Damon Mcknight
Australia is a country and continent in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million, and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. The country is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with Canberra as its capital and Sydney and Melbourne as its largest cities. Australia is known for its unique flora and fauna, including eucalyptus trees, kangaroos, koalas, and the platypus, the world's only egg-laying mammal.
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also one of the largest countries on Earth, with a total area of 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
The Australian continent is highly diverse, with a wide variety of landscapes and climates, including deserts in the interior and tropical rainforests along the coast. The country is also megadiverse, with about 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals, and 46% of its birds being endemic. Australia has a range of ecosystems, with 89 regions and 419 subregions recognised in the Australian bioregion framework.
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. It is also the lowest, flattest, and oldest landmass on Earth, with a relatively stable geological history. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands.
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with 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 the country's economy. Australia has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure and the second-highest human development index globally.
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Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. It is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country globally, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles).
As a federal parliamentary democracy, Australia holds federal elections approximately every three years to select members of parliament who represent Australians and make laws on their behalf. The Australian Parliament has the power to make laws on national matters such as defence, immigration, trade, and foreign affairs.
As a constitutional monarchy, Australia has a king or queen as the head of state, but their power is limited. The current head of state of Australia is His Majesty King Charles III. The Governor-General is appointed to act on behalf of the King in Australia. The monarch must follow the country's constitution and accepted practices known as conventions.
Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of almost 28 million. Its capital city is Canberra, while its most populous and economically and culturally important cities are Sydney and Melbourne. Australia has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally, with abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations.
Australia has a diverse culture and is one of 17 megadiverse countries, with unique flora and fauna. It has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations and is known for its confidence and attitude, as demonstrated when Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games.
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Australia is highly urbanised and ethnically diverse
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a highly urbanised country with a population of approximately 28 million people. 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 mainland of Australia is surrounded by oceans and is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres, making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
Australia has a diverse culture and is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with 89% of its population living in urban areas. The nation's capital is Canberra, while its most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people. The majority of Australia's population is concentrated on the eastern seaboard, particularly in metropolitan areas, and the country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are among the metropolitan areas with more than a million residents.
Australia has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. It has the world's 14th-largest economy and the ninth-largest immigrant population. The country's abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its economy. It ranks highly in terms of quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
Australia has a unique and diverse range of 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 the greatest mass of coral in the world and a significant tourist attraction.
Australia is a culturally diverse country, reflecting its Indigenous traditions, Anglo-Celtic heritage, and history of multicultural immigration. The country has the highest ratio of international students per capita, with 812,000 international students enrolled in 2019. Various studies have estimated the European population in Australia to be between 72% and 76%, while the Aboriginal Australian population is around 3%.
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Australia has a highly developed economy
Australia is a highly developed country with a mixed economy. It has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. As of 2023, Australia was the 14th-largest national economy by nominal GDP (gross domestic product), the 19th-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP, and was the 21st-largest goods exporter and 24th-largest goods importer. Australia's per-capita GDP is higher than that of the UK, Canada, Germany and France in terms of purchasing power parity.
Australia has a highly efficient and robust social security system, which comprises roughly 25% of its GDP. The Australian Securities Exchange in Sydney is the 16th-largest stock exchange in the world in terms of domestic market capitalization. The country's GDP was estimated at $1.98 trillion as of June 2021. The Australian economy is dominated by its service sector, which in 2017 comprised 62.7% of the GDP and employed 78.8% of the labour force. The country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with the world's 9th-largest immigrant population.
Australia's abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to the country's economy. Its economy is strongly intertwined with the countries of East and Southeast Asia, known as ASEAN Plus Three (APT), accounting for about 64% of exports in 2016. China is Australia's main export and import partner by a wide margin. Australia also has the world's highest level of household solar uptake, with one in four homes having solar panels. The country is also positioning itself to be a global leader in hydrogen production and is driving investments to support the growth of a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry.
Australia has a highly skilled workforce and a proud history of democracy and stable government. The country is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. Its population of almost 28 million is highly urbanized and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Canberra is the nation's capital, while Sydney and Melbourne are its most populous cities, each with a population of more than five million.
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Australia is home to many unique ecosystems and species
Australia is a megadiverse country, with a wide range of landscapes and climates, from tropical rainforests along the coast to deserts in the interior. It is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent. Australia's long geographic isolation has resulted in a high level of endemism, with about 94% of its amphibians, 93% of its reptiles and flowering plants, 69% of its mammals, and 46% of its birds being unique to the continent.
The country has a variety of ecosystems, with 89 regions and 419 subregions recognised in the Australian Bioregion Framework. As of January 2025, there were 168,386 named species on the Australian National Species List. However, it is estimated that 70% of Australian species are yet to be discovered and classified, with a potential 600,000 native species in total.
The flora of Australia includes hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and acacias, with Acacia pycnantha, or golden wattle, being the national flower. The unique fauna of Australia includes the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna, as well as kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, and dingoes. The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, is the world's largest coral reef and is home to many unique marine species.
The Australian mainland can be divided into several zones based on climate, topography, and soils, which influence the distribution of animal life. These include the Eremian Zone, characterised by arid conditions and irregular rainfall, and the Temperate Zone, where the life cycles of animals are dependent on regular winter rainfall. The animals of the Temperate Zone are highly adapted to the eucalyptus forests, such as the koala, lyrebird, and grey kangaroo.
Australia has taken steps to protect its unique ecosystems, with protected areas established in every state and territory, including national parks, reserves, wetlands, and World Heritage Sites. As of 2002, 10.8% of Australia's total land area was within protected areas, while protected marine zones covered about 7% of the country's marine jurisdiction.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is a country and the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is officially the Commonwealth of Australia and is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area.
Australia is a part of the Australian continent, which is the smallest continent in the world. The continent consists of mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
The capital of Australia is Canberra, while its most populous and economically and culturally important cities are Sydney and Melbourne.
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