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Australia is divided into six states and several territories. The states are former British colonies that gained the right to create their own legislation, which is protected by the Australian constitution. The territories, on the other hand, are under the control of the Commonwealth government, which can create laws for them. Three territories—the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and Norfolk Island—are self-governed, though the Australian Parliament can override their laws. Each state has a governor, chosen by the Queen, and a Premier, who is the head of the state government and is usually the leader of the lower house of the state Parliament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of states | 6 |
| Size of the largest state (WA) | 2,529,875 km² (32.87% of Australia) |
| Size of the smallest state (VIC) | 227,600 km² (2.96% of Australia) |
| Most populous state | NSW (6 million) |
| Least populous state | Northern Territory (215,000) |
| Most densely populated state | Victoria |
| Driest state | South Australia |
| State with the highest percentage of Outback | Northern Territory |
| States with self-governance | The Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and Norfolk Island (until 2015) |
| Number of senators representing each state in the upper house (Senate) | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
States vs territories
Australia is a federation comprised of six states and several territories. The states were originally separate British colonies, and they possess constitutional powers that the territories do not. The territories are under the control of the Commonwealth government, which can create laws for them.
Each state has a governor, chosen by the Queen, who advises the state Premier. The Premier is the head of the state government and is usually the leader of the lower house of the state Parliament. The states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. New South Wales has the highest population of all Australian states, with more than 60% living in the greater Sydney area. Victoria is the smallest state on the mainland and the most densely populated, while Western Australia covers one-third of the mainland and is the largest state. South Australia is the driest state, and the Northern Territory is the most "Outback" state.
The territories are under the direct administration of the Commonwealth government, except for the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and Norfolk Island, which administer themselves. However, the Australian Parliament can override laws made by these territorial governments. The head of government in the self-governing territories is the Chief Minister.
In the Australian Senate, each state is represented by 12 senators, while the self-governing internal territories have two senators each.
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Self-governing territories
Australia is a federation of states and territories. The states started as separate British colonies before Federation in 1901, and their powers are protected by the Australian Constitution. While the states can make their own legislation, the territories are under the control of the Commonwealth government, and the Australian Parliament has the power to create laws in the territories.
Most of the territories are directly administered by the Commonwealth government. However, three territories are self-governing: the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and Norfolk Island. In these territories, the Australian Parliament has the power to govern and can override laws made by the territorial governments, although this is rarely done in practice. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are usually treated as states.
The head of government of each state is called the Premier, who is chosen by the state's Governor. The head of government of the self-governing mainland territories is called the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who is chosen by the Governor-General.
In the Australian upper house, or Senate, each state is given 12 senators to represent them, while the self-governing internal territories are given 2 senators each.
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State population
Australia is divided into six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The country also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories.
The population of Australia was 27,400,013 as of December 2024. Most Australians live in the eastern coastal mainland states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, which collectively form 79% of the country's population. Sydney, located in New South Wales, is the most populated city in Australia.
New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally included much of the Australian mainland, as well as Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Van Diemen's Land. In the 19th century, large areas were separated to form the colonies of Tasmania and Western Australia. New South Wales is home to Sydney, the most populous city in Australia.
Queensland is the third-most populous state in Australia, accounting for about 20% of the country's population. It is the second-largest state in terms of total land area, covering about 22% of the country. Brisbane, the third-largest city in Australia, is located in Queensland and accounts for about 9% of the country's population.
South Australia is the fifth-most populous state, accounting for about 7% of the country's population. It is the fourth-largest state by area, covering about 12% of Australia's total area. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is home to about 5% of the country's population.
Western Australia is the fourth-most populous state, making up about 10% of the country's population. It is also the largest state in terms of area, accounting for around 33% of Australia's total landmass. Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is the fourth-largest city in the country, with about 8% of the population.
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State history
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. Each state is a successor to a historical British colony and has its own constitution.
The six states of Australia are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The country also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories: the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia. The states are partially sovereign, self-governing administrative divisions that have ceded some sovereign rights to the federal government. They have their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies that administer and deliver public policies and programs. Territories can also be autonomous and administer local policies and programs, but they are still legally subordinate to the federal government.
Australia's written history began with Dutch exploration of most of the coastline in the 17th century. The continent was referred to as New Holland by the Dutch. British colonisation commenced in 1788 with the establishment of the penal colony of New South Wales. By the mid-19th century, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and five additional self-governing British colonies were established, each gaining responsible government by 1890. These colonies federated in 1901, forming the Commonwealth of Australia, a self-governing Dominion in the British Empire. While the new nation was sovereign when it came to its domestic affairs, the United Kingdom maintained control over its external relations. Over the next four decades, Australia gradually gained control over its external policy. In 1940, Australia and the United States established bilateral diplomatic relations. In 1942, Australia's increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom was highlighted by the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act. This process of increasing autonomy culminated in the Australia Acts of 1986.
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State climate
Australia is the driest populated continent in the world, with significant variation in climate across the state. The majority of the state has arid and semi-arid climates, with low rainfall and hot summers typical for the inland west. The southern coastal parts of the state, on the other hand, have a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The highest rainfall occurs along the southern coasts and the Mount Lofty Ranges, with an average annual rainfall of 1,200 millimetres in the vicinity of Mount Lofty. The lowest rainfall occurs in the Lake Eyre basin, with average annual totals of less than 150 millimetres and possibly even as low as 100 millimetres.
The Northern Territory has two distinct climate zones. The northern end, including Darwin, has a tropical savannah climate with high humidity and two seasons: the wet (October to April) and the dry season (May to September). The rest of the territory lies in the desert centre of the country, including Alice Springs and Uluru, and is arid or semi-arid with little rain. Its seasons are more defined, with very hot summers and cool winters.
Victoria has a varied climate despite its small size. It ranges from semi-arid and hot in the north-west to temperate and cool along the coast. The Victorian Alps in the eastern and central regions constitute the coldest climate in Victoria, with average maximum temperatures of less than 9 °C in winter and below 0 °C in the highest parts of the ranges. Victoria is the wettest Australian state after Tasmania.
Tasmania's highest recorded temperature was 42.2 °C at Scamander on 30 January 2009, during a heatwave. Its lowest recorded temperature was −14.2 °C on 7 August 2020 at Liawenee.
New South Wales experienced a severe drought in 2018, with the state government declaring a state of emergency in December 2019 after record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought. The state also experienced its worst bushfire season in 2019-2020, with approximately 3 billion animals killed or displaced.
Australia's climate is influenced by broad-scale climate influences such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). The country has warmed by 1.51 °C from 1910 to 2023, with every decade since 1950 being warmer than the preceding decades. The warming trend in Australia is consistent with global trends.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is made up of six states and ten territories. The states started as separate British colonies before Federation in 1901.
The six states in Australia are New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), Queensland, and Tasmania.
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, covering one-third of the country's mainland.
Victoria is the smallest state in Australia by area, but it is the most densely populated.
NSW has the highest population of all Australian states, with more than 60% living in the greater Sydney area.
