Damon Mcknight
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country, spanning 7,688,287 square kilometres or 2.989 million square miles. In addition to the mainland, Australia is surrounded by thousands of small islands and numerous larger ones, amounting to an area half the size of Tasmania. The country is slightly smaller than the United States, with a population equivalent to that of the state of Texas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land area | 2.989 million square miles or 7,688,287 km sq |
| World ranking by size | Sixth largest country |
| Population | 25 million (approximately) |
| Population density | 5% of the world's land area |
| Diversity | One of 17 megadiverse countries |
| Isolation | Remote from traditional allies and trading partners |
| Number of cities with population over 1 million | 5 |
| Average age of population | 39 years (as of 2021) |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country
Australia's size gives rise to a diverse range of landscapes and climates. The country is home to deserts in its interior and tropical rainforests along its coast. About 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals, and 46% of its birds are endemic. Australia has a wide range of ecosystems, with 89 regions and 419 subregions recognised in the Australian bioregion framework. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies off the northeast coast and extends for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles).
The total area of Australia accounts for just five percent of the world's land area. In comparison to other countries, it is similar in size to continental USA. Travelling from Sydney to Perth is about the same distance as travelling from New York to Los Angeles. Despite its large size, Australia's population is relatively small, with only about the same number of people as the state of Texas.
Australia has five cities with populations larger than one million people, and the majority of its population lives near coastlines. The country has a high standard of living, with the second-highest amount of wealth per adult in the world as of 2021. It has a large service sector, which accounts for about 71.2% of its GDP, and its agriculture sector makes up 3.6%. Australia is a megadiverse country with a rich history and culture, and its Aboriginal people have one of the oldest living cultures in the world.
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It is slightly smaller than the US
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country by area, spanning 7,688,287 square kilometres or 2.989 million square miles. This makes it only slightly smaller than the United States, which has a land area of 3.797 million square miles. In fact, the land area of Australia is about the same size as the continental US.
To put it into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth in Australia (from the East Coast to the West Coast) is roughly equivalent to travelling from New York to Los Angeles in the US. Despite being slightly smaller in area, Australia is significantly less populous than the US. The whole of Australia has about the same number of people as the single US state of Texas.
Australia is surrounded by thousands of small fringing islands and numerous larger ones, which amount to an area about half the size of Tasmania. The country is part of the continent of Australia, which is the smallest of the seven traditional continents. The continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands, among other nearby islands.
Australia's land area accounts for just five percent of the world's total land area. Despite being smaller than the US, Australia is a relatively large country, ranking as the sixth-largest in the world, behind Russia, Canada, China, the US, and Brazil.
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Australia is a continent
Australia is also part of the wider region of Oceania, which is made up of thousands of islands throughout the Central and South Pacific. The term Oceania was originally a "great division" of the world in the 1810s, but in English-speaking countries, the concept of Australia as one of the world's continents gained popularity in the 1950s. Today, the term Oceania is often used to denote the region encompassing the Australian continent, Zealandia, and various islands in the Pacific Ocean that are not included in the seven-continent model.
Australia is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. It is also one of 17 megadiverse countries, with much of its biota being unique. About 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals and 46% of its birds are endemic.
The human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, with the migration of people from what is now Southeast Asia. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. At the time of first European contact, Aboriginal Australians belonged to a wide range of societies, with diverse economies spread across at least 250 different language groups.
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It has a land area of 2.989 million square miles
Australia is an extensive country with a total land area of approximately 2.989 million square miles, which is an impressive expanse of terrain. To put this into perspective, if you were to convert this vast area into acres, it would amount to an extraordinary 7,750,759,000 acres. This figure represents the total land area under Australian jurisdiction, including its external territories. The Australian mainland and its adjacent islands, excluding these external territories, cover an area of about 2,967,909 square miles, which translates to 7,636,770,000 acres. These figures highlight the sheer size and vastness of the Australian continent.
With such a large land area, it is no surprise that Australia is considered a continent in its own right. In fact, it is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area. The continent offers a diverse range of landscapes, from its expansive deserts to its lush rainforests, and its coastline boasts some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world. The country's external territories also contribute to its overall land area, with a combined size of 21,765 square miles, equivalent to 53,780,000 acres. These territories include a variety of islands, such as Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island, each offering their own unique geographical features.
The Australian continent is not only vast but also relatively flat compared to other continents. The Great Dividing Range, the country's most significant mountain range, runs parallel to the coastline and covers a substantial distance of approximately 2,300 miles. Despite this prominent feature, the majority of Australia is characterized by low-lying terrain, with a central plateau and vast plains. This flatness is a defining characteristic of the country's geography and contributes to its distinctive landscapes. The continent's landmass is also ancient, with some of the oldest rocks and geological formations on Earth, dating back billions of years.
Australia's land area is not just about size but also diversity. The country is home to a wide variety of ecosystems and habitats, each supporting a unique array of flora and fauna. From the iconic Outback with its rugged beauty and sparse vegetation to the lush rainforests of Queensland and the tropical wetlands of the Top End, Australia's landscapes are as diverse as they are vast. This diversity extends to its coastal areas, with the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most remarkable natural wonders, stretching over 1,400 miles along the Queensland coast. The reef alone covers an area of approximately 133,000 square miles, showcasing the incredible natural diversity found within Australia's vast land area.
The sheer size of Australia has had a significant impact on its history, culture, and development. The continent's indigenous people, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have a deep connection to the land, with a rich cultural heritage that spans thousands of years. European colonization, which began in the late 18th century, saw the establishment of settlements and the gradual expansion of agricultural and industrial activities across the continent. Today, Australia's land area continues to shape its economy, with a strong focus on agriculture, mining, and natural resource management. The country is a major exporter of agricultural produce, benefiting from its vast arable land and favorable climatic conditions in certain regions.
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Australia is surrounded by thousands of small islands
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles, or 7,688,287 square kilometres. This accounts for about 5% of the world's land area. While Australia is a large country, it is also the world's largest island.
Australia is surrounded by thousands of smaller islands within its maritime borders. There are 8,222 islands in total, including the island of Tasmania, which is a large island state off the southeast coast of mainland Australia. Tasmania includes 334 islands or islets within its state borders. The main island of Tasmania does not have a defined name, but it is sometimes referred to as the "Tasmanian mainland".
Some of the other larger islands in Australia include Kangaroo Island in South Australia, Melville Island in the Northern Territory, Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory, and Bathurst Island in the Northern Territory. These islands range in size from 1,002 square kilometres (Mornington Island) to 64,519 square kilometres (Tasmania).
In addition to these islands, there are also several remote offshore territories that are considered part of Australia, including the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island.
Many of the islands surrounding Australia are popular tourist destinations, known for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife. For example, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 900 islands, including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, and Long Island, which offer luxurious tropical escapes and opportunities for sailing, snorkelling, and exploring the famous Heart Reef. Lord Howe Island, a biodiverse island with a mountain-studded interior, is another popular destination, known for its exclusive visitor limit of 400 people at any given time.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is 7,688,287 square kilometres or approximately 1,901,340,000 acres.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil. It is slightly smaller than the continental USA.
Australia has a population of around 25 million people, which is similar to the population of the state of Texas.
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