Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a relatively large country, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles, which is comparable to the size of the continental US. The country has a federal form of government, with a national government for the Commonwealth of Australia and individual state governments, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. In addition, there are two internal territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Historically, there have been proposals for new Australian states, including the Seven United Provinces of Eastern Australia in 1857 and the state of Auralia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The size of Australian states and the potential for new states or territories is a topic of ongoing discussion and proposal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land Area | 2.989 million square miles |
| Population | Comparable to the state of Texas |
| Northern Border | Southern shores of Papua New Guinea |
| Southern Border | Tasmania, which extends 310 miles (500 km) south of the island |
| Northwest Border | Indonesia, separated by the Timor and Arafura seas |
| Northeast Border | Papua New Guinea, separated by the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait |
| Southeast Border | New Zealand, separated by the Tasman Sea |
| Far South Border | Antarctica, separated by the Indian Ocean |
| Form of Government | Federal with a national government and individual state governments |
| Number of States | 6 (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) |
| Number of Territories | 2 internal (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory) and 6 external (Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands, and Heard Island) |
| Proposals for New States | New Zealand, Aboriginal state, and North Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent but one of the largest countries
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, with a land area of 7.7 million square kilometres (3 million square miles) or 8.56 million square kilometres. It is the last of the lands as it was the final continent to be explored by Europeans (aside from Antarctica). The continent consists of mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
The country of Australia is mostly on a single landmass and comprises most of the continent. It is sometimes informally referred to as an "island continent", surrounded by oceans. The continent of Australia is also known by the names Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia.
Australia has a wide variety of climates due to its large geographical size. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. The smallest continent has a northern portion in subequatorial latitudes and a southern portion in subtropical latitudes. The amount of total solar radiation is consistently high, with the Australian plains' low heights consistently experiencing high temperatures.
Australia is highly urbanised and has the world's 9th largest immigrant population. It is the only First World country on the Australia-New Guinea continent and has one of the largest economies in the world.
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Australia is about the same size as the continental US
Despite being similar in size, Australia's population is significantly lower than that of the US. In fact, the whole of Australia has a similar population to the single state of Texas. This means that Australia's population is more spread out than that of the US, which may contribute to the perception that Australian states are so big.
In addition, the Mercator projection, a common map projection, can warp the relative sizes of countries depending on their distance from the equator. This may also affect the perception of Australia's size in comparison to the US, as the two countries are on opposite sides of the equator.
Furthermore, the definition of "continental US" typically refers to the 48 adjoining US states and Washington, DC, which does not include the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii. Including these states would increase the total land area of the US, making Australia a relatively smaller proportion in comparison.
Finally, it is worth noting that Australia has a different number of states than the US, with only six states and several territories. This may give the impression that Australian states are larger, as they are being compared to a larger number of US states.
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Australia's population is much smaller than America's
Australia's population is significantly smaller than that of the United States. As of 2024, Australia's population is around 27 million, while the US population is over 331 million. This difference in population size has implications for infrastructure and travel planning in Australia. For example, Australia may not be able to support the same frequency of transportation services as the US, requiring more careful trip planning for visitors.
There are several reasons for the disparity in population size between the two countries. One factor is fertility rates. Australia's total fertility rate has been declining and has remained below the replacement level of 2.1 since the mid-1970s. In the 2023-24 period, the fertility rate was 1.49 babies per woman, down from 1.85 in 1993-94. In contrast, the US fertility rate in 2021 was 1.64 births per woman, slightly above the global average of 1.62.
Another factor contributing to the population difference is life expectancy. While life expectancy in Australia is among the highest in the world, with an average life expectancy of 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females in the 2021-23 period, the US lags slightly behind. As of 2019, the US life expectancy at birth was 77.49 years for males and 81.94 years for females.
Additionally, net overseas migration has played a role in the population growth of both countries. Australia's population growth has been driven primarily by net overseas migration, which increased from a net inflow of 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 people in 2023-24. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia experienced its first net outflow of migrants since World War II, with -85,000 people in 2020-21. In contrast, the US also experienced a decline in net international migration during the pandemic, but its overall population size meant that the impact was less significant.
In summary, Australia's smaller population compared to the US can be attributed to a combination of factors, including lower fertility rates, higher life expectancy, and fluctuations in net overseas migration. These factors have resulted in a more volatile growth rate in Australia compared to the US, contributing to the significant difference in population size between the two countries.
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There are proposals for new Australian states
Australia's vast land area is divided into six states and two mainland territories. Since the 19th century, there have been numerous proposals to create or incorporate new states, with Chapter VI of the Constitution of Australia providing for the admission of new states to the federation.
One proposal advocates for an Aboriginal state, with the Aboriginal Provisional Government established in 1990 to pursue Aboriginal sovereignty. The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation is among those supporting such a state.
There have also been proposals to admit independent countries or their dependent territories as new states. During Portuguese decolonisation in East Timor in 1974, a political party called ADITLA (Associação Democratica para a Integração de Timor-Leste na Austrália) was formed, advocating for the integration of East Timor into Australia. This proposal was rejected by the Australian government in 1975. Another proposal suggests negotiating the addition of neighbouring countries such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and East Timor as new states. In 2006, an Australian Federal Parliamentary Committee recommended that Australia and New Zealand pursue a full union or closer ties, including the possibility of a common currency. While this idea has gained some support, it has also faced opposition from Australian and New Zealand finance officials.
Other proposals include admitting territories to statehood, such as the Northern Territory (NT) and, to a lesser extent, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). There have also been movements to create new states from parts of existing states, such as the New England New State Movement, which sought the secession of the New England region from New South Wales (NSW). Additionally, there have been proposals to create a new state in south-east New South Wales and north-east Victoria, and a proposed colony called Princeland, which would have been formed from parts of Victoria and South Australia.
Some unique names for potential new states include "Auralia" (proposed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries) and "Centralia" (a previous separate state centred on Alice Springs).
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The Aboriginal Provisional Government was established in 1990
The Aboriginal Provisional Government (APG) is an Indigenous Australian independence movement established on 16 July 1990 by Elders from different communities across Australia. The APG's main goal is to campaign for Aboriginal sovereignty over Australia and the establishment of an Aboriginal nation-state, arguing that sovereignty was never ceded. The idea of an Aboriginal government was developed by some Aboriginal delegates of the Federation of Land Councils, who felt that the Aboriginal cause needed to move beyond land issues and that the name of any new body should reflect a broader horizon. The "Provisional" aspect was included for two reasons: first, this Aboriginal body would foster a transition from white government control to an eventual full-blown black national government; second, the APG was not set up to govern Aboriginal people but to be a political vehicle for self-determination aspirations.
The APG has several functions, including issuing Aboriginal passports and birth certificates, and sending diplomatic delegations overseas. The organisation acknowledges a range of choices for Aboriginal peoples, including assimilation, self-management, US-type domestic Indian nations, a seventh state of Australia, or a completely independent Aboriginal government. The APG encourages Aboriginal groups to take advantage of reconciliation, land rights, native title, or government-sponsored programs, provided people do not lose sight of their greater entitlements beyond welfare.
The APG vigorously opposes Aboriginal advisory bodies, arguing that white politicians should not be deciding the fate of Aboriginal people no matter who advises them. The APG advocates for the words, "Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders have the right to self-determination" to be inserted into the constitution. The movement's roots can be traced to academic writings such as Kevin Gilbert's "Treaty 88", Oodgeroo Noonuccal's and Jack Davis' poetry, and Paul Coe's litigation for Aboriginal sovereignty in "Coe v Commonwealth" in 1978.
In 1992, the APG held a national meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, where an Elders Council was established, headed by unionist and campaigner Joe McGuiness. The establishment of the APG is part of a long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples calling for a political voice, with organisations such as the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA) campaigning for Aboriginal representation in government as early as the 1920s.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a large country, it's the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles, which is only a little smaller than the continental US.
Australia is about the same size as the continental US. Traveling from Sydney to Perth (East Coast to West Coast) is about the same as traveling from New York to Los Angeles.
There are six states in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. There are also two internal territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, which includes the city of Canberra.
Yes, there have been several proposals to change the state structure of Australia. One proposal suggested creating the \"Seven United Provinces of Eastern Australia\" with separate provinces within modern-day Queensland. Another proposal advocated for an Aboriginal state, supported by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
There has been some discussion and support for New Zealand to become the seventh state of Australia, mainly due to the potential economic benefits and the strong existing ties between the two countries. However, free trade and open borders currently seem to be the maximum extent of public acceptance for this proposal.
