Leslie Massey
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is both a country and a continent. It is the smallest continent on Earth and the sixth-largest country in the world. Australia is a sovereign state with its own government and economy. It is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with a highly urbanised population of almost 28 million people. The country has a unique national identity and is known for its egalitarian views and diverse culture. With a rich history and an abundance of natural resources, Australia has become a significant player on the world stage, contributing to international peace and security efforts and fostering strong economic and political ties with nations across the globe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) |
| Population | 25-28 million |
| Population Characteristics | Diverse, with people from almost 200 countries; 30% born overseas; English is the national language, but more than 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes |
| Climate | Wet tropical in the northeast and northwest; arid in the center; temperate and humid in the coastal south; the Australian mainland is the driest inhabited continent |
| Biodiversity | Megadiverse, with unique flora and fauna; 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 24% of fish and insects, 93% of amphibians, and 45% of bird species are endemic to Australia |
| Form of Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Economy | Strong and open; Australia has fifteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 26 countries and has recorded 28 straight years of annual economic growth before the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Global Relations | Australia is a founding member of the United Nations and has strong economic, security, political, social, and cultural ties with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's sovereignty and independence
Australia is a sovereign state with its own government and economy. It is officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia. The country was officially created in 1901 when the British Parliament allowed six separate British colonies on the continent to unite into one dominion. Australia gained control over its foreign policy in 1931 when the British government approved the Statute of Westminster, although Australia did not formally adopt this law until 1942. The country's sovereignty is also demonstrated by its membership in international organisations such as the United Nations, which it joined in 1945, and its participation in over 50 peace and security operations around the world.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch serving as the ceremonial head of state. The country has a federal parliamentary democracy, with six states and ten territories, each possessing varying degrees of autonomy. The two mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory, have been granted limited self-governing powers.
Australia has a strong and open economy, with 28 consecutive years of annual economic growth before the COVID-19 pandemic. It has fifteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 26 countries, including Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Peru. The country also has a diverse population, with over 30% of residents born overseas and more than 300 languages spoken in Australian homes.
Australia has a unique national identity, which has been shaped by its diverse landscapes and climates, as well as its indigenous history and culture. The country has a rich variety of flora and fauna, with many endemic species found only in Australia. Its geographic isolation has contributed to the development of its distinct natural environment.
In summary, Australia's sovereignty and independence are evident through its political and economic systems, its international relations, and its unique cultural and natural heritage. The country has evolved from its colonial past to become a confident, diverse, and sovereign nation.
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Australia's unique national identity
Australia has a unique national identity. It is officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia and is both a continent and a country. It is the smallest continent on Earth and the sixth-largest country in the world. Australia is a sovereign state with its own government and economy.
Australia is home to 25 million people from almost 200 countries. It has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with over 30% of its residents born overseas. While English is the national language, more than 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes. Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Italian are the most common languages spoken, excluding English. Australia's culture is diverse, and its people have egalitarian views, strongly supporting universal healthcare and publicly funded education.
The country has a strong and open economy. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia recorded 28 consecutive years of annual economic growth and was the world's 14th largest economy. Australia has plentiful natural resources and a sophisticated services sector, with a highly educated workforce. The country has fifteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 26 countries, opening up export markets and reducing the cost of doing business overseas.
Australia has a unique flora and fauna, with hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. The country also has several endemic species, with 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 24% of fish and insects, and 93% of amphibians found only in Australia. The koala, emu, kangaroo, and kookaburra are also national symbols of Australia.
Australia's landscape is diverse, ranging from tropical rainforests along the coast to deserts in the interior. It is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 470 millimetres. About 70% of the country is arid or semi-arid, and about 18% is desert. Australia's climate is influenced by its position in the horse latitudes, which brings arid conditions, and other systems such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole.
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Australia's diverse population
Australia is a megadiverse country, with a wide variety of landscapes and climates, from tropical rainforests along the coast to deserts in the interior. This diversity extends to its people, with one of the world's most multicultural populations.
The country has a population of around 25 million, with over 30% born overseas. Australians come from almost 200 countries, and the population speaks over 300 languages. The top five languages spoken, excluding English, are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Italian. The population's diversity is reflected in its religious affiliations, with almost 40% reporting no religion, and the remaining population largely identifying as Christian (43.9%), Muslim (3.2%-3.5%), Hindu (2.7%-2.9%), Buddhist (2.6%), or Jewish (1%).
Australia's population is highly urbanised, with most people living on the eastern seaboard. The country's most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people. The areas with the highest proportion of overseas-born residents are in urban New South Wales and Victoria, with Auburn in western Sydney having the highest proportion, at 61.7% in 2021.
Despite being home to only 0.3% of the global population, Australians enjoy some of the highest living standards in the world. The country has a strong and open economy, with 28 consecutive years of annual economic growth before the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia also has plentiful natural resources and a highly educated workforce, contributing to its high living standards.
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Australia's economy and trade
Australia has a strong and open economy, with plentiful natural resources and a sophisticated services sector backed by a highly educated workforce. It is one of the few countries that did not experience two consecutive negative quarters of growth during the global recession. In fact, in the year leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, Australia recorded 28 straight years of annual economic growth.
Australia's economy is trade-exposed, meaning that changes in other countries' demand for its goods and services can significantly impact its economy. The country has fifteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 26 countries, including Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Peru, which entered into force in 2020. These agreements open up export markets, reduce the cost of doing business overseas, and provide Australians with greater choice and more affordable products.
The Indo-Pacific is Australia's region, and it is home to many of its major strategic and trading partners. Australia has strong economic, security, political, social, and cultural ties with the United States and Canada. It also has longstanding political, cultural, trade, investment, and people-to-people links with the United Kingdom and Europe.
Australia's terms of trade reached very high levels in the mid-2000s due to a sharp increase in the prices of commodities used to produce steel and generate energy, such as iron ore, coal, and natural gas. This was driven by rapid urbanization and industrialization in China and other emerging economies. The increase in commodity prices led to a resources investment boom in the mining sector, with mining investment increasing five-fold from 2004 to 2012, peaking at 9% of GDP. This had a positive spillover effect on the rest of the Australian economy, increasing labour demand and putting upward pressure on wages.
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Australia's government and politics
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It is comprised of six states and ten territories, with a population of almost 28 million people. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and each state has certain powers delegated to them under the Australian constitution. The two mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory, have been granted limited self-governing powers by the federal government.
Australia became a nation in 1901 when the British Parliament allowed the six separate British colonies on the continent to unite into one dominion. This marked the beginning of Australia's autonomy from the United Kingdom, which continued with the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act of 1942 and culminated in the Australia Acts of 1986. While the British monarch remains the head of state, their function is ceremonial, and Australia is considered a fully sovereign country.
As a representative democracy, Australians elect candidates to represent them and carry out the business of the government. Australia has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with over 30% of residents born overseas and people from nearly 200 countries calling Australia home. The country has a strong and open economy, with 28 consecutive years of annual economic growth before the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia is also a founding member of the United Nations and has served on the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council.
Australians are known for their egalitarian views and support for universal healthcare and publicly-funded education. The country has some of the highest living standards in the world, and its economy has grown faster than any other major developed country since 1992. Australia's diverse landscape and climate range from wet tropical regions in the northeast and northwest to arid areas in the center, with unique flora and fauna found throughout.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is a country. It is officially called the Commonwealth of Australia and became a nation in 1901.
Yes, Australia is also a continent. It is the smallest of the seven continents and is also referred to as the Australian continent or the mainland.
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It has a strong economy and is a member of the United Nations.
Australia has a unique national identity and is known for its diverse culture and landscapes. It has a wide variety of climates, ranging from tropical rainforests to arid deserts. Australia also has a diverse range of flora and fauna, with many endemic species.
