Damon Mcknight
Australia is a huge country, covering 7,686,850 square kilometres or 768,685,000 hectares. To put that into perspective, the average farm in Australia is 4,331 hectares, and yet there are only 394 million hectares of agricultural land in the country. Land use in Australia is changing, with deforestation, mining, and agriculture all impacting the landscape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total area of Australia | 7,686,850 sq km (768,685,000 hectares) |
| Arable land in Australia in 2021 | 31,265,000 hectares |
| Agricultural land in Australia in 2016-17 | 394 million hectares |
| Land used for grazing in 2016-17 | 341 million hectares |
| Land used for crops in 2016-17 | 31 million hectares |
| Land used for pasture in 2016-17 | 3 million hectares |
| Land classified as 'mining and waste' | <1% of Australia's land surface |
| Land cleared of primary forest annually between 2015 and 2019 | 58,000 hectares |
| Land cleared of secondary forest annually between 2015 and 2019 | 359,000 hectares |
| Woody vegetation in New South Wales cleared between 2009 and 2014 | 193,000 hectares |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's size in hectares
Australia is a vast country with a total area of 7,686,850 square kilometres or 768,685,000 hectares. To put this into perspective, this is equivalent to 2,967,909 square miles. Australia is one of the largest countries in the world, and its size is often underestimated due to its relatively small population and geographical isolation.
The country's land is used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, mining, and conservation. As of the 2016-17 financial year, agricultural businesses operated across just over half (51%) of Australia's total land area, totalling 394 million hectares of agricultural land. This includes land used for grazing, cropping, and pasture. Queensland is the largest contributor to grazing land, with 129 million hectares used for this purpose in 2016-17.
In addition to agricultural land, Australia has a significant amount of land dedicated to mining and waste management. While this land accounts for less than 1% of the country's total land surface, there has been a recent increase in the amount of land committed to mining activities. Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the land dedicated to mining increased by around 115,000 hectares, resulting in a net increase of 5.7% in land used for this purpose.
The country also has a large area of forest cover, which is an important habitat for native plant and animal species. However, deforestation and human-induced conversion of forest land have resulted in a loss of forest cover in some areas. Between 1990 and 2019, an average of 58,000 hectares of primary forest and 359,000 hectares of secondary forest were cleared annually. This has led to a loss of potential habitat for threatened species and ecological communities.
In summary, Australia's size in hectares is approximately 768,685,000, making it a large and diverse country with a range of land uses, including agriculture, mining, and conservation. The country's vast land area provides opportunities for various economic activities while also presenting challenges in managing and preserving its unique natural environment.
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Agricultural land
Australia is a large country, covering 768,685,000 hectares. The country's agricultural sector is also vast, with 394 million hectares of land operated by agricultural businesses. Of this land, 341 million hectares (87%) was used for grazing in 2016-17, with Queensland being the largest contributor with 129 million hectares of land used for this purpose.
In the same period, agricultural businesses cultivated 23 million hectares of land for crops and/or pasture, a 935,000 hectare increase from the previous year. Western Australia had the most land dedicated to this purpose, with 8 million hectares, closely followed by New South Wales with 6 million hectares.
The beef industry is Australia's largest agricultural enterprise, with cattle production covering an area in excess of 200 million hectares. The industry is dependent on exports, with over 60% of Australian beef production exported, mainly to the United States, Korea and Japan.
In 2020, it was reported that foreign ownership of Australian agricultural land had increased slightly from 13.4% to 13.8%. This is a contentious issue, with a 2022 poll finding that 88% of Australians want tighter controls on foreign ownership of farmland.
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Grazing land
Australia is a massive country, covering 768,685,000 hectares in total. In 2016-17, agricultural businesses operated across just over half of Australia's total land area, with 394 million hectares of agricultural land. Of this, 341 million hectares (or 87%) was used for grazing land, a 9% increase from 2015-16. This land is used for grazing cattle, sheep, and other livestock.
Queensland is the largest contributor to grazing land in Australia, with an estimated 129 million hectares of land used for grazing in 2016-17. This is followed by other states such as New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, where beef cattle are often reared on smaller properties as part of mixed farming or grazing operations.
In addition to beef cattle, sheep are also grazed extensively in Australia. The country is a major producer of wool, lamb, and mutton, with grazing lands in the wheat-sheep zone and the pastoral zone, which is characterised by low rainfall and less fertile soils.
Australia has three main agricultural zones: the high rainfall zone of Tasmania and a narrow coastal strip, the wheat and sheep zone, and the pastoral zone. These zones allow for a variety of agricultural activities, including grazing, cropping, and dairy production, contributing to Australia's success as a major agricultural power.
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Land impacted by deforestation
Australia is about 768,685,000 hectares in size. The country has undergone massive land-use changes since human settlement, including transformation by Indigenous Australians as far back as 75,000 years ago.
Since European colonisation, deforestation has had a significant impact on the land in Australia. In 2012, just 50% of Australia's forests remained intact compared to pre-colonisation. The other half has been permanently converted to another land use or degraded during colonisation. Since then, millions more hectares of forests have been logged, cleared, or burnt.
The agriculture, forestry, and land development sectors are primarily driving Australia's deforestation crisis. Between 2000 and 2017, over 7.7 million hectares of forest and bushland were destroyed by land clearing—an area the size of Ireland. In Queensland, 47% of land clearing and deforestation between 2020 and 2021 occurred in Great Barrier Reef catchment areas, polluting the water in rivers that flow into the reef.
In Victoria's Central Highlands, only 1% of the mountain ash forest ecosystem remains unlogged and unburnt, and this forest is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. WA's Northern Jarrah Forests are also under threat from mining for bauxite, which is then turned into aluminium products. In Tasmania, the state government logging agency has plans to log over 800,000 hectares of forests inhabited by threatened species.
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Land used for mining
Australia is approximately 768,685,000 hectares in size. Mining has long been a cornerstone of the Australian economy, with the country being a world leader in the production and export of various metals and minerals. It is the fourth-largest mining country in the world and is the largest producer of lithium, iron ore, bauxite, opal, and cobalt. Australia is also a major producer of precious stones, being one of the largest producers of diamond, ruby, sapphire, and jade.
The Minerals Council of Australia estimates that 0.02% of Australia's land surface, or 10 million hectares, has been directly impacted by mining throughout history. This impact includes the environmental consequences of mining activities, such as the denuding of mountains in Queenstown, Tasmania, due to a combination of logging and pollution from a mine smelter.
Queensland (QLD) is a major mining state, with many of Australia's coal mines located in the Bowen Basin. QLD is also the largest supplier of silver in the world and the world's highest-grade rhenium deposit. The QLD mining sector contributed nearly $75 billion to the state's economy in 2018-19 and provides more than 50,000 jobs.
New South Wales (NSW) is another significant mining state, with rich mineral resources, including coal, gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, and lithium. The Cowal open-pit gold mine in the Central Western Plains region is the biggest mine in NSW, and the state offers 40,000 mining jobs. Newcastle in NSW is the world's largest coal export port.
Western Australia (WA) is the epicentre of Australian mining and a major player in the international mining industry. WA hosts a large number of high-grade resources and some of the largest mines in the country, particularly in the Pilbara region. Iron ore is WA's most important mineral commodity, with 97% of the state's iron ore mined there.
Victoria (VIC) has also played a significant role in Australian mining history and continues to offer potential for mineral exploration. The Goldfields, Peel, and Latrobe Valley regions of Victoria are particularly significant mining areas.
Overall, mining is a crucial sector in Australia, contributing around 13.6% of the country's total GDP in 2023 and providing export income, royalty payments, and employment opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is approximately 768,685,000 hectares or 7,686,850 square kilometres.
During the 2016-17 financial year, agricultural businesses operated across just over half (51%) of Australia's total land area. There were 394 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia, with 341 million hectares (or 87%) used for grazing.
Australia's arable land for 2021 was 31,265,000 hectares, a 2.03% increase from 2020.
