Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a large country with a diverse landscape, unique wildlife, and a highly urbanized population. It is the smallest of the seven continents and the sixth-largest country in the world by area. Australia is also one of the most rural countries, with only 18% of its people living in urban centers. With a population of almost 28 million, it has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations and is known for its high quality of life, health, education, and economic freedom. So, while Australia is not the smallest country in the world, it is indeed the smallest continent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Area | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) |
| Population | 28 million |
| Political System | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Number of States | 6 |
| Number of Territories | 10 |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Largest Cities | Sydney, Melbourne |
| Global Ranking by Area | Sixth-largest country |
| Continent Ranking by Area | Smallest continent |
| Continent Ranking by Height | Lowest continent |
| Continent Ranking by Aridity | Second-driest continent |
| Continent Ranking by Flatness | Flattest continent |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent
The continent of Australia is sometimes known in technical contexts as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to distinguish it from the country of Australia. The name "Sahul" is derived from the Sahul Shelf, which is a part of the continental shelf of the Australian continent. Australia, the continent, is home to the country of Australia, which makes up most of the continent.
Australia is the smallest of the seven traditional continents, spanning over 8 million square kilometres or 3 million square miles, according to National Geographic. The continent is sparsely populated, with just over 25 million residents, according to the most recent census. Australia is also the largest country without land borders and the sixth-largest country on Earth.
Australia is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy, with the second-highest human development index globally. The continent also has the world's ninth-largest immigrant population. Australia is sometimes referred to as Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and other tiny islands in the Central and South Pacific.
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Australia is the sixth-largest country by area
Australia is definitely not the smallest country in the world. In fact, it is the sixth-largest country in the world by area. It is also the largest country in Oceania, a geographical region in the Pacific Ocean.
The Australian mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km). The country also includes the island of Tasmania in the south and numerous smaller islands, bringing its total area to 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles).
Australia is also a continent, and it is the smallest of the seven traditional continents. It is sometimes referred to as an "island continent" because it is mostly on a single landmass surrounded by oceans. The continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
Australia is highly urbanised, with 18% of its people living in urban centres. It has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. It is also one of the most culturally diverse countries, with one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world.
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Australia is highly urbanised
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite being one of the largest countries in the world, Australia is highly urbanised.
In fact, Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with 90% of its population living in just 0.22% of the country's land area. As of the 2016 Census, more than two-thirds of Australians lived in a capital city, with 40% of the population concentrated in the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. This trend of urbanisation is longstanding, with Australia's urbanisation rate consistently above 80% since the 1960s, reaching 86.62% in 2023.
The high degree of urbanisation in Australia can be attributed in part to the country's high rates of immigration since the 20th century, with immigrants often settling in coastal, urban areas. Australia has the world's 9th largest immigrant population. The country's urban centres offer economic opportunities and cultural diversity, attracting people from both within and outside Australia.
Despite its high urbanisation rate, Australia's population density is among the lowest in the world due to its large land area. The country's mainland extends nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from west to east and nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from north to south. This vast expanse of land, coupled with the concentration of people in urban centres, contributes to Australia's low population density.
In summary, Australia is a highly urbanised country, with a significant proportion of its population living in coastal cities like Sydney and Melbourne. This urbanisation has been a consistent trend over the past decades, shaped by immigration patterns and economic opportunities.
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Australia is a megadiverse country
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally.
Despite its relatively small size, Australia is a megadiverse country, meaning it is one of the most biologically rich countries in the world. It is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, comprising 9.6% of all species known to man. 84% of its plant species, 83% of its mammals, and 45% of its birds are endemic, or unique, to Australia. Its unique flora and fauna include hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees, acacias (Acacia pycnantha, or golden wattle, is the national flower), and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. Other plants and animals associated with Australia include dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.
Australia's isolated island location and low rainfall have given it the highest reptile diversity in the world, with 89-93% of its reptile species found nowhere else. It is also home to unique marsupials such as the numbat and the marsupial mole.
However, Australia has also experienced significant biodiversity loss due to human activity. Since the arrival of Europeans, unsustainable hunting, the destruction of forests, grasslands, and wetlands for agriculture and urban sprawl, and the introduction of exotic weeds, pests, and other species have led to the extinction of over 50 animal species and 60 plant species. Colonial Australia has caused more mammal extinctions than anywhere else in the world, and the country now has more foreign plant species than native ones.
Recognising the importance of biodiversity, Australia has recently signed a global agreement for nature and set a target of zero new extinctions. The Albanese government is also working to overhaul the country's environmental laws to better protect nature and conserve Australia's remaining biodiversity.
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Australia is a constitutional monarchy
Australia is a large country and the smallest continent on Earth, located in the Southern Hemisphere between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is highly urbanised, with only 18% of its population living in rural areas.
The monarchy in Australia has a distinct office from that of the United Kingdom, and the monarch acts exclusively on the advice of Australian state and federal ministers. The Australian monarchy is also unique in that it has undergone several reforms to remove references to religion and male bias in succession.
Australia's system of government combines written and unwritten rules, with the sovereign, governors, and governor-general all playing key roles. The prime minister, ministers, and parliamentary secretaries traditionally pledge allegiance to the monarch upon taking office, although this is not legally required.
Australia's constitutional monarchy is a legacy of its colonial past, having been a collection of British colonies before becoming a nation in 1901. When the colonies joined to form Australia, they chose a constitutional monarchy as their system of government, similar to that of Britain.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia is not the smallest country in the world. It is, however, the smallest continent. The country of Australia comprises most of the continent and is sometimes informally referred to as an island continent. The smallest country in the world is Vatican City, with an area of just 0.17 to 0.2 square miles.
Australia extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km).
Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It is also the lowest, flattest, and second driest continent.
Some of the smallest countries in the world include Monaco, Nauru, Liechtenstein, and the Marshall Islands.
A country is a distinct territory with its own governance, often with its own government, administration, and laws. A continent is a large continuous landmass containing multiple countries.
