CapitalCanberra
Population27,490,921
Area7,741,220 km²
GDP per capita$60,100
LanguagesEnglish, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, other, unspecified
CurrencyAustralian dollars
Life Expectancy83.5 yr
Governmenta federal parliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; classified as a Commonwealth realm.
Introduction
Background
Aboriginal Australians first arrived on the continent over 60,000 years ago, establishing intricate hunter-gatherer societies and oral traditions. In 1606, Dutch explorers led by Abel TASMAN became the initial Europeans to set foot in Australia, charting the western and northern shorelines. They referred to the continent as New Holland but did not pursue any permanent settlements. In 1770, English navigator James COOK arrived at the eastern coast, named it New South Wales, and claimed the territory for Great Britain. Subsequently, in 1788 and 1825, Great Britain founded New South Wales and Tasmania as penal colonies, respectively. Over 150,000 convicts were transported from Great Britain and Ireland to Australia before the cessation of this practice in 1868. As European settlers expanded into regions beyond the coast, they increasingly interacted with Aboriginal Australians. The clearing of land for agriculture by Europeans significantly affected the lifestyles of Aboriginal Australians. These challenges, coupled with disease and a policy in the 1900s that forcibly separated Aboriginal children from their families, led to a drastic decline in the Aboriginal Australian population from over 700,000 prior to European contact to a mere 74,000 by 1933.
During the mid-1800s, four additional colonies were founded in Australia: Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1836), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). The gold rushes that commenced in the 1850s attracted thousands of new immigrants to New South Wales and Victoria, shifting Australia away from its origins as a penal colony. In the latter part of the 1800s, all colonies gradually received self-governing powers, culminating in their federation as the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Australia contributed over 400,000 troops to the Allied forces during World War I, and Australian soldiers played a significant role in defeating Japanese forces in the Pacific during World War II. In 1942, Australia cut most constitutional ties with the United Kingdom while remaining a member of the British Commonwealth. Following the war, Australia's economy experienced significant growth, and by the 1970s, racial policies that restricted immigration for most non-Whites were abolished, leading to a surge in Asian immigration. In recent years, Australia has evolved into an advanced market economy that is competitive on an international scale, largely due to economic reforms initiated in the 1980s and its geographical proximity to East and Southeast Asia.
In the early 2000s, the political landscape in Australia experienced instability characterized by frequent leadership changes, including five prime ministerial transitions between 2010 and 2018. Consequently, both leading political parties implemented regulations to complicate the process of removing a party leader.
Geography
Area
land
7,682,300 sq km
water
58,920 sq km
total
7,741,220 sq km
Climate
primarily arid to semiarid; temperate in the southern and eastern regions; tropical in the northern area
Terrain
predominantly a low plateau with deserts; fertile plains situated in the southeast
Land use
other
35.4% (2023 est.)
forest
17.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
47.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Location
Oceania, the landmass located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Coastline
25,760 km
Elevation
lowest point
Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point
Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 m
mean elevation
330 m
Irrigated land
19,450 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Great Artesian Basin, Canning Basin
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
cyclones impacting the coastline; extreme droughts; wildfires
volcanism: volcanic activity observed on Heard and McDonald Islands
Geography - note
note 1: the smallest continent on the planet yet the sixth-largest nation; it is the largest country in Oceania, the largest nation entirely within the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without any land borders
note 2: the Great Dividing Range, which traverses eastern Australia, is the continent's longest mountain range and ranks third globally among land-based ranges; the designation "Great Dividing Range" indicates that these mountains form a watershed divide from which all rivers in eastern Australia flow in various directions – east, west, north, and south
note 3: Australia stands as the only continent devoid of glaciers; it is recognized as the driest inhabited continent on the planet; Perth, situated on the west coast, features the refreshing sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor," one of the most reliable winds globally; Australia is home to 10% of the world's biodiversity, with numerous species of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth
Natural resources
alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, lithium, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, opals, natural gas, petroleum
Area - comparative
marginally smaller than the 48 contiguous United States
Geographic coordinates
27 00 S, 133 00 E
Population distribution
the population is predominantly situated on the periphery, with the densest populations found in the eastern and southeastern regions; a secondary population hub is located in and around Perth in the west; among the states and territories, New South Wales has the largest population by a significant margin; the interior, referred to as the "outback," has a very low population density
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Lake Eyre - 9,690 sq km; Lake Torrens (ephemeral) - 5,780 sq km; Lake Gairdner - 4,470 sq km; Lake Mackay (ephemeral) - 3,494 sq km; Lake Frome - 2,410 sq km; Lake Amadeus (ephemeral) - 1,032 sq km
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Alexandrina - 570 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
(Great Australian Bight) Murray-Darling (1,050,116 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Eyre (1,212,198 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
River Murray - 2,508 km; Darling River - 1,545 km; Murrumbidgee River - 1,485 km; Lachlan River - 1,339 km; Cooper Creek - 1,113 km; Flinders River - 1,004 km
People & Society
Languages
English 72%, Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, other 15.7%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 estimate)
Religions
Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant 18.1% (Anglican 9.8%, Uniting Church 2.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%, Pentecostal 1%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 3.5%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 2.7%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox 0.2%), other 2.1%, none 38.4%, unspecified 7.3% (2021 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.85 male(s)/female
Birth rate
10.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
36.9 years
total
38.5 years (2025 est.)
female
39.2 years
Population
male
13,685,935
total
27,490,921 (2025 est.)
female
13,804,986
Nationality
noun
Australian(s)
adjective
Australian
Tobacco use
male
13.6% (2025 est.)
total
11.4% (2025 est.)
female
9.2% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
86.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
18.3% (male 2,526,772/female 2,369,425)
15-64 years
64.7% (male 8,688,023/female 8,640,671)
65 years and over
17% (2024 est.) (male 2,090,315/female 2,453,392)
Ethnic groups
English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, Australian Aboriginal 2.9%, Greek 1.7%, unspecified 4.7% (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
53.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
26.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
26.5 (2025 est.)
Physician density
4.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
20.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
11.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
3.8 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
12.7% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total
3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.59% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.73 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the population is predominantly situated around the edges, with the highest density found in the eastern and southeastern regions; a secondary demographic hub exists in and near Perth in the west; among the states and territories, New South Wales has by far the largest population; the interior, often referred to as the "outback," is characterized by a very low population density.
Life expectancy at birth
male
81.3 years
female
85.7 years
total population
83.5 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
3.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
9.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
5.235 million Melbourne, 5.121 million Sydney, 2.505 million Brisbane, 2.118 million Perth, 1.367 million Adelaide, 472,000 CANBERRA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
29% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
28.7 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
20 years (2023 est.)
total
21 years (2023 est.)
female
21 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
predominantly dry to semi-dry; mild in the southern and eastern regions; tropical in the northern area
Land use
other
35.4% (2023 est.)
forest
17.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
47.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
86.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
144.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
587.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
2,146 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
2,382.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
13.345 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
52.9% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
soil degradation due to overgrazing, deforestation, industrial expansion, urban growth, and inadequate farming methods; scarcity of natural freshwater supplies; soil salinity resulting from the use of substandard water, drought, desertification; loss of habitats due to agricultural land clearing; extinction of plant species; conservation of the Great Barrier Reef; overfishing; pollution; introduction of non-native species
Total water withdrawal
municipal
2.43 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial
3.11 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
11.19 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
394.653 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
93.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
146.81 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
154.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
492 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: a blue field featuring the UK flag in the upper-left corner and a prominent seven-pointed star in the lower-left corner; the right half displays a white depiction of the Southern Cross constellation, consisting of one small five-pointed star along with four larger seven-pointed stars
meaning: the largest star is referred to as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, symbolizing the federation of the Australian colonies established in 1901; this star comprises one point for each of the six original states, plus an additional point representing all of Australia's internal and external territories.
Capital
name
Canberra
etymology
the name might originate from the Aboriginal term nganbirra, which translates to "meeting place."
time zone note
Australia features six distinct time zones, which include Lord Howe Island (UTC+11).
time difference
UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time).
daylight saving time
+1hr, commencing on the first Sunday in October and concluding on the first Sunday in April.
geographic coordinates
35 16 S, 149 08 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Constitution
history
ratified through a series of referenda from 1898 to 1900 and became law on 9 July 1900, taking effect on 1 January 1901.
amendment process
initiated by Parliament; to pass, it requires the referendum bill to be approved by an absolute majority in both houses of Parliament, a majority vote in a referendum by voters in at least four states and the territories, along with Royal Assent; proposals that would diminish a state's representation in either house or alter a state's boundaries necessitate that state’s consent prior to Royal Assent.
Country name
etymology
the term Australia comes from the Latin australis meaning "southern;" the landmass of Australia was historically referred to as "Terra Australis," or the Southern Land.
conventional long form
Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form
Australia
Independence
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
Legal system
a common law system modeled after the English legal framework.
Dependent areas
includes Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island (7).
Government type
a federal parliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; classified as a Commonwealth realm.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court of Australia (comprised of 7 justices, including the chief justice); each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island possesses a Supreme Court; the High Court serves as the ultimate appellate court.
subordinate courts
subordinate courts: at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island.
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Samantha (Sam) MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024).
head of government
Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is inherited; the governor general is appointed by the monarch based on the prime minister's recommendation; after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general.
National holiday
Australia Day (marks the arrival of the First Fleet of settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (observes the anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing at Gallipoli during World War I), 25 April (1915).
National color(s)
green, gold
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
21 (5 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Great Barrier Reef (n); Greater Blue Mountains Area (n); Fraser Island (n); Gondwana Rainforests (n); Lord Howe Island Group (n); Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (c); Shark Bay (n); Sydney Opera House (c); Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (m); Kakadu National Park (m); Murujuga Cultural Landscape (c).
Political parties
Australian Greens Party or The Greens
Australian Labor Party or ALP
Australia's Voice
Centre Alliance (formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team or NXT)
Jacqui Lambie Network or JLN
Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
Liberal Party of Australia
The Nationals
Pauline Hanson's One Nation or ONP
United Australia Party
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
Commonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree (Acacia pycnantha), kangaroo, emu.
National coat of arms
King George V of the United Kingdom bestowed the current Commonwealth Coat of Arms upon Australia on 19 September 1912; the shield's center features symbols representing Australia’s six states; the kangaroo and the emu are emblematic of a nation progressing forward, as neither animal can easily move backward; perched above the shield is the gold Commonwealth star, with six points denoting the Australian states and the seventh point for the territories; the gold and blue wreath beneath the star represents the livery colors of the coat of arms; Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, encircles the shield.
Administrative divisions
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
3 years
number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/3/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
46%
parties elected and seats per party
Australian Labor Party (ALP) (94); Liberal National coalition (43); Independents (10); Other (3).
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
6 years
number of seats
76 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
5/3/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
56.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Australian Labor Party (ALP) (16); Liberal (6); The Greens (6); Liberal/Nationals (4); Pauline Hanson's One Nation (3); Liberal National Party of Queensland (2); Other (3).
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 797-3168
chancery
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 797-3000
chief of mission
Ambassador Kevin Michael RUDD (since 19 April 2023)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco.
email address and website
[email protected]
https://usa.embassy.gov.au/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[61] (02) 9373-9184
embassy
Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory 2600
telephone
[61] (02) 6214-5600
mailing address
7800 Canberra Place, Washington DC 20512-7800
chief of mission
Ambassador (currently unoccupied); Chargé d'Affaires Erika OLSON (in office since January 2025)
consulate(s) general
Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
email address and website
[email protected]
https://au.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Quad, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
recognizes compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; acknowledges ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$431.27 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures
$453.105 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$465.99 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$448.507 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$425.16 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$379.981 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$389.211 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$405.336 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
mining, industrial and transportation machinery, food processing, chemicals, steel
Labor force
14.912 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2022
58% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
1.453 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
1.515 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
an economy characterized by high income and global integration; robust mining, manufacturing, and service sectors are contributing to gradual growth; a net exporter primarily of commodities to East Asian trade partners; challenges include low productivity and an aging population affecting labor force participation
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
4.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 37%, Japan 16%, S. Korea 6%, India 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 26%, USA 11%, S. Korea 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$59,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$60,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$60,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, sugarcane, barley, rapeseed, milk, cotton, sorghum, beef, lentils, grapes (2023)
Exports - commodities
iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, minerals (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$5.707 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$5.186 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$34.402 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
23.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.752 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
51.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption
22.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0.1% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
24.3% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
24.7% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-22.6% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
9.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.2% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.558 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.611 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.635 trillion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.2% (2024 est.)
total
9.5% (2024 est.)
female
8.7% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$56.702 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$61.703 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$60.404 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
26% (2024 est.)
services
65.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
2.2% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.8% (2018 est.)
highest 10%
26.2% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
34.3 (2018 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
348.32 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
630,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
production
445.077 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
95.667 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
149.472 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
2.446 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
1.151 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
consumption
267.818 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
108.193 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
11.455 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
105.146 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
151.307 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
48.845 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
3.228 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
223.158 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
11.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
17.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
64.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
97% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
While public broadcasting is a longstanding tradition, privately owned television and radio stations attract the largest audiences; media ownership in both print and broadcasting is highly concentrated; the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) operates both national and local public radio and television services; another key public broadcaster is the multilingual Special Broadcasting Service (SBS); the commercial television landscape is predominantly led by three major free-to-air networks; it is mandatory for broadcasters to air a minimum percentage of programs produced in Australia; the pay television sector, encompassing cable, satellite, and IPTV, has established a robust presence (2023)
Internet country code
.au
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
5.95 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
22 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
30.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
113 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
9.63 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
36 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
5
small
24
medium
8
key ports
Brisbane, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Dalrymple, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Sydney
very small
29
total ports
66 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
38
Airports
2,257 (2025)
Railways
total
32,606 km (2022) 3,448 km electrified
broad gauge
2,685 km (2022) 1.600 mm
narrow gauge
11,914 km (2022) 1.067 mm
standard gauge
18,007 km (2022) 1.435 mm
Heliports
392 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
604 (2023)
by type
2 bulk carriers, 76 general cargo ships, 6 oil tankers, 520 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
VH
Military & Security
Military - note
The missions of the ADF encompass the safeguarding of Australia's borders and maritime interests, responding to natural disasters domestically, and engaging in overseas operations for humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and various security-related tasks; in 2024, a cyber command was established; the ADF frequently engages in bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with international military forces.
Since 1951, Australia has been a participant in the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty; additionally, Australia is a signatory to the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a consortium of mutual assistance agreements established in 1971 involving Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK.
Australia maintains enduring bi-lateral defense and security relations with the UK, which includes defense and security cooperation treaties signed in 2024 and 2013; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) serves as their primary bilateral platform for discussing foreign policy, defense, and security matters.
Moreover, Australia has a longstanding military partnership with the US; the Australian and US forces first collaborated in combat in France in 1918 and have participated together in each significant US military conflict since then; in 2014, Australia and the US formalized an agreement to enhance bi-lateral defense and security collaboration, facilitating the rotation of US military personnel and equipment to Australia; Australian military units regularly train alongside US forces; Australia holds Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US legislation that confers certain advantages in defense trade and security cooperation.
In 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US unveiled a strengthened trilateral security partnership named “AUKUS,” aimed at enhancing existing bilateral relations through deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial frameworks, and supply chains, along with increased cooperation across a spectrum of defense and security capabilities (2025).
Military deployments
note: the number of personnel in the Australian military fluctuates based on mission requirements; since the 1990s, Australia has deployed over 30,000 individuals to nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations worldwide.
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals may volunteer for military service at 17 years of age (with parental consent; 18 years of age for deployment); conscription has been abolished since 1972 (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's arsenal comprises a combination of domestically manufactured and imported Western weapon systems; in recent years, the US has been the predominant supplier of arms; the Australian defense sector produces various land and naval weapon platforms; furthermore, the defense industry engages in joint development and production collaborations with other Western nations, including the US and Canada (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 60,000 active ADF personnel (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
185 (2024 est.)
refugees
120,789 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
6,922 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex (commercial facility, South Australia); Arnhem Space Center (commercial facility, Northern Territory); Bown Orbital Spaceport (commercial facility, North Queensland) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
Australian Space Agency (ASA; founded in 2018; its headquarters inaugurated in 2020) (2025)
Space program overview
possesses a legacy of engagement in space endeavors, encompassing astronomy, rocket development, satellite operations, and space tracking; it constructs, operates, and monitors satellites, which include communications, remote sensing (RS), and navigation types, often collaborating with various nations; it also pioneers other space technologies, such as communications and RS systems, along with telescopes; it promotes the expansion of the national commercial space sector, including satellite launch systems; it collaborates with numerous international space agencies and sectors, including those from China, the ESA, individual ESA member countries, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the US; it co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and accommodates one of the telescopes for the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1960 - established the first space-tracking station outside the United States
1967 - launched the first domestically produced satellite (WRSEA) using a US rocket from an Australian test site
1981 - initiated the first national satellite system
1996 - saw the first Australian travel to space aboard a US Space Shuttle
2021 - declared plans to supply a robotic lunar lander for the US Artemis initiative
2022 - executed the launch of a NASA rocket from a commercial launch facility; a joint Australian-US space surveillance telescope located in Western Australia became operational
2025 - the inaugural attempt to launch an Australian-designed and -manufactured orbital launch vehicle did not achieve orbit
