Lexi Webster
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world by total area, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres. It is the only country that occupies an entire continent. Australia is also considered the world's largest island and is often referred to as the island continent. The country has a diverse landscape, ranging from arid and semi-arid regions to tropical rainforests along the coast. It is known for its unique flora and fauna, including iconic species such as eucalyptus trees, kangaroos, and koalas, and the only egg-laying mammals, the platypus and echidna. With its vast size, Australia has a global isolation and a low relief, making it a distinctive and significant country in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land Area | 7,692,024 square kilometers |
| Population | As of 2022, Australia's population is estimated to be around 26 million people |
| Largest City | Sydney is the largest city by population, with approximately 5.3 million residents in the metropolitan area |
| Capital City | Canberra |
| Form of Government | Constitutional parliamentary monarchy |
| Head of State | King Charles III |
| Time Zone | Australia uses three main time zones: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), and Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Official Language | English |
| GDP (nominal) | $1.895 trillion (2022 estimate) |
| GDP per Capita | $72,739 (2022 estimate) |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world
The Australian mainland is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 feet) compared to 870 metres (2,850 feet) for all continents. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country's landscapes and climates vary, including deserts in the interior and tropical rainforests along the coast. More than a third of Australia's land area is covered in desert, and the country is also home to some of the world's most dangerous animals, including box jellyfish and saltwater crocodiles.
Australia has a total coastline of 35,877 kilometres (22,293 miles), and it claims an exclusive economic zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi). The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) would add about 5.9 million square kilometres (2.3 million square miles) to the country's total landmass area. Australia is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often referred to as the "island continent".
The capital city of Australia is Canberra, and its most important economic and cultural centres are Sydney and Melbourne. As of 2021, Australia has the second-highest amount of wealth per adult, after Luxembourg, and the thirteenth-highest financial assets per capita. The Australian dollar is the national currency, also used by three island states in the Pacific: Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu.
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It is the largest country in Oceania
Australia is the largest country in Oceania, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 sq mi). It is officially called the Commonwealth of Australia and consists of the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller offshore islands, and remote offshore territories such as the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world by total area. It is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often referred to as the "island continent". The country has a coastline of 35,877 kilometres (22,293 mi) (excluding all offshore islands) and claims an exclusive economic zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi).
Australia's mainland is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 ft) compared to 870 metres (2,850 ft) for all continents. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country also has a unique flora and fauna, including hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna.
The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is another notable feature of Australia. It is the greatest mass of coral in the world, stretching for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) along the Queensland coast. Australia's isolation, low relief, and aridity characterise much of its landscape beyond the large coastal cities.
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Australia is the smallest continent
Australia is the only country that takes up an entire continent. It comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller islands, and remote offshore territories, including the Australian Antarctic Territory. The Australian mainland is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 ft) compared to 870 metres (2,850 ft) for all continents.
The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country's low relief is due to the long and extensive erosive action of wind, rain, and sun during the great periods when the continental mass was elevated above sea level. Australia has a diverse landscape, ranging from deserts in the interior to tropical rainforests along the coast.
Australia has a 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, off the coast of Queensland, is another one of the world's foremost tourist attractions, extending for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles).
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The country has a wide variety of landscapes and climates
Australia is a megadiverse country with a wide variety of landscapes and climates. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world by area, accounting for just 5% of the world's landmass. Australia is also considered the world's largest island. The country is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres, and is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The landscapes of Australia vary from deserts in the interior, covering over a third of the country's land area, to tropical rainforests along the coast. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country also has a unique flora and fauna, including hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees, acacias, and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. Other animals associated with Australia include dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, is the world's largest coral reef and extends for more than 2,300 kilometres. Australia also claims about 42% of Antarctica as the Australian Antarctic Territory, adding about 5.9 million square kilometres to its total landmass area.
Most of Australia is arid or semi-arid, with forest cover accounting for around 17% of the land area. In 2021, the country had 10% of the global permanent meadows and pastureland. The country's low relief is a result of the long and extensive erosive action of wind, rain, and sun during the periods when the continental mass was elevated above sea level.
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Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent
The Australian landscape is diverse, with varying climates and landscapes, including tropical rainforests along the coast and deserts in the interior. The country is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 feet) compared to 870 metres (2,850 feet) for all continents. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country also has a substantial coastline of 35,877 kilometres (22,293 miles), excluding offshore islands.
The aridity of the Australian landscape is due to several factors. Firstly, the country is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, which influence the climate and weather patterns. The isolation of the continent has also played a role in its aridity, with the vast distances from other land masses affecting the movement of air masses and weather systems. Additionally, the unique geography and geology of the continent have contributed to the low relief of the landscape, making it vulnerable to the erosive forces of wind, rain, and sun.
The Australian environment is also characterised by its unique flora and fauna. The country is home to hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. Other iconic Australian plants and animals include acacias, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras. The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland, is another notable feature of the Australian landscape, recognised as the world's largest coral reef.
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Frequently asked questions
Western Australia is the largest state in the country.
Western Australia has a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi) and is also the second-largest subdivision of any country on Earth.
Western Australia has a population of 2.965 million people as of June 2024, accounting for 10.9% of Australia's total population.
The capital of Western Australia is Perth, where around 80% of the state's population resides.
Western Australia has a diverse range of climates, from tropical conditions in the Kimberley region to deserts in the interior, such as the Great Sandy Desert and the Great Victoria Desert. It is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including around 630 species of birds and over 10,000 native vascular plant species.
