Lyla Lindsey
Australia is both a country and a continent. The continent of Australia, also known as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or Oceania, includes the country of Australia, as well as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, and thousands of other islands. The country of Australia is the largest in the continent and is highly urbanized, with a diverse culture reflecting Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and a history of multicultural immigration. It has a strong relationship with its neighbour New Zealand, with free mobility and trade between the two countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth |
| Landmass | The lowest, flattest, and oldest landmass on Earth |
| Country | Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia |
| Area | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania |
| Population | More than 23 million by 2014 |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Economic and Cultural Centres | Sydney and Melbourne |
| Global Isolation | 12,000 miles (19,000 km) from Great Britain and 7,000 miles (11,000 km) from the US west coast |
| Islands | Includes the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands |
| Indigenous Traditions | Reflects the country's Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and history of multicultural immigration |
| History | Six colonies were joined together to create the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901 |
| External Territories | Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Heard Island, McDonald Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
| Former External Territories | Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent
The Australian continent is also known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. It includes the mainland of Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea. The continent is situated in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia.
The term Oceania, originally a "great division" of the world in the 1810s, was replaced by the concept of Australia as one of the world's continents in English-speaking countries in the 1950s. Oceania includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and other tiny islands in the Central and South Pacific. In the 19th century, definitions of Oceania varied, with some geographers grouping Australia, New Zealand, and Melanesia together under the label of Australasia.
Australia, the country, is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres, and it is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent. Australia has a diverse culture, reflecting its Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and history of multicultural immigration.
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Australia is a country
Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of almost 28 million, heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Its capital is Canberra, while its most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, both with a population of more than five million. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse nations, with around a quarter of its population born outside the country. People from various countries, including the United Kingdom, other European countries, China, Vietnam, North Africa, and the Middle East, have migrated to Australia.
The country has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its economy. It has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure. Australia has strong protections for civil and political rights and has signed numerous international rights treaties.
Australia is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with a wide variety of landscapes and climates. It has unique flora and fauna, including hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies off Australia's northeast coast. The country has 516 national parks to protect its diverse plants and animals.
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Australia is part of Oceania
Australia is a country that comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Its capital city is Canberra, and its most important economic and cultural centres are Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia is officially the Commonwealth of Australia and is part of Oceania, a geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. In the mid-19th century, some geographers classified the Pacific islands as a third continent called Oceania, alongside the New and Old Worlds. The term Oceania is based on its connection to the Pacific Ocean rather than landmass, and it is often referred to as the "liquid continent".
The original UN definition of Oceania from 1947 included American Samoa, Australia and their external territories, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, the Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, Ogasawara, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western New Guinea, and the United States Minor Outlying Islands.
In some cultures, Australia is considered a continent, while in others, it is viewed as part of Oceania. This ambiguity exists because the definition of a "continent" varies across cultures and geographical perspectives. In the context of plate tectonics, Australia is part of the Indo-Australian Plate, further reinforcing its association with Oceania.
Australia is the most populous Oceanian country, with a population of approximately 27.9 million as of August 2025. It has a diverse mix of economies, ranging from highly developed financial markets to less industrialized sectors. The country is also known for its distinctive cultural traits, blending Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and multicultural immigration influences.
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Australia's external territories
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of 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 one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Australian continent, as a whole, is part of the Australian Plate, and is the lowest, flattest, and oldest landmass on Earth. It has a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
Australia has two internal territories that no longer exist: Central Australia (1926-1931) and North Australia (1926-1931). It also had two present-day Oceanic countries, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru, as de facto or de jure external territories between 1902 and 1975. Nauru was previously under the German colonial empire as part of German New Guinea. After World War I, the Australian government received a League of Nations mandate for Nauru. Following World War II, the Territory of Papua, Territory of New Guinea, and Nauru were all controlled by the Australian government as United Nations trust territories. Nauru was granted independence in 1968.
Each external territory is regulated by an Act of the federal Parliament. Under Section 122 of the Australian Constitution, the federal Parliament has the power to make laws for all territories, including external territories. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island comprise the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands are uninhabited but are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government.
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Australia's global isolation
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of 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 one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Australia is geographically isolated, being extremely remote from its traditional allies and trading partners. It is around 12,000 miles (19,000 km) from Australia to Great Britain and about 7,000 miles (11,000 km) to the west coast of the United States. This isolation has had an impact on Australia's history, culture, and international relations.
Historically, Australia fought alongside Britain in the two world wars and became a long-standing ally of the United States during World War II when threatened by Imperial Japan. Since then, Australia has maintained strong relations with both countries, as well as with other nations such as New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
In terms of geography, Australia is the smallest, lowest, flattest, and second-driest continent on Earth. It has a diverse landscape, ranging from deserts in the interior to tropical rainforests along the coast. The country has a relatively stable geological history and is surrounded by oceans.
In conclusion, Australia's global isolation refers to both its geographical remoteness and its historical and cultural separation from other parts of the world. While this isolation has had benefits in terms of disease control during the pandemic, it has also led to criticism and concerns about the country becoming too closed off from international engagement.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 14 countries in Oceania, which is the region that includes Australia.
The countries in Oceania are: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Western New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Fiji, as well as thousands of tiny, tropical islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia regions.
Australia is the smallest of the world's seven continents. It is also referred to as an island continent due to its isolation and the fact that it comprises most of the continent.
Australia maintains a deeply integrated relationship with neighbouring New Zealand. It also has strong ties with the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and South Korea.
