Lexi Webster
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country that comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is the only continent that is also a country, making it both a large landmass and a sovereign state. It is the world's sixth-largest country by area and the largest country by area in Oceania.
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What You'll Learn
Australia is a country and a continent
The Australian landmass has a varied climate, ranging from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The northern parts of the country have a tropical climate. Snow falls frequently in the highlands near the east coast, in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and in the Australian Capital Territory. Australia is one of the continents most affected by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, experiencing extensive droughts alongside considerable wet periods.
The country has a diverse culture, with one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. Since 1788, the primary influence behind Australian culture has been Anglo-Celtic Western culture, with some Indigenous influences. Since the mid-20th century, American popular culture has strongly influenced Australia, particularly through television and cinema. Other cultural influences come from neighbouring Asian countries, and through large-scale immigration from non-English-speaking nations.
Australia is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often dubbed the "island continent". It is a megadiverse country, with about 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals, and 46% of its birds being endemic. Australia has a wide range of ecosystems, with 89 regions and 419 subregions recognised in the Australian bioregion framework.
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Australia is the smallest continent
The Australian continent comprises the mainland of the country, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles), making it the sixth-largest country globally and the largest in Oceania. Australia is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 470 millimetres (19 inches). The Australian climate ranges from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The northern parts of the country have a tropical climate, and snow falls frequently in the highlands near the east coast, in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.
Australia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, with about 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals, and 46% of its birds being endemic. The country has a wide range of ecosystems, with 89 regions and 419 subregions recognised in the Australian bioregion framework. As of January 2025, there were 168,386 named species on the Australian National Species List, but it is estimated that 70% of Australian species are yet to be discovered and classified, with a potential 600,000 native species.
The Australian continent has a unique history and culture. The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, and by the time of British settlement, they spoke 250 distinct languages and had one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Since 1788, Anglo-Celtic Western culture has been the primary influence on Australian culture, with some Indigenous influences. In recent decades, American popular culture has also strongly influenced Australia, particularly through television and cinema. Australia is a multicultural country, with large-scale immigration from Asian and other non-English-speaking countries contributing to its diverse society.
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Australia is a diverse country
Since 1788, Anglo-Celtic Western culture has been the primary influence on Australian culture, with some Indigenous influences. In recent centuries, American popular culture has also strongly influenced Australia, particularly through television and cinema. Additionally, cultural influences from neighbouring Asian countries have also played a role in shaping Australian culture, especially with the increase in immigration from Asian and other non-European countries since the late 1970s. This has made Australia a multicultural country, with Sydney being the most multicultural city in Oceania.
Australia has a high adult literacy rate, estimated at 99% in 2003. It has a strong education system, with 37 government-funded universities and three private universities. However, a 2011-2012 report found that 44% of the population lacked the necessary literary and numeracy skills for everyday life. Australia also has a diverse economy, with a strong mining and resource sector. It is a member of the Commonwealth and is known for its proximity to large potential markets in Asia.
The country's geography and climate are diverse, with the Australian landmass experiencing a range of climates, from desert or semi-arid conditions to tropical regions with frequent cyclones and rain depressions. The southern coastal corners, including the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, have a temperate climate and frequent snow. Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 470 millimetres. The country also has a diverse range of ecosystems and is home to unique flora and fauna, with many endemic species.
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Australia is a member of the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Nations is based on common values and goals, such as the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, civil liberties, equality before the law, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace. These shared values unite the diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds of its members. Australia's membership in the Commonwealth reflects its historical connection to the British Empire and its ongoing commitment to these shared values and goals.
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, has a unique status within the Commonwealth. It is one of the founding members of the League of Nations in 1920 and the United Nations in 1945. Australia gained independence from the United Kingdom and became a self-governing dominion within the British Empire in 1901. This marked the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia as a nation under the Australian Constitution.
Australia's membership in the Commonwealth has played a significant role in shaping its foreign relations. One of the core pillars of Australia's foreign policy is its commitment to the US alliance, as evidenced by its close relationship with the United States through the ANZUS pact. Additionally, Australia engages with the Indo-Pacific region to increase trade ties and manage the rise of Chinese power. Regionally, Australia is an active member of organisations like the Pacific Islands Forum and the ASEAN+6 mechanism.
In conclusion, Australia's membership in the Commonwealth reflects its historical ties to the British Empire and its commitment to shared values and international cooperation. Through the Commonwealth, Australia has fostered economic and cultural relations with other member states and continues to play an active role in promoting the goals and values of this association. Australia's independent status and engagement with global and regional organisations demonstrate its evolution as a nation and its contribution to the international community.
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Australia is a multicultural country
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country and continent with a rich multicultural history. The country comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
Since 1788, Anglo-Celtic Western culture has been the primary influence on Australian culture, with some Indigenous influences. However, Australia has evolved into a multicultural country, with a broad spectrum of cultures drawn from many lands. This development stems from immigration, which has transformed the country's strong Anglo-Celtic orientation. Sydney is the most multicultural city in Oceania, with more than 250 different languages spoken, and about 40% of residents speaking a language other than English at home. Melbourne is also multicultural, with the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Europe and the second-largest Asian population in Australia.
Australia has a high adult literacy rate, estimated at 99% in 2003. The country has 37 government-funded universities and three private universities, as well as other specialist institutions providing higher education. About 58% of Australians aged 25 to 64 have vocational or tertiary qualifications, and the tertiary graduation rate of 49% is the highest among OECD countries. Interestingly, children of immigrants in Australia attain better average educational results than children of native-born Australians, indicating the successful integration of immigrant students into the education system.
Australia's multiculturalism is also reflected in its migration patterns. In the first half of the 20th century, migrants to Australia primarily came from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Over 1 million migrants from the United Kingdom arrived between 1947 and 1981, mainly under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Since then, Australia has experienced significant immigration from Asian and other non-European countries, with an increase in the intake of skilled migrants. In 2015, an estimated 28% of the Australian population was born overseas, the highest proportion since the end of the nineteenth century, ranking Australia first among OECD nations with populations over ten million.
Empirical research suggests that Australia has successfully embraced multiculturalism, with integration between different ethnicities and cultural groups. This has contributed to the country's strong economy and peaceful society. Australia consistently ranks as one of the most receptive countries to immigration, with positive attitudes towards multiculturalism among its residents.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is both a country and a continent. It is the only continent that is also a country. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world.
Australia comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It has six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory.
Australia is the only country in the continent of Australia. However, two present-day Oceanic countries, Papua New Guinea and Nauru, were administered by the federal government of Australia as de facto or de jure in the past.
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