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Australia

OFFICIAL NAME:
Commonwealth of Australia

Geography
Area: 7.7 million sq. km. (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of the 48 contiguous United States.
Cities (2006): Capital--Canberra (pop. 323,000). Other cities--Sydney (4.3 million), Melbourne (3.6 million), Brisbane (1.8 million), Perth (1.5 million), Adelaide (1.1 million), Darwin (114,000), Hobart (48,808).
Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying.
Climate: Relatively dry and subject to drought, ranging from temperate in the south to tropical in the far north.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Australian(s).
Population (2007 est.): 21 million.
Annual population growth rate: 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: European 92%, Asian 6%, Aboriginal 2%.
Religions (2006): Catholic 26%, Anglican 19%, other Christian 9%, other non-Christian 5%, no religion 19% and not stated 12%.
Languages: English.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 15 in all states except Tasmania, where it is 16. Literacy--over 99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--4.63/1,000. Life expectancy--males 78 yrs., females 83 yrs.
Work force (10.4 million): Agriculture--3.0%; mining--4.9%; manufacturing--10.3%; services--72.4%; public administration and defense--3.8%.

Government
Type: Democratic, federal-state system recognizing British monarch as sovereign.
Constitution: Passed by the British Parliament on July 9, 1900.
Independence (federation): January 1, 1901.
Branches: Head of state is the British monarch, who is also the Australian sovereign, represented by an appointed governor general. Legislative--bicameral Parliament (76-member Senate, 150-member House of Representatives). The House of Representatives selects as head of government the Prime Minister, who then appoints his cabinet. Judicial--independent judiciary.
Administrative subdivisions: Six states and two territories.
Political parties: Liberal, the Nationals, Australian Labor, Australian Democrats, Australian Greens, and Family First. The Liberal Party and the Nationals form the governing coalition.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory over 18.
Central government budget (revenue): FY 2007-2008 $219.4 billion; FY 2008-2009 $231.8 billion (2006 US$/$A = 1.32).
Defense: $19.9 billion or 1.81% of GDP for FY 2007-2008. (2006 US$/$A = 1.32).

Economy
GDP (year to March 2007): $714.1 billion.
Inflation rate (year to March 2007): 2.4% per annum.
Reserve Bank official interest rate: 6.25%.
Trade: Exports ($114 billion, 2005-2006)--coal, iron ore, non-monetary gold, crude petroleum, and bovine meat. Major markets--Japan, China, South Korea, U.S. ($7.3 billion), New Zealand. Imports ($125 billion, 2005-2006)--passenger motor vehicles, crude petroleum, computers, medicaments, and telecommunications equipment. Major suppliers--China, U.S. ($17.1 billion), Japan, Singapore, and Germany.

PEOPLE
Australia's aboriginal inhabitants, a hunting-gathering people generally referred to today as Aboriginals and Torres Straits Islanders, arrived more than 40,000 years ago. Although their technical culture remained static--depending on wood, bone, and stone tools and weapons--their spiritual and social life was highly complex. Most spoke several languages, and confederacies sometimes linked widely scattered tribal groups. Aboriginal population density ranged from one person per square mile along the coasts to one person per 35 square miles in the arid interior. When Capt. James Cook claimed Australifor Great Britain in 1770, the native population may have numbered 300,000 in as many as 500 tribes speaking many different languages. The aboriginal population currently numbers 455,031, representing about 2.3% of the population. Since the end of World War II, the government and the public have made efforts to be more responsive to aboriginal rights and needs.

Immigration has been a key to Australia's development since the beginning of European settlement in 1788. For generations, most settlers came from the British Isles, and the people of Australia are still predominantly of British or Irish origin, with a culture and outlook similar to those of Americans. However, since the end of World War II, the population has more than doubled; non-European immigration, mostly from the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, has increased significantly since 1960 through an extensive, planned immigration program. From 1945 through 2000, nearly 5.9 million immigrants settled in Australia, and about 80% have remained; nearly three out of every 10 Australians are foreign-born. Britain and Ireland have been the largest sources of post-war immigrants, followed by Italy, Greece, New Zealand, and the former Yugoslavia.

Australia's humanitarian and refugee admissions of about 12,000 per year are in addition to the normal immigration program. In recent years, refugees from Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia have comprised the largest element in Australia's refugee program.

Although Australia has scarcely more than three people per square kilometer, it is one of the world's most urbanized countries. Less than 2.5% of the population lives in remote or very remote areas