primary cause of skin cancer is excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which causes DNA damage to skin cells. The closer someone lives to the equator, the more sun exposure they receive. Queensland, which is closer to the equator than New South Wales and Victoria, reports much higher rates of skin cancer than these two states. The southern hemisphere also experiences higher UV levels than the northern hemisphere due to lower pollution levels and clearer air resulting from lower population densities.
Australia's high skin cancer rates are attributed to the country's high percentage of people with fair skin, who are more vulnerable to skin cancer, and its proximity to the equator, resulting in higher-intensity UV radiation. The country's history of European migration has also contributed to this demographic. Sun tanning is also a significant part of Australian culture, which further increases the risk of skin cancer.
To combat the high incidence of skin cancer, Australia has implemented various prevention campaigns, such as SunSmart, which began in the 1980s, and the Slip, Slop, Slap campaign, which promoted the use of shirts, sunscreen, and hats. These campaigns have helped increase awareness and contributed to a decrease in melanoma mortality rates.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has the highest ratio of international students per head of population in the world. In 2019, 812,000 international students were enrolled in the country's universities and vocational institutions.
Australia has the highest ratio of clean air in the world. Cape Grim in northwest Tasmania is said to have the cleanest air, with 1,000 times fewer particles than Melbourne.
Australia has the highest number of venomous creatures in the world. It is home to some of the world's most venomous snakes, including the taipan and the brown snake, the world's most venomous spider, the Sydney funnel-web, and the most venomous jellyfish, the box jellyfish.
Australia has the highest graduation rate among OECD countries, at 49%. It also has one of the highest percentages of people with higher education qualifications in the world, with 30.9% of its population attaining a higher education qualification.
