profile - australia

7/30/2019 Profile - Australia

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Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and theSouth Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 7,686,850 sq kmland: 7,617,930 sq kmwater: 68,920 sq kmnote: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 25,760 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of thecontinental margin

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;tropical in north

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain insoutheast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 mhighest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver,uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc,diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Land use: arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectaresof cultivated grassland)permanent crops: 0.04%other: 93.81% (2005)

Irrigated land: 25,450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 398 cu km (1995)

Freshwater withdrawal(domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%)per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Environment - current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinityrising due to the use of poor quality water;desertification; clearing for agricultural purposesthreatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and

Page 2 of 12CIA - The World Factbook -- Australia

10/4/2008https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/as.html


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plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeastcoast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatenedby increased shipping and its popularity as a touristsite; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - internationalagreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic

Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selectedagreements

Geography - note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;population concentrated along the eastern and

southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze knownas the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth onthe west coast, and is one of the most consistent windsin the world

People Australia

Population: 21,007,310 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.8% (male 2,022,151/female 1,919,002)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,233,555/female 7,038,722)65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,266,166/female 1,527,714) (2008 est.)

Median age: total: 37.1 yearsmale: 36.4 yearsfemale: 37.9 years (2008 est.)

Populationgrowth rate:

1.221% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 12.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migrationrate:

6.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortalityrate:

total: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)




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Life expectancyat birth:

total population: 81.53 yearsmale: 79.16 yearsfemale: 84.02 years (2008 est.)

Total fertilityrate:

1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adultprevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS -people living

with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS -deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: Australian(s)adjective: Australian

Ethnic groups: white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions: Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%,Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001Census)

Languages: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified5.8% (2001 Census)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)

School lifeexpectancy(primary to

tertiaryeducation):

total: 20 yearsmale: 20 yearsfemale: 21 years (2006)

Educationexpenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2005)

Government Australia

Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia

Governmenttype:

federal parliamentary democracy

Capital: name: Canberrageographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 Etime difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends lastSunday in March




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note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Administrativedivisions:

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New SouthWales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent

areas:

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,

Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island,Macquarie Island

Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Nationalholiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as theanniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New ZealandArmy Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executivebranch:

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5September 2008)head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007)cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament,candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general toserve as government ministerselections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the

monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; followinglegislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of amajority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general

Legislativebranch:

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainlandterritories; one-half of state members are elected every three years bypopular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members areelected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats;members elected by popular preferential vote to serve terms of up tothree-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no later

than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November 2007(next to be called no later than 2010)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor Party 32,Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, other 1; House ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10,independents 2

Judicial branch: High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the




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governor general)

Political partiesand leaders:

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [BobBROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country LiberalParty [Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; LiberalParty [Brendan NELSON]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Politicalpressuregroups and

leaders:

other: business groups; enviromental groups; social groups; trade unions

Internationalorganization

participation:

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), AustraliaGroup, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICRM, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomaticrepresentation

in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSONchancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, NewYork, San Francisco

Diplomaticrepresentation

from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Flagdescription:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a largeseven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as theCommonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of thecolonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of thesix original states and one representing all of Australia's internal andexternal territories; on the fly half is a representation of the SouthernCross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and fourlarger, seven-pointed stars

Economy Australia

Economy -overview:

Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per capita GDP on parwith the four dominant West European economies. Robust business andconsumer confidence and high export prices for raw materials andagricultural products are fueling the economy, particularly in miningstates. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, a housing marketboom, and growing ties with China have been key factors behind theeconomy's 16 solid years of expansion. Drought, robust import demand,




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and a strong currency have pushed the trade deficit up in recent years,while infrastructure bottlenecks and a tight labor market are constraininggrowth in export volumes and stoking inflation. Australia's budget hasbeen in surplus since 2002 due to strong revenue growth.

GDP(purchasing

power parity):

$773 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (officialexchange rate):

$908.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - realgrowth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita(PPP):

$37,300 (2007 est.)

GDP -composition by

sector:

agriculture: 3%industry: 26.4%services: 70.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 10.95 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - byoccupation:

agriculture: 3.6%industry: 21.2%services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Unemploymentrate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Populationbelow poverty

line:

NA%

Householdincome or

consumption bypercentage

share:

lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Distribution offamily income -

Gini index:

30.5 (2006)

Inflation rate(consumer

prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Investment(gross fixed):

27.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget: revenues: $321.9 billionexpenditures: $315.8 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 15.6% of GDPnote: The Commonwealth government eliminated its net debt in 2006,but continues a gross debt issue to support the market for risk-free




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securities. (2007 est.)

Agriculture -products:

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,chemicals, steel

Industrialproduction

growth rate:

4.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity -production:

236.7 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity -production by

source:

fossil fuel: 90.8%hydro: 8.3%nuclear: 0%other: 0.9% (2001)

Electricity -

consumption:

219.8 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity -exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity -imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production: 540,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil -consumption:

903,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports: 333,200 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports: 611,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - provedreserves:

1.437 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas -production:

38.62 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas -consumption:


Natural gas -exports:


Natural gas -imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas -proved

reserves:

750.6 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current accountbalance:

-$56.78 billion (2007 est.)




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Exports: $142.1 billion (2007 est.)

Exports -commodities:

coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transportequipment

Exports -partners:

Japan 19.1%, China 14.7%, South Korea 8%, India 5.9%, US 5.8%, NZ5.2% (2007)

Imports: $160 billion (2007 est.)

Imports -commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleumproducts

Imports -partners:

China 14.3%, US 12.9%, Japan 9.6%, Singapore 6.1%, Germany 5.2%,UK 4.4%, Thailand 4% (2007)

Economic aid -donor:

ODA, $2.123 billion (2006)

Reserves offoreign

exchange andgold:

$26.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external: $826.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of directforeign

investment - athome:

$315 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of directforeign

investment -abroad:

$280.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value ofpublicly traded

shares:

$804.1 billion (2005)

Currency(code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code: AUD

Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095(2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Communications Australia

Telephones -main lines in

use:

9.76 million (2007)

Telephones -mobile cellular:

21.26 million (2007)




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Telephonesystem:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone inareas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellulartelephonesinternational: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, theMiddle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine cableprovides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite earthstations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other)(2007)

Radiobroadcast

stations:

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 25.5 million (1997)

Televisionbroadcast

stations:

104 (1997)

Televisions: 10.15 million (1997)

Internet countrycode:

.au

Internet hosts: 9.458 million (2007)

Internet ServiceProviders

(ISPs):

571 (2002)

Internet users:11.24 million (2007)

Transportation Australia

Airports: 461 (2007)

Airports - withpaved runways:

total: 317over 3,047 m: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 121,524 to 2,437 m: 138914 to 1,523 m: 143under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Airports - withunpavedrunways:

total: 1441,524 to 2,437 m: 19914 to 1,523 m: 109under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Heliports: 1 (2007)

Pipelines: condensate/gas 469 km; gas 26,719 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil3,720 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2007)




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Railways: total: 38,550 kmbroad gauge: 3,727 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 20,519 km 1.435-m gauge (1,877 km electrified)narrow gauge: 14,074 km 1.067-m gauge (2,453 km electrified)dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2006)

Roadways: total: 812,972 km

paved: 341,448 kmunpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Waterways: 2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darlingriver systems) (2006)

Merchantmarine:

total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,296,383 GRT/1,490,539 DWTby type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefiedgas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off5foreign-owned: 24 (Canada 9, France 1, Germany 2, Japan 1,Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Singapore 1, UK 5, US 2)

registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 1,Bermuda 2, Dominica 2, Fiji 1, Marshall Islands 2, NZ 1, Panama 4,Singapore 11, Tonga 1, Tuvalu 1, UK 3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2008)

Ports andterminals:

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Military Australia

Militarybranches:

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal AustralianNavy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

Military service

age andobligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no

conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2008)

Manpoweravailable for

military service:

males age 16-49: 4,999,988females age 16-49: 4,870,043 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit formilitary service:

males age 16-49: 4,137,176females age 16-49: 4,022,588 (2008 est.)

Manpowerreachingmilitarily

significant ageannually:

male: 144,934female: 137,511 (2008 est.)

Militaryexpenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational

IssuesAustralia

Disputes -international:

Timor-Leste and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion ofthe boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly




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outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Timor-Leste hampers creation of arevised maritime boundary with Indonesia in the Timor Sea; regionalstates continue to express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime identification zone; Australia assertsland and maritime claims to Antarctica; in 2004 Australia submitted itsclaims to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) toextend its continental margins covering over 3.37 million squarekilometers, expanding its seabed roughly thirty percent more than itsclaimed exclusive economic zone; since 2003, Australia has led theRegional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) tomaintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security

Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products;government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppycultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer ofcocaine and amphetamines

This page was last updated on 2 October, 2008


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