2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189) 65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female 1,452,002) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

448 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

305 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 139 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 112 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.) Military Australia

Area

land

7,617,930 sq km

total

7,686,850 sq km

water

68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Background

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. Geography Australia

Birth rate

12.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$221.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$222.7 billion

Capital

Canberra

Climate

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

Coastline

25,760 km

Constitution

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Australia

conventional short form

Australia

Currency (code)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

AUD

Current account balance

$-38.3 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$308.7 billion (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Dependent areas

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

William A. STANTON, Charge d'Affaires ad interim

consulate(s) general

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

embassy

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600

FAX

[61] (02) 6214-5970

mailing address

APO AP 96549

telephone

[61] (02) 6214-5600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 797-3168

telephone

[1] (202) 797-3000

Disputes - international

East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploited petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime indentification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted claims to UNCLOS to extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.2 (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Economy - overview

Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, and to $13 billion in 2004. One other concern is the rapid increase in domestic housing prices, which have raised the prospect that interest rates will need to be raised to prevent a speculative bubble.

Electricity - consumption

195.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

210.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

90.8%

hydro

8.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0.9% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

lowest point

Lake Eyre -15 m

Environment - current issues

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Exchange rates

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Prime Minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the Governor General to serve as government ministers

chief of state

Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

head of government

Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005)

Exports

$86.89 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners

Japan 18.6%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.7%, New Zealand 7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Australia

Flag description

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars Economy Australia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.4%

industry

28.2%

services

68.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $30,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$611.7 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Geography - note

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world People Australia

Government type

democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

Highways

paved

314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)

total

811,603 km

unpaved

497,513 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Illicit drugs

Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$98.1 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004)

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Industrial production growth rate

1.9% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

5.08 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, ZC

Internet country code

.au

Internet hosts

2,847,763 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

571 (2002)

Internet users

9.472 million (2002) Transportation Australia

Investment (gross fixed)

25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

24,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Labor force

10.35 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 3.6%, industry 26.4%, services 70% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland)

other

93.41% (2001)

permanent crops

0.04%

Languages

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Legal system

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than five representatives)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party (for session beginning on 1 July 2005) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3

elections

Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.4 years (2005 est.)

male

77.52 years

total population

80.39 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (1980 est.) Government Australia

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,943,676 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,092,717 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

142,158 (2005 est.)

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

37.4 years (2005 est.)

male

35.74 years

total

36.56 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1, Philippines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 7)

registered in other countries

35 (2005)

total

55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWT

Military branches

Australian Defense Force (ADF)

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$16.65 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (2004) Transnational Issues Australia

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Nationality

adjective

Australian

noun

Australian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

523,400 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

530,800 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

537,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]

Population

20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.87% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Public debt

17.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

25.5 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

5,434 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

213 km dual gauge (2004)

narrow gauge

14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)

standard gauge

34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)

total

54,439 km (3859 km electrified)

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% (2001 Census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$35.14 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones

general assessment

excellent domestic and international service

international

country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.815 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.347 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

104 (1997)

Televisions

10.15 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.1% (December 2004 est.)

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2004)