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Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by area, spanning 7,688,287 square kilometres or 2,968,464 square miles. It is the smallest continental land mass and the largest island. Australia is part of the continent of Australia, which includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands, among others. The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. In terms of size, Australia is comparable to the continental United States, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles compared to the US's 3.797 million square miles.
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world
Australia is a large country, covering a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). In fact, it is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area, after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil. Australia accounts for just 5% of the world's land area, but it is the smallest continental land mass and the largest island.
The Australian continent includes the mainland, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is known for its diverse landscapes and climates. The northeast and northwest regions have a wet tropical climate, while the centre is arid, with about 70% of the country being arid or semi-arid and about 18% desert. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania.
Australia is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million, and has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure. It is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, consisting of six states and ten territories. Its two most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people.
In terms of size, Australia is comparable to the continental USA, with a similar land area. Travelling from Sydney to Perth across Australia is like going from New York to Los Angeles in the US. However, Australia's population is much smaller than that of the US, with the whole of Australia having a similar population to the single state of Texas.
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Australia is the largest country in Oceania
The continent of Australia, sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, is located within the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. The continent includes the mainland of Australia, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas.
Australia has a highly diverse environment, ranging from tropical rainforests in the northeast to arid and semi-arid regions in the centre, including the well-known outback. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands.
Australia has the 14th-largest economy globally and the second-highest human development index. It has a highly urbanised population of almost 28 million, with the most populous cities being Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people. Sydney is also the largest city in Oceania. Australia has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with the ninth-largest immigrant population.
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Australia is the smallest continental land mass
The Australian continent is also the lowest, flattest, and second-driest continent (after Antarctica). The 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 the driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 470 millimetres (19 inches). About 70% of the country is arid or semi-arid, and about 18% is desert.
Australia 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. It also has the world's 9th largest immigrant population. The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, and by the time of British settlement, they spoke 250 distinct languages and had one of the oldest living cultures in the world.
Australia is sometimes referred to as an island continent, surrounded by oceans. It is located within the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. The term Oceania is often used to refer to the geographical region that includes Australia, specifically the subregion of Australasia.
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Australia is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent
Australia's average height is 325 metres (1,066 feet) compared to 870 metres (2,850 feet) for all continents. The lowest point in Australia is Lake Eyre in South Australia, which is 16 metres (52 feet) or 49.2 feet below sea level. The highest elevation is Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 metres (7,310 feet) or 7,309.7 feet above sea level. The country's varied topography includes tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, and deserts.
The continent's extensive age, long-term geographical isolation, and variable weather patterns have resulted in a unique biome. Australia has the largest number of reptile species in the world, with 755 species. It is also home to approximately 250,000 species of fungi, 800 species of birds, and many endemic mammals, fish, insects, and amphibians.
Australia's climate is influenced by its position in the "'horse latitudes", which brings arid conditions. It ranges from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands.
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Australia is about the same size as continental USA
Australia is the smallest continental land mass, and the world's largest island. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles), making it the sixth-largest country in the world.
The country 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, and Norfolk Island. Australia also claims about 42% of Antarctica as the Australian Antarctic Territory.
When compared to other countries, Australia is about the same size as continental USA. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles compared to the land area of the US, which is 3.797 million square miles. To put this into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth (East Coast to West Coast) in Australia is about the same as travelling from New York to Los Angeles in the US.
In terms of population, Australia's is significantly less than that of the USA. The whole of Australia has about the same number of people living in it as the state of Texas.
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Frequently asked questions
The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles, which is close to the size of the continental US with 3.797 million square miles.
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by area after Russia, Canada, China, the US, and Brazil.
Australia is the world's largest island and is often dubbed the "island continent". However, it is also considered the smallest continental land mass.
The continent of Australia, also known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea. It has a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometres, making it the smallest continent.
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