Damon Mcknight
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, spanning 7,686,850 square kilometres or 2,967,909 square miles. In acres, this equates to approximately 1,900,000,000 acres. To put this into perspective, the country is about the same size as the continental US, and a trip from Sydney to Perth is a similar distance to travelling from New York to Los Angeles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land area in acres | 2,967,909 sq mi |
| Land area in square kilometres | 7,686,850 sq km |
| Land area in hectares | 768,685,000 hectares |
| World ranking by size | 6th largest country |
| Percentage of world's land area | 5% |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's land area is 2.989 million square miles
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country, spanning 7,686,850 square kilometres (2,967,909 square miles). To put that into perspective, it accounts for about five per cent of the world's land area of 149,450,000 square kilometres. In terms of size, Australia is comparable to continental USA, which has a land area of 3,797,000 square miles. However, the population of the whole of Australia is similar to that of the state of Texas.
Australia is home to a diverse range of landscapes, from the rugged mountains of New Guinea to the distinctive hard-leaved sclerophyllous plants that characterise the modern Australian landscape. The country also boasts numerous smaller offshore islands and the remote offshore territories of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, further adding to its land area.
The calculations for Australia's area are based on coastline data, specifically the 1:100,000 scale National Topographic Map Series, which is the most authoritative data source currently available. This data is uniform and provides an accurate representation of the country's size.
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Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world
Australia is made up of the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller offshore islands. It is the smallest continental land mass but is the world's largest island. It accounts for just 5% of the world's land area.
The country is surrounded by thousands of small islands and numerous larger ones, which amount to an area half the size of Tasmania. Australia's population is concentrated along its coastlines, with five cities (including their suburbs) that have populations of more than one million people.
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.
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Australia is the world's largest island
Australia is a country that is often referred to as an "island continent." It is surrounded by water and is the smallest continental land mass, accounting for just 5% of the world's land area. Australia is about the same size as continental USA, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles compared to the US's 3.797 million square miles.
The distinction between an island and a continent is not always clear-cut, and there is no strict scientific definition of a continent. However, according to Britannica, an island is a mass of land that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent." By this definition, Australia cannot be an island because it is already a continent.
Historically, there has been some debate about whether Australia should be considered an island or a continent. In the late 18th century, some geographers considered it a continent, while others saw it as an island. In 1813, Samuel Butler referred to Australia as "New Holland, an immense island, which some geographers dignify with the appellation of another continent." It was not until the 1950s that the concept of Oceania as a "great division" of the world was replaced by the concept of Australia as a continent.
Despite being a continent, Australia is sometimes still referred to as the world's largest island, especially when considering the country of Australia, which includes the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller offshore islands.
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Australia's population is similar to Texas's
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. Despite its vast size, Australia's population is relatively small compared to other highly populated countries. Australia has experienced a demographic shift towards an older population, with more retirees and fewer people of working age. The average age of the population was 39 years in 2021. Australia has a population of around 26 million people, with the majority living near coastlines, particularly in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
In comparison, the state of Texas in the United States has a similar land area to Australia but a higher population. Texas is estimated to have a population of approximately 30 million people, with significant urban centres such as Houston, Dallas, and Austin contributing to its larger population. The difference in population distribution between Australia and Texas is notable, with Australia's population concentrated in major cities along the southeastern coast.
Australia has the world's eighth-largest immigrant population, with immigrants accounting for 30% of its total population. In recent decades, Australia has experienced significant increases in immigration, particularly from Asia, which has become the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century. The high immigration rates have been justified using the slogan "populate or perish".
While Texas has a larger population than Australia, both regions have vast land areas. The population distribution differs, with Texas having more urban centres and Australia having a more concentrated population in coastal cities. Australia's population is similar to Texas's in terms of cultural diversity, with both regions experiencing an increase in immigration from various parts of the world.
In summary, despite their similar land areas, Australia and Texas differ in their population sizes and distributions. Australia's population is smaller and more concentrated along the coast, while Texas boasts a larger population with significant urban centres across the state. Both regions showcase cultural diversity, with immigration playing a significant role in shaping their demographic landscapes.
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Australia is about the same size as the continental 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 about the same size as the continental United States, which covers 3.797 million square miles. In other words, travelling from Sydney to Perth in Australia is roughly equivalent to travelling from New York to Los Angeles in the US.
Despite being similar in geographical size, the population of Australia is significantly smaller than that of the US. Australia's population is comparable to that of the state of Texas, which is only one out of the 50 states in the US. This highlights the vast difference in population density between the two countries.
Australia's landmass is distributed differently from that of the continental US. While the US has a more compact and contiguous landmass, Australia's territory includes the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller offshore islands, and remote offshore territories. This gives Australia a more dispersed and fragmented geography compared to the US.
The perception of Australia's size is also influenced by its infrastructure. Due to its lower population density and vast distances between destinations, Australia's transportation network may have fewer options for travel connections. This means that careful trip planning is essential when travelling within Australia, as simple oversights in booking schedules can disrupt a trip.
In summary, Australia is about the same size as the continental US in terms of land area. However, Australia has a significantly smaller population and a more dispersed geography, including a mainland continent and various islands. The differences in infrastructure and travel connections between the two countries further emphasise the unique characteristics of Australia's size and landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is approximately 7,686,850 sq km or 2,967,909 sq miles, which equates to around 1,923,524,716 acres.
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil.
Australia has a population of around 25 million people, which is significantly less than America's.
Australia accounts for just 5% of the world's land area.
Australia has five cities with populations larger than one million people.
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