Australia

Commonwealth of Australia

federal parliamentary stateIndependence 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Australia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalCanberra

Area7,686,850 sq km

LocationOceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South

Populationas each edition published it

18.32 million July 1995 est. · 16.92m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.31% 1995 est. · 1.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 36 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.78 years 1995 est. · 77.36 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.82 children per woman 1995 est. · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$20,720 1994 est. · $16,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.4% 1994 · 2.5% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 7,686,850 sq km

arable land 6%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 58%forest and woodland 14%other 22%irrigated 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

7,686,850sq km

land area: 7,617,930 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than the USnote: includes Macquarie Island

Coastline

25,760km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

International disputes

territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Natural resources

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

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
natural hazards:: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
international agreements:: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Note

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

People

15 fields

Population

18,322,231

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.31% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

14.13Death

7.37Net migration

6.33

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.78

74.67 · 81.04

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy100%

100% · 100%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Caucasian 95%Asian 4%aboriginal and other 1%

Labor force

8.63million

(September 1991)by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (female 1,929,366; male 2,032,238)
15-64 years:: 67% (female 6,017,362; male 6,181,887)
65 years and over:: 11% (female 1,227,004; male 934,374) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Australian(s)
adjective:: Australian

Religions

Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%

Government

Federal parliamentary state; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989); Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991)

24 fields

Legislature, 76 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberal-National 36Labor 30Australian Democrats 7Greens 2independents 1

Legislature, 147 seatsone dot, one seat

Labor 80Liberal-National 65independent 2

Names

conventional long form:: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form:: Australia

Digraph

Type

federal parliamentary state

Capital

Canberra

Administrative divisions

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, 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

Independence

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989)
head of government:: Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)
cabinet:: Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of the House and Senate

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Parliament

Senate

elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (76 total) Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2, independents 1

House of Representatives

elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65, independent 2

Judicial branch

High Court

Political parties and leaders

government:: Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
opposition:: Liberal Party, John HOWARD;
National Party, Timothy FISCHER;
Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT;
Green Party, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups

Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

Member of

AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Donald Eric RUSSELL
chancery:: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 797-3000

FAX

[1] (202) 797-3168; consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
embassy:: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address:: APO AP 96549
telephone:: [61] (6) 270-5000

FAX

[61] (6) 270-5970

consulate(s) general:: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate(s):: Brisbane

Flag

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;
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 has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, | with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West | European countries.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$20,720

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

6.4%

(1994)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.9% (FY93/94); accounts for 32% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

8.9%

(December 1994)

Budget

Revenues

$83.8 billionExpenditures

$92.3 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)

Installed generating capacity, 34,540,000 kW

Electricity production

155 billionElectricity consumption per capita

8,021 (1993)

Overview

Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Primary products account for more than 60% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy.

The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports.

Growth picked up so strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe drought in 1994 is expected to reduce the value of Australia's net farm production by $825 million in the twelve months through June 1995, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost rural exports by 7.7% to $14.5 billion in 1995/96, according to government statistics.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $374.6 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$50.4 billion (1994)

commodities:: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
partners:: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)

Imports

$51.1 billion (1994)

commodities:: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil and petroleum products
partners:: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)

External debt

$147.2 billion (1994)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% of export revenues;
world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters;
major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit;
livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry

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

Economic aid

donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 480 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

128

1,524 to 2,437 m

125

914 to 1,523 m

149

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

837,872Railroads

40,478Inland waterways

8,368

Highways: paved: 243,750 km · unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km; unimproved earth 365,726 km · Railroads: (1,130 km electrified; 183 km dual gauge) · broad gauge: 7,970 km 1.600-m gauge · standard gauge: 16,201 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 16,307 km 1.067-m gauge · Inland waterways: ; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Railroads

total:: 40,478 km (1,130 km electrified; 183 km dual gauge)
broad gauge:: 7,970 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge:: 16,201 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 16,307 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways

total:: 837,872 km
paved:: 243,750 km
unpaved:: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km; unimproved earth 365,726 km

Inland waterways

8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Pipelines

crude oil 2,500 km;
petroleum products 500 km;
natural gas 5,600 km

Ports

Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine

total:: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,620,536 GRT/3,801,970 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 30, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

8,700,000 telephones; good international and domestic service

local:: NA
intercity:: domestic satellite service
international:: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; 10 INTELSAT (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean) earth stations