Lexi Webster
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It has a total area of 7,688,287 sq km (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world. But is it the world's largest island or its smallest continent?
Australia is commonly referred to as an island continent, but geographers insist that it is not technically an island and may only be called a continent or a continental landmass. An island is typically defined as a mass of land that is entirely surrounded by water and smaller than a continent. Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, and Greenland is the largest island.
Is Australia the world's largest island or its smallest continent?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land Area | 7,692,024 square kilometers (2,969,907 sq. miles) |
| Population | Approximately 26 million people as of 2023 |
| Geography | Australia is a single continent, the smallest in the world, and surrounded by ocean. It sits on the Indo-Australian Plate and is the lowest, flattest, and oldest continental land area on Earth. |
| Terrain | Mostly low plateau with deserts, rangelands, and a fertile plain in the southeast. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, lies a short distance off the northeast coast. |
| Climate | Australia has a varied climate, from tropical rainforests in the north to hot, dry deserts in the interior, and temperate climates in the south and east. |
| Highest Point | Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 meters (7,310 feet) |
| Lowest Point | Lake Eyre at 15 meters (49 feet) below sea level |
| Human Settlement | Indigenous Australians have inhabited the continent for over 65,000 years. The first British settlement was established in 1788, and Australia became a nation in 1901. |
| Government | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a democratic system |
| Economy | Mixed market economy with a high-income economy and a high quality of life. Key sectors include mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. |
| Wildlife | Unique and diverse flora and fauna, including iconic species such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and a variety of unique birds and reptiles. |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent
The distinction between islands and continents is not always clear-cut, and there is no strict scientific definition of a continent. However, the size difference between Australia and Greenland, the world's largest island, is significant enough for geographers to classify them separately. Greenland spans 836,000 square miles (2,165,230 square kilometres), making it less than a third of the size of Australia.
Australia's continental status is supported by several factors beyond its size. Firstly, the country's unique flora and fauna are indigenous to the continent and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Secondly, there is an anthropological distinction: the indigenous people of Australia, the Aborigines, belong to a race contained within the continent and its surrounding islands. This is similar to the indigenous peoples of other continents.
The term "Oceania" is sometimes used interchangeably with Australia to refer to the continent. However, Oceania more accurately describes the collective islands and island groups of the Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas. The name "Australia" is used to differentiate the continent from the country of Australia, which spans most of the continental landmass.
In summary, Australia is classified as the smallest continent due to its size, unique biogeography, and anthropological characteristics. While it may be colloquially referred to as an "island continent", its significant land area and distinct features set it apart from islands such as Greenland.
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Australia is not an island
The most common definition of an island is any mass of land that is entirely surrounded by water but is smaller than a continent. By that definition, Australia cannot be an island because it is a continent. Australia is the smallest of the seven continents, at about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km). It is nearly four times larger than Greenland, the world's largest island.
Australia's continental status precludes it from also being an island, as islands and continents are largely viewed as distinct entities. There are several criteria that qualify Australia as a continent. Firstly, the diverse flora and fauna of Australia are specific to the country and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Secondly, there is an anthropological distinction. The indigenous people of Australia, the Aborigines, belong to a race that is contained in the continent and its surrounding islands. This is similar to the indigenous people from other continents.
The term Oceania, originally a “great division” of the world in the 1810s, was replaced in English-language countries by the concept of Australia as one of the world's continents in the 1950s. Prior to the 1950s, before the popularization of the theory of plate tectonics, Antarctica, Australia and Greenland were sometimes described as island continents, but none were usually taught as one of the world's continents.
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Greenland is the largest island
Australia is the smallest of the seven continents, covering an area of about 2.97 million square miles (7.7 million square kilometres). It is commonly referred to as an "island continent", but geographers insist that it is not technically an island. According to the most common definition, an island is a mass of land that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent".
Greenland, on the other hand, is the world's largest island. It is nearly four times smaller than Australia, with a size of 836,000 square miles (2,165,230 square kilometres). Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and is part of the Council of Europe. Over 80% of the island lies north of the Arctic Circle, and it is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Greenland Sea to the east, the North Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, the Davis Strait to the southwest, Baffin Bay to the west, the Nares Strait, and Lincoln Sea to the northwest.
The distinction between an island and a continent is not always clear-cut, and there is no strict scientific definition of a continent. Some criteria that are used to classify a landmass as a continent include the uniqueness of its bio life and anthropological distinctions of its indigenous people. Greenland falls short in these criteria compared to Australia, which has a high percentage of unique plant and animal species and a distinct indigenous population.
Another factor that differentiates Greenland from Australia is the size of their economies. Greenland's economy is heavily reliant on fishing, which accounts for more than 90% of its exports. In contrast, Australia has one of the largest and most dominant economies in the world, with a high per-capita GDP.
In summary, while Australia is the smallest continent and Greenland is the largest island, the distinction between the two goes beyond size and involves geographical, biological, cultural, and economic factors.
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Australia's unique flora and fauna
Marsupials and Monotremes
Marsupials, such as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas, and possums, are some of Australia's most famous animals. These mammals carry their young in a pouch, and they occupy ecological niches that would be filled by placental mammals in other parts of the world. Australia is also home to two of the five known extant species of monotremes, which are a transitory group between mammals and reptiles. The platypus and the echidna are the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Australia has an impressive diversity of reptiles and amphibians, with over 360 species of lizards, 140 species of snakes, and more than 200 species of amphibians. The country is known for its venomous snakes, including the inland taipan, the tiger snake, and the common death adder. Saltwater crocodiles, found along the northern coast, are the largest of all living reptiles and can grow up to 6.3 meters long.
Birds
Australia has a rich variety of birds, with about 46% of the bird species in the continent being endemic. The tawny frogmouth, often mistaken for an owl, is found throughout Australia. The wedge-tailed eagle, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters, is Australia's largest bird of prey. The Albert's lyrebird, a threatened species, is distinguished by its richer brown plumage and less elaborate tail feathers.
Plants
Australia is home to a wide range of unique plant species, with about 85% of its plant species being endemic. Sturt's desert pea, with its vibrant red leaf-shaped flowers, is one of the most easily recognised Australian native plants, thriving in arid regions. The waratah, the floral emblem of NSW, is another iconic Australian bush flower found around Sydney and the NSW South Coast. The wonga wonga vine is a vigorous climber found along eastern Australia, and it also has a shrub-like variation in the central desert.
Conservation Efforts
Australia has taken significant steps to protect its unique flora and fauna. The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 safeguards native species, and the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) catalogues and researches the country's biodiversity. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy owns 4.8 million hectares of land dedicated to protecting endangered species. Additionally, the creation of national parks and reserves helps preserve the continent's pristine areas and endangered species.
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Aboriginal Australians
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, covering about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square kilometres). Although it is sometimes referred to as an "island continent", geographers insist that Australia is not technically an island. This is because an island is a mass of land that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent".
The Aboriginal Australians are the indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and its islands. They are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, who are collectively referred to as "Australasians". They are believed to have migrated to Australia between 43,000 to 65,000 years ago, and over time formed as many as 500 language-based groups. They are one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, with complex trade networks, inter-cultural relationships, laws, and religions.
The Aboriginal Australians were first isolated on many of the smaller offshore islands and Tasmania when the land was inundated at the start of the Holocene inter-glacial period, about 11,700 years ago. Despite this, they maintained extensive networks within the continent and certain groups maintained relationships with Torres Strait Islanders and the Makassar people of modern-day Indonesia.
The Aboriginal Australians were devastated by British colonisation, which began in 1788. Their population was ravaged by epidemics, and they were dispossessed of their lands. Researchers have documented at least 270 massacres of Aboriginal Australians during the country's first 140 years, and their children were forcibly removed from their homes and put into adoptive families and institutions. They are still fighting for recognition of their sovereignty and to reclaim their ancestors' remains.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia is not the world's largest island. Greenland is the largest island in the world.
Yes, Australia is the smallest continent.
Australia has a total area of 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) or 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km).
Australia is sometimes referred to as an "island continent" because it is mostly on a single landmass and is surrounded by oceans. However, geographers insist that Australia is not an island and may only be called a continent or a continental landmass.
According to Britannica, an island is a mass of land that is ""entirely surrounded by water" and also ""smaller than a continent". There is no strict scientific definition of a continent, but it is generally understood that continents are larger than islands.
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