Lexi Webster
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas. Australia is the world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area. It has a diverse culture and one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with 17.4% of its population identifying as Asian in the 2021 census. Australia has strong economic ties with Asian countries, with Japan, China, Korea, and India being among the top recipients of Australian exports in 2010.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | Almost 28 million |
| Population Density | 2.9 inhabitants per square kilometre |
| Population of Asian Descent | 17.4% |
| Languages Spoken at Home | South Asian: 1.2 million, East or North Asian: 1.2 million, Southeast Asian: 827,000 |
| Religion | Hinduism is the fastest growing religion |
| Economy | One of the highest per capita incomes globally |
| Education | Offers the lowest tuition fee for a university degree among Anglo-Saxon countries surrounding Asia |
| Geography | The smallest continent, sixth-largest country by total area |
| Location | Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's Asian identity
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area. Australia is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often dubbed the "island continent". It is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia's culture is diverse, and the country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated ancestry groups as a proportion of the total population were 57.2% European, 33.8% Oceanian, 17.4% Asian, 3.2% North African and Middle Eastern, 1.4% Peoples of the Americas, and 1.3% Sub-Saharan African. Additionally, 3.8% of the Australian population identified as being Indigenous—Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.
Australia's written history commenced with Dutch exploration of most of the coastline in the 17th century, followed by British settlement. The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, during the last glacial period. By the time of British settlement, Aboriginal Australians spoke 250 distinct languages and had one of the oldest living cultures in the world.
Today, Australia's multicultural national identity is a given. In the words of Noel Pearson, it is 'three stories that make us one' – Indigenous heritage, the Westminster institutions that followed, and the multicultural migration, particularly from the surrounding Asian region, that has flourished in recent decades. Hinduism is Australia's fastest-growing religion, and Mandarin is the most spoken language in Australian homes other than English. Over 1.2 million people speak a South Asian language at home, and another 1.2 million speak an East or North Asian language.
Globalization has also played a significant role in shaping Australia's Asian identity. In 2010, Japan, China, Korea, and India were the top four recipient countries for Australian exportations. Together with Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand, they represent 63% of the total number of exportations. As a result, China is as essential to Australian economic security and prosperity as the United States is to the military. Australia and most Asian countries are also part of several economic organizations, including ASEAN+6, APEC, TPP, and FPDA.
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Australia's geographical location
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world. Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and lies between latitudes 9° and 44° south, and longitudes 112° and 154° east. It is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia is part of the Oceania continent and is sometimes considered the world's largest island. It is often dubbed the "island continent". The continent of Australia includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other nearby islands.
Australia is geographically closer to Asia than Europe, and the Aboriginal, Papuan, and Mamanwa peoples carry genes associated with the Denisovans, a now-extinct human species from Asia. However, as former British colonies, Australia and New Zealand are culturally closer to Europe than Asia. They are part of the Oceania continent and lie in the Southern Hemisphere, while all of Asia, except some parts of Indonesia, is in the Northern Hemisphere.
Australia is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which promotes closer economic ties within the Asia-Pacific region. It also has strong trade ties with Asian countries, particularly China, with which it established a prime-ministerial-level dialogue in 2013. Australia and New Zealand play an active role in Asian politics and are part of the Asia-Pacific region, also known as Apac.
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Asian migration to Australia
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas.
In recent years, there has been a growing share of migrants to Australia from Asian countries like China and India. Vietnam-born individuals represent the fifth-largest migrant community in Australia, with 212,070 people as of end-June 2011. Similarly, the number of Philippine-born people in Australia has increased, making them the seventh-largest migrant community. Interestingly, despite Indonesia being Australia's nearest Asian neighbor and having the third-highest population in Asia, it only represents the 19th largest migrant community in Australia. However, there has been a recent increase in migration from Indonesia, which could have significant benefits for trade and investment links between the two countries.
The Asian migration has led to a diversification of Australia's food supply, with the introduction of new foods, fresh food markets, and restaurants. This has resulted in a process of "Australian eating patterns becoming Asianized". Additionally, migration has brought about health opportunities and challenges for both host citizens and migrants. For example, there has been a reported decrease in energy expenditure and an increase in the risk of certain "eco-diseases" for Asian migrants, such as abdominal obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Australia has a highly diverse culture, and its population of almost 28 million has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. At the 2021 census, 17.4% of Australians identified their ancestry as Asian. Australia's abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its highly developed economy, and it ranks highly for quality of life, health, education, and civil liberties.
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Asian students in Australia
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas. While Australia is not considered part of Asia, it has strong cultural and historical ties to the region, and its population includes a significant proportion of people with Asian ancestry. At the 2021 census, 17.4% of the Australian population identified as having Asian ancestry, including 6.5% Central and Southern Asian, 6.4% Northeast Asian, and 4.5% Southeast Asian.
Many Asian students in Australia are the children of skilled migrants, particularly from East and South Asia. These students are often high achievers and are overrepresented in selective schools, prestigious university courses, and academically-focused classes. Their success in the Australian education system has sometimes been attributed to the so-called "tiger parenting" style, which involves a strong emphasis on academic achievement and extra tutoring. However, this success has also been criticised as "gaming the system" and has sparked debates about racial equality and the impact of competitive schooling on children's wellbeing.
On the other hand, there are also many Asian students from disadvantaged backgrounds who struggle to keep up in school. Asian migrants, especially those new to the country, may face challenges in navigating the Australian education system due to language barriers, lack of local knowledge, and racial discrimination. They may feel pressured to succeed in a competitive and hierarchical schooling environment, which can be very different from their previous educational experiences.
Overall, the experiences of Asian students in Australia are diverse and multifaceted. While some excel in the country's competitive schooling system, others face significant challenges and barriers to their success. The presence of Asian students in Australia's education system reflects the country's cultural diversity and its historical connections to the Asian region.
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Australia's economic ties with Asia
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas.
While Australia is not considered an Asian country, it has strong economic ties with the continent. Australia's highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally are heavily reliant on its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations.
Over the past two decades, foreign investment has played an increasingly significant role in Australia's economy, with foreign investment growing by 8% per year and reaching a total value of A$4.7 trillion. In 2022, FDI in Australia surged by 9% while the total stock of global FDI dipped by 6%.
Australia has particularly strong economic ties with Southeast Asia, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) being a key element in Australia's plans for future prosperity and security. The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) agreement has been upgraded to include additional commitments on services and investments, benefiting Australian exporters and investors. The upgrade also strengthens supply chain resilience and includes key commitments on sustainable and inclusive trade, such as environmental protection, the green economy, labour issues, and women's economic empowerment.
However, Australia has security concerns over its economic ties with China due to supply chain disruptions and experiences of economic coercion. Canberra has introduced policies to address these issues, including the Foreign Investment Reform Bill to screen inbound investments on national security grounds and the establishment of an Office of Supply Chain Resilience.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia is not an Asian country, but a country in the continent of Oceania. It is, however, the world's largest island and the smallest continent.
Australia has a population of almost 28 million people, with the majority concentrated on the eastern seaboard.
Australia's population density is 2.9 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world.
Australia has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres, making it the sixth-largest country in the world.
English is the de facto official and national language of Australia, although it is not the official language in law.
