Australia (pronounced /əˈstreɪljə, ɒˈstreɪljə/[7], or formally /ɔːˈstreɪliə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland, which is both the world's smallest continent and the world's largest island[8], the island of Tasmania, and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.N4 It is the only _svg.png)
area of land simultaneously considered a continent, a country and an island. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east and New Zealand to the southeast.
For around 40,000 years before European settlement commenced in the late 18th century, the Australian mainland and Tasmania were inhabited by around 250 individual nations[9] of indigenous Australians.[10] After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north, and European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606,[11] the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, founded on 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in the following years; the continent was explored, and during the 19th century another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth realm. The population is just over 21.7 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. The nation's capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Technologically advanced and industrialised, Australia is a prosperous multicultural country and has excellent results in many international comparisons of national performance such as health care, life expectancy, quality-of-life, human development, public education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.[12] Australian cities also routinely rank among the world's highest in terms of livability, cultural offerings, and quality of life. It is a member of the United Nations, G-20 major economies, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, and the WTO.
_svg.png)
area of land simultaneously considered a continent, a country and an island. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east and New Zealand to the southeast.For around 40,000 years before European settlement commenced in the late 18th century, the Australian mainland and Tasmania were inhabited by around 250 individual nations[9] of indigenous Australians.[10] After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north, and European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606,[11] the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, founded on 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in the following years; the continent was explored, and during the 19th century another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth realm. The population is just over 21.7 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. The nation's capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Technologically advanced and industrialised, Australia is a prosperous multicultural country and has excellent results in many international comparisons of national performance such as health care, life expectancy, quality-of-life, human development, public education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.[12] Australian cities also routinely rank among the world's highest in terms of livability, cultural offerings, and quality of life. It is a member of the United Nations, G-20 major economies, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, and the WTO.
Capital
Canberra35°18′S 149°08′E / 35.3°S 149.133°E / -35.3; 149.133
Largest city
Sydney
Official languages
NoneN2
National language
English (de facto)N2
Ethnic groups
92% White7% Asian1% Australian Aboriginal/Other[1]
Demonym
Australian,Aussie[2][3] (colloquial)
Government
Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, see Government of Australia
-
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
-
Governor-General
Quentin Bryce
-
Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd
Independence
from the United Kingdom
-
Constitution
1 January 1901
-
Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
-
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act
9 October 1942 (with effect from 3 September 1939)
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Australia Act
3 March 1986
Area
-
Total
7,686,850 km2 (6th)2,967,909 sq mi
-
Water (%)
0.897
Population
-
2009 estimate
21,807,000[4] (53rd)
-
2006 census
19,855,288[5]
-
Density
2.833/km2 (232nd)7.3/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$795,305 Billion[6] (17th)
-
Per capita
$37,298[6] (15th)
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$1,010 Billion[6] (15th)
-
Per capita
$47,400[6] (13th)
HDI (2008)
▲ 0.965 (high) (4th)
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Time zone
variousN3 (UTC+8 to +10.5)
-
Summer (DST)
variousN3 (UTC+9 to +11.5)
Drives on the
left
Internet TLD
.au
Calling code
61
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