Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a country and a continent, the smallest in the world, and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is situated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of almost 28 million, 70% of whom live in the top eight most populous cities. The capital city is Canberra, and the country's most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with a population of over five million. The definition of a city varies between the states, and each state has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Smallest |
| Country | One of the largest |
| Location | Between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Most populous cities | Sydney, Melbourne |
| Population | 28 million |
| Population density | 3.4 persons per square kilometre |
| Culture | Diverse, influenced by Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and post-1945 immigration |
| Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| States | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania |
| Territories | Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island, McDonald Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory |
| Economy | Member of OECD and WTO; free trade agreements with multiple countries |
| Flora and fauna | Eucalyptus trees, platypus, echidna, acacias, dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras |
| Tourism | Great Barrier Reef, unique landscapes, wildlife, Aboriginal culture |
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What You'll Learn
What is the definition of a city in Australia?
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. The country is highly urbanised, with 67% of its population living in metropolitan areas. The definition of a city in Australia varies between the states.
In New South Wales, only local government areas can be declared as "cities" by the Government, under the Local Government Act 1993. While the current Act does not specify any criteria for city status, a previous version of the Act stipulated that to be a city, a Council area must:
- Have a population of at least 25,000 people.
- Be an independent centre of population, not a suburb of another council area or centre of population.
- Satisfy the criteria in paragraphs (a) or (b) and be a homogenous centre of importance as a focus of regional commercial, governmental, or cultural activity.
New South Wales, therefore, has two types of "cities": those acknowledged on the register of the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales, and local government areas proclaimed as cities but not acknowledged on the Geographical Names Register.
State capital cities in Australia may include multiple local government areas (LGAs) within their boundaries, and these LGAs may be considered cities in their own right. Examples of state capital cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, and Hobart. These cities offer diverse products, services, and employment opportunities, attracting people with their concentration of services and cultural, leisure, and sporting activities.
While state and territory governments have traditionally held the main responsibility for urban governance, the Australian Government has recently shown renewed interest in cities and urban policy, launching initiatives such as 'City Deals' to address nationwide challenges related to population growth, new technologies, industrial transition, and climate change.
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What is the capital of Australia?
Australia is a country and a continent. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
The capital of Australia is Canberra. It is located in the northern region of the Australian Capital Territory, in the southeast corner of Australia. Canberra is roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) inland from the country's east coast and has an elevation of about 580 metres (1,900 feet). It is the largest inland city and the eighth-largest city in Australia, with a population of around 430,000 to 467,000 people.
Canberra was founded in 1913, twelve years after the former British colonies of Australia federated in 1901, deciding to form the Commonwealth of Australia. The site of Canberra was chosen to be the capital city in 1908, and the designs for the city were chosen in 1912. An international competition was held to select the designers, and the winners were American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Construction of the city began in 1913.
Canberra was chosen as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, which were the two largest cities and the strongest candidates for becoming the capital. It was decided that the capital would be built in the territory of New South Wales, between the two cities, so long as it was at least 160 kilometres away from Sydney.
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What are the most populous cities in Australia?
Australia's cities are spread across six states: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. The most populous cities are located in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Victoria, the smallest mainland state, is the second most populous and includes one of the country's most populated cities, Melbourne. 70% of the Australian population lives in the top eight most populous cities. Each of these eight cities forms its own Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), which represents a broad functional definition of each state and territorial capital city.
- Sydney: The most populous city in Australia, located in New South Wales.
- Melbourne: Located in Victoria, it is the second most populous city.
- Brisbane: The state capital city of Queensland, with its urban area covering a significant portion of the city.
- Perth: The capital city of Western Australia.
- Adelaide: A popular city in South Australia.
- Canberra: The capital territory of Australia, including the adjacent Queanbeyan in New South Wales.
- Gold Coast: A well-known city in Queensland.
- Newcastle: Located in New South Wales, it is a significant urban area.
These cities attract many residents and immigrants due to their job opportunities and urban lifestyles. The populations of these cities are constantly evolving, with each census providing updated figures to represent the changing demographics of Australia.
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How many states and territories are there in Australia?
Australia is a country and a continent. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.
Australia is divided into six states and two internal territories. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The two internal territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Each state has its own constitution and a limited degree of sovereignty. The territories are legally subordinate to the federal government but are mostly self-governing. They administer local policies and programs much like the states.
In addition to the two internal territories, Australia also has several external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and the Coral Sea Islands. These external territories are governed by the federal government.
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What is the population density of Australia?
Australia is a country and a continent. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. The country is divided into six states and two territories. Each state has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms.
Australia has a population density of 3.4 persons per square kilometre of total land area, according to a 2022 report. This makes it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, ranking as the third least densely populated country, after Namibia and Mongolia. The population density figure was reported to be 3.5 people per square kilometre as of June 2024. Another source gives the population density as 4 per Km² (9 people per mi²).
The population of Australia is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. The country is highly urbanised, with 67% of the population living in metropolitan areas in 2018. This figure rose to 86.51% in 2025. The metropolitan areas with more than one million inhabitants are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Sydney and Melbourne are the country's most populous cities, each with a population of over five million. Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide also have high population densities.
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Frequently asked questions
The capital of Australia is Canberra.
Sydney and Melbourne are the most important economic and cultural centres in Australia.
The six states of Australia are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
The two territories of Australia are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia.
