Leslie Massey
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is surrounded by water and does not share land borders with any other nation. However, it is relatively close to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the north, and New Zealand to the east.
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the only country in its continent
Australia is a unique country in many ways. It is the only country in its continent, the smallest continent in the world at 2.9 million square miles. It is also the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent. Australia is technically known as the Commonwealth of Australia and comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres, making it the sixth-largest country globally and the largest in Oceania.
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or Australia-New Guinea to distinguish it from the country of Australia. This distinction is important because, while the country of Australia includes the mainland and Tasmania, the continent of Australia also includes the island of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea), the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands, among others.
Australia's distinctiveness as a continent is due in part to its isolated location, which allowed it to develop unique cultures and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This geographic isolation, combined with tectonic stability and an unusual pattern of climate change, led to the high level of endemism seen in Australia today. For example, 45% of the approximately 800 species of birds found in Australia are endemic to the region.
Australia's status as the only country in its continent has had significant implications for its economy and international relations. Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its economic success. Australia ranks highly in various indicators, including quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights. It is a middle power with the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure and is an active member of various international organisations, including the United Nations, the G20, the OECD, and the World Trade Organization.
Australia's remoteness from its traditional allies and trading partners, such as Great Britain and the United States, has led the country to foster closer ties with its Asian neighbours and other industrialised economies in the region, such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Australia's per-capita GDP is higher than that of the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France in terms of purchasing power parity.
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Papua New Guinea is north of Australia
Papua New Guinea is an island country in Oceania, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. It is part of the New Guinea island, which is divided into two halves, with the western half belonging to Indonesia and the eastern half forming the mainland of Papua New Guinea. The country has a complex history, with various colonial powers having administered different parts of the island at different times. The western half of the island was claimed by the Dutch in 1828, while the British annexed the southeastern quadrant in 1884. In the same year, the German New Guinea Company took over administration of the northeast quadrant.
Papua New Guinea has a unique geographical location, lying just south of the equator. It shares a land border with Indonesia to the west and maritime borders with Australia to the south, the Solomon Islands to the east, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The country covers an area of 462,840 square kilometres, including a large mainland and hundreds of islands. The territory of Papua New Guinea was split in the 1880s between German New Guinea in the north and the British Territory of Papua in the south, which was ceded to Australia in 1902.
The country has a diverse ethnic composition, with speakers of Papuan languages constituting the majority of the population. These original settlers of the island mainly live in the interior and southern sections. There are also communities of speakers of Austronesian (Melanesian) languages along the coasts and on the offshore islands. Additionally, there are smaller groups of Polynesians, Chinese, and Europeans. The country has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional leadership structures and gift-giving practices.
Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975 and became a member of the United Nations the same year. It has since sought to maintain good relations with its neighbours, including Australia, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. The country has also worked to build links with Asian countries to the north. Papua New Guinea has a parliamentary system with a governor-general, currently Bob Dadae, who represents the monarch. It is unusual among Commonwealth realms in that its governors-general are elected by the legislature rather than chosen by the executive branch.
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Australia is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans
Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and the South Pacific Ocean to the east. 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 geographic isolation has resulted in a unique and diverse landscape, with vast coastal lowlands, extensive deserts, and sizable mountain ranges. The country is divided into six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia; and two territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
The Australian landmass experiences a variety of climates, including desert or semi-arid conditions in the interior, with temperate coastal regions in the south and tropical climates in the north. The southern coastal corners, in particular, enjoy a temperate climate, with the east coast boasting an oceanic and humid subtropical climate, while the west coast has a Mediterranean climate. The northern parts of the country experience a tropical climate, with frequent snowfall in the highlands near the east coast, in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.
The country's marine geography is equally impressive, with the Great Barrier Reef spanning the northeast coast of Queensland. This coral reef system is the largest in the world, stretching over 2,300 kilometres and providing a rich habitat for thousands of species of marine life. Australia's proximity to the Indian and Pacific Oceans has also influenced its cultural and economic landscape. The country has strong trade relations with Asia and is a member of international groups such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community.
The oceans surrounding Australia have played a significant role in shaping the country's history and culture. The Dutch explored most of the coastline in the 17th century, marking the beginning of Australia's written history. The country's indigenous people, the Aboriginal Australians, have a rich cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years. Their rock art tradition is the longest continuously practiced in the world, and their cultural influences were distinct from those of Asia and pre-Columbian America.
Australia's geographic position in the Indian and Pacific Oceans has contributed to its diverse and unique character, with its vast landscapes, varied climates, and rich marine life. The country's isolation has fostered a strong sense of independence and self-sufficiency, while its coastal borders have facilitated trade and cultural exchange, shaping it into the dynamic and vibrant nation it is today.
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Australia is the world's smallest continent
Australia is the smallest continent in the world, with a land area of almost 3 million square miles or 8.56 million square kilometres. It is also the largest country in the world without land borders. The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or Australia-New Guinea to distinguish it from the country of Australia. The continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea), the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other nearby islands.
The concept of Australia as one of the world's continents gained popularity in the 1950s, replacing the term Oceania. Prior to the 1950s, Antarctica, Australia, and Greenland were sometimes described as island continents, but they were not usually taught as continents in English-speaking countries. Scottish cartographer John Bartholomew wrote in 1873 that the New World consisted of North America and the peninsula of South America, with another division embracing the large island of Australia and numerous others in the Pacific Ocean under the name of Oceania. British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace also commented in his 1879 book, Australasia, that Oceania was a major division of the world, with Australia as its central and most important feature.
Australia is also the driest and most arid continent of the seven continents. It has a varied climate, with the southern coastal corners having a temperate climate, such as oceanic and humid subtropical in the east coast and Mediterranean in the west. The northern parts of the country have a tropical climate, and snow falls frequently on the highlands near the east coast, in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and in the Australian Capital Territory.
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with each state having its own constitution and a limited degree of sovereignty. The capital city is Canberra, and its most important economic and cultural centres are Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is also home to the Australian Securities Exchange, the largest stock exchange in Australia and the South Pacific.
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Australia is the world's sixth-largest country
The continent of Australia, sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and some other nearby islands. It is located within the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. The Australian landmass's climate is mostly desert or semi-arid, with the southern coastal corners enjoying a temperate climate. The northern parts of the country have a tropical climate, with frequent snowfall in the highlands near the east coast.
Australia has a strong economy, with the highest per-capita GDP of any country in the region and one of the largest economies in the world. The country has high levels of competitiveness and economic freedom and was ranked tenth in the Human Development Index in 2022. It attracted 9.5 million international tourists in 2019. The large service sector accounts for about 71.2% of total GDP, while the industrial sector contributes 25.3%, and the agriculture sector makes up 3.6%.
Australia has a federal form of government, with a national government for the Commonwealth of Australia and individual state governments. Each state has its own constitution, and its government exercises a limited degree of sovereignty. The federal authorities govern several external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and the Australian Antarctic Territory, which covers 42% of the Antarctic continent.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is the world's smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is bounded by two major bodies of water: the Indian Ocean to the west and the South Pacific Ocean to the east. Australia does not share land borders with any other nation. However, it lies relatively close to Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the French dependency of New Caledonia to the east, and New Zealand to the southeast.
Australian geography is known for its vast coastal lowlands, extensive deserts, and sizable mountain ranges. The Great Dividing Range, also known as the Eastern Highlands, runs parallel to the east coast of Australia, from the northeastern tip of Queensland through New South Wales and into central Victoria. The Western Plateau covers almost 70% of the country's landmass and includes expansive deserts such as the Great Victoria Desert, the Gibson Desert, and the Simpson Desert.
The Australian climate varies from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the center. The southern coastal corners, including the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, experience a temperate and humid climate, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands. The northern parts of the country have a tropical climate, with the coastal south having a temperate climate.
