Australia

Aboriginal Australians arrived on the continent at least 60,000 years ago and developed complex hunter-gatherer societies and oral histories. Dutch navigators led by Abel TASMAN were the first Europeans to land in Australia in 1606, and they mapped the western and northern coasts. They named the continent New Holland but made no attempts to permanently settle it. In 1770, Englishman James COOK sailed to the east coast of Australia, named it New South Wales, and claimed it for Great Britain. In 1788 and 1825 respectively, Great Britain established New South Wales and then Tasmania as penal colonies. Great Britain and Ireland sent more than 150,000 convicts to Australia before ending the practice in 1868. As Europeans began settling areas away from the coasts, they came into more direct contact with Aboriginal Australians. Europeans also cleared land for agriculture, impacting Aboriginal Australians’ ways of life. These issues, along with disease and a policy in the 1900s that forcefully removed Aboriginal children from their parents, reduced the Aboriginal Australian population from more than 700,000 pre-European contact to a low of 74,000 in 1933.

Four additional colonies were established in Australia in the mid-1800s: Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1836), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). Gold rushes beginning in the 1850s brought thousands of new immigrants to New South Wales and Victoria, helping to reorient Australia away from its penal colony roots. In the second half of the 1800s, the colonies were all gradually granted self-government, and in 1901, they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia contributed more than 400,000 troops to Allied efforts during World War I, and Australian troops played a large role in the defeat of Japanese troops in the Pacific in World War II. Australia severed most constitutional links with the UK in 1942 but remained part of the British Commonwealth. Australia’s post-war economy boomed and by the 1970s, racial policies that prevented most non-Whites from immigrating to Australia were removed, greatly increasing Asian immigration to the country. In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its proximity to East and Southeast Asia.

Table of Contents

In the early 2000s, Australian politics became unstable with frequent attempts to oust party leaders, including five changes of prime minister between 2010 and 2018. As a result, both major parties instituted rules to make it harder to remove a party leader.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 7,741,220 sq km

land: 7,682,300 sq km

water: 58,920 sq km

note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

comparison ranking: total 7

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

25,760 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Elevation

highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 m

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m

mean elevation: 330 m

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

note 1: Australia is the world’s largest net exporter of coal accounting for 26.5% of global coal exports in 2021; coal is the country’s most abundant energy resource, and coal ranks as the second-largest export commodity from Australia in terms of revenue; in 2020, Australia held the third-largest recoverable coal reserves in the world behind the United States and Russia

note 2: Australia is by far the world’s largest supplier of opals

note 3: Australia holds the largest uranium reserves in the world and was the second-largest global uranium producer behind Kazakhstan in 2020

note 4: Australia was the largest exporter of LNG in the world in 2020

Land use

agricultural land: 47.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 4.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 43.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 17.4% (2022 est.)

other: 35.3% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

19,450 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Alexandrina – 570 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

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

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 aquifers

Great Artesian Basin, Canning Basin

Population distribution

population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by far, the largest population; the interior, or “outback,” has a very sparse population

Natural hazards

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

volcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands

Geography – note

note 1: world’s smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders

note 2: the Great Dividing Range that runs along eastern Australia is that continent’s longest mountain range and the third-longest land-based range in the world; the term “Great Dividing Range” refers to the fact that the mountains form a watershed crest from which all of the rivers of eastern Australia flow – east, west, north, and south

note 3: Australia is the only continent without glaciers; it is the driest inhabited continent on earth; Perth on the west coast is home to the invigorating sea breeze known as the “Fremantle Doctor,” one of the most consistent winds in the world; Australia hosts 10% of the world’s biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world

People and Society

Population

total: 26,768,598 (2024 est.)

male: 13,305,110

female: 13,463,488

comparison rankings: total 54; female 55; male 54

Nationality

noun: Australian(s)

adjective: Australian

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.)

note: data represent self-identified ancestry, with the option of reporting two ancestries

Languages

English 72%, Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, other 15.7%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)

note: data represent language spoken at home

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.)

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 28.3 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 26.2 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 38.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 36.9 years

female: 39.2 years

comparison ranking: total 77

Population growth rate

1.13% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 81

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 142

Death rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 127

Net migration rate

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 15

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 86.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data include Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island

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)

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

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

28.7 years (2019 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 176

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 211

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.3 years

female: 85.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 13

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 155

Gross reproduction rate

0.84 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

66.9% (2015/16)

note: percent of women aged 18-44

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

10.5% of GDP (2021)

20.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

29% (2016)

comparison ranking: 27

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.67 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.)

comparison ranking: total 27

Tobacco use

total: 11.4% (2025 est.)

male: 13.6% (2025 est.)

female: 9.2% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 119

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.9% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

13.9% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 55

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 21 years

male: 20 years

female: 22 years (2020)

Environment

Environment – current issues

soil erosion from overgrazing, deforestation, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; limited natural freshwater resources; soil salinity from use of poor-quality water, drought, desertification; habitat loss from agricultural clearing; floral extinctions; Great Barrier Reef preservation; overfishing; pollution; invasive species

Environment – international 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

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 375.91 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 105.01 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 13.345 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,618,245 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42.1% (2015 est.)

Major lakes (area 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

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 aquifers

Great Artesian Basin, Canning Basin

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.29 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 2.89 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 8.57 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

492 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia

conventional short form: Australia

etymology: the name Australia derives from the Latin australis meaning “southern”; the Australian landmass was long referred to as “Terra Australis,” or the Southern Land

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital

name: Canberra

geographic coordinates: 35 16 S, 149 08 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April

time zone note: Australia has six time zones, including Lord Howe Island (UTC+11)

etymology: the name may derive from the Aboriginal word nganbirra, meaning “meeting place”

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, Jervis Bay, Norfolk Island (7)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

Constitution

history: approved in a series of referenda from 1898 through 1900 and became law 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires approval of a referendum bill by absolute majority vote in both houses of Parliament, approval in a referendum by a majority of voters in at least four states and in the territories, and Royal Assent; proposals that would reduce a state’s representation in either house or change a state’s boundaries require that state’s approval prior to Royal Assent

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

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)

cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general

elections/appointments: the monarchy 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 majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives

number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 3 years

most recent election date: 5/3/2025

percentage of women in chamber: 39.1%

expected date of next election: May 2028

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate

number of seats: 76 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: partial renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 5/3/2025

percentage of women in chamber: 56.6%

expected date of next election: May 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70

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

Political parties

Australian Greens Party or The Greens
Australian Labor Party or ALP
Centre Alliance (formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team or NXT)
Jacqui Lambie Network or JLN
Katter’s Australian Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Nationals
One Nation or ONP
United Australia Party

note: the Labor Party is Australia’s oldest political party, established federally in 1901; the present Liberal Party was formed in 1944; the Country Party was formed in 1920, renamed the National Country Party in 1975, the National Party of Australia in 1982, and since 2003 has been known as the Nationals; since the general election of 1949, the Liberal Party and the Nationals (under various names) when forming government have done so as a coalition

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin Michael RUDD (since 19 April 2023)

chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000

FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://usa.embassy.gov.au/

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erika OLSON (since January 2025)

embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory 2600

mailing address: 7800 Canberra Place, Washington DC 20512-7800

telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600

FAX: [61] (02) 9373-9184

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://au.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

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, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Independence

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

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; the star is known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star and represents the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901; the star has one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia’s internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white, with one small five-pointed star and four larger seven-pointed stars

National symbol(s)

Commonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree (Acacia pycnantha), kangaroo, emu

National colors

green, gold

National coat of arms

King George V of the United Kingdom granted the current Commonwealth Coat of Arms to Australia on 19 September 1912; the center of the shield has the symbols of Australia’s six states; the kangaroo and the emu symbolize a nation moving forward, since neither animal can move backward easily; the gold Commonwealth star sits above the shield, with six points representing the Australian states and the seventh representing the territories; the gold and blue in the wreath under the star are the livery, or identifying, colors for the coat of arms; Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, frames the shield

National anthem

name: Advance Australia Fair

lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK

note 1: adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem was not used for all official occasions until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, “God Save the King” serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

note 2: the well-known and much-loved bush ballad “Waltzing Matilda” is often referred to as Australia’s unofficial national anthem; the original lyrics were written in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo PATERSON, and were first published as sheet music in 1903; since 2012, a Waltzing Matilda Day has been held annually on 6 April, the anniversary of the first performance of the song in 1895

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 20 (4 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed); note – includes one site on Heard Island and McDonald Islands

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)

Economy

Economic overview

high-income and globally integrated economy; strong mining, manufacturing, and service sectors driving slow but steady growth; net exporter, driven by commodities to East Asian trade partners; weak productivity and aging population straining labor force participation

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.588 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.535 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.472 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 21

Real GDP growth rate

3.44% (2023 est.)
4.24% (2022 est.)
2.11% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 98

Real GDP per capita

$59,600 (2023 est.)
$59,000 (2022 est.)
$57,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 30

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.728 trillion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2024 est.)
5.6% (2023 est.)
6.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 106

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.6% (2023 est.)

industry: 27.7% (2023 est.)

services: 63.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 66; industry 76; agriculture 145

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 50.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 21.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 26.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -22.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

wheat, sugarcane, barley, rapeseed, milk, cotton, sorghum, beef, lentils, grapes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.88% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 132

Labor force

14.752 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 43

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2024 est.)
3.7% (2023 est.)
3.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 75

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 9.5% (2024 est.)

male: 10.2% (2024 est.)

female: 8.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 132

Population below poverty line

13.4% (2020 est.)

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

34.3 (2018 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 85

Average household expenditures

on food: 9.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.)

highest 10%: 26.2% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.06% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $431.371 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $447.119 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

58% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 85

Taxes and other revenues

23.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 55

Current account balance

-$34.402 billion (2024 est.)
-$5.186 billion (2023 est.)
$5.707 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 203

Exports

$425.16 billion (2024 est.)
$448.507 billion (2023 est.)
$465.99 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 23

Exports – partners

China 37%, Japan 16%, S. Korea 6%, India 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, minerals (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$405.336 billion (2024 est.)
$389.211 billion (2023 est.)
$379.981 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 21

Imports – partners

China 26%, USA 11%, S. Korea 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$54.455 billion (2024 est.)
$61.703 billion (2023 est.)
$56.702 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 40

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
1.515 (2024 est.)
1.505 (2023 est.)
1.442 (2022 est.)
1.331 (2021 est.)
1.453 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 108.193 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 267.818 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 11.455 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 184; consumption 19; installed generating capacity 15

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 64.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 17.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 11.5% 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.)

Coal

production: 445.077 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 95.667 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 348.32 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 630,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 149.472 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1.151 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 2.446 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 151.307 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 48.845 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 105.146 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 3.228 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

394.653 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 93.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 16

Energy consumption per capita

223.158 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 16

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6.458 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 24

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 29.1 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 49

Broadcast media

tradition of public broadcasting, but privately owned TV and radio have the biggest audiences; ownership of print and broadcast media is concentrated; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs national and local public radio and TV; other main public broadcaster is the multilingual Special Broadcasting Service (SBS); national commercial TV is dominated by three big free-to-air networks; broadcasters must carry a minimum percentage of Australian-made programs; pay TV via cable, satellite, and IPTV has a strong foothold (2023)

Internet country code

.au

Internet users

percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 9.63 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 26

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

2,257 (2025)

comparison ranking: 3

Heliports

392 (2025)

comparison ranking: 11

Railways

total: 32,606 km (2022) 3,448 km electrified

standard gauge: 18,007 km (2022) 1.435 mm

narrow gauge: 11,914 km (2022) 1.067 mm

broad gauge: 2,685 km (2022) 1.600 mm

Merchant marine

total: 604 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 76, oil tanker 6, other 520

comparison ranking: total 37

Ports

total ports: 66 (2024)

large: 5

medium: 8

small: 24

very small: 29

ports with oil terminals: 38

key ports: Brisbane, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Dalrymple, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Sydney

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force (2025)

note: the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is an independent agency of the Attorney-General’s Department; the AFP, state, and territorial police forces are responsible for internal security; the Australian Border Force (ABF) is under the Department of Home Affairs

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2024 est.)
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 60,000 active ADF personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military’s inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems; in recent years, the US has been the largest supplier of arms; the Australian defense industry produces a variety of land and sea weapons platforms; the defense industry also participates in joint development and production ventures with other Western countries, including the US and Canada (2024)

note: in 2023, the Australian defense ministry announced a new strategic review that called for the acquisition of more long-range deterrence capabilities, including missiles, submarines, and cyber tools; in early 2024, Australia announced a 10-year plan to more than double the number of the Navy’s major surface combatant ships

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age (with parental consent; 18 years of age to deploy) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1972) (2024)

note 1: as of July 2024, New Zealanders who are permanent residents and have lived in Australia for at least 12 months could apply to join the ADF; from January 2025, eligible permanent residents from Canada, the UK, and the US were also to be allowed to apply

note 2: women have served in all roles, including combat arms, since 2013; in 2024, they comprised slightly more than 20% of the military

Military deployments

note: the number of Australian military forces varies by mission; since the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations around the World

Military – note

the ADF’s missions include protecting Australia’s borders and maritime interests, responding to domestic natural disasters, and deploying overseas for humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other security-related missions; in 2024, it established a cyber command; the ADF regularly participates in bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with foreign militaries

Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK

Australia has long-standing bi-lateral defense and security ties to the UK, including defense and security cooperation treaties in 2024 and 2013; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issues

Australia also has a long-standing military relationship with the US; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 and have fought together in every major US conflict since; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including rotations of US military forces and equipment to Australia; Australian military forces train often with US forces; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

in 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

Australian Space Agency (ASA; established 2018; headquarters opened in 2020); Defense Space Command (established 2022) (2024)

Space launch site(s)

Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex (commercial site, South Australia); Arnhem Space Center (commercial site, Northern Territory) (2024)

Space program overview

has a long history of involvement in space-related activities, including astronomy, rockets, satellites, and space tracking; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), navigational, and scientific/testing/research, often in partnership with other countries; develops other space technologies, including communications, RS capabilities, and telescopes; encouraging growth in domestic commercial space industry sector; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the European Space Agency/EU and their individual member states, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the US; co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 12,180 (Iran), 8,741 (Afghanistan), 5,042 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2022)

stateless persons: 7,649 (2022)

Illicit drugs

amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and cannabis dominate the domestic illicit drug market and shown potential for expansion, with ATS accounting for the preponderance of detected imports; domestic heroin market is small, but also shown some growth; as of 2020, Malaysia was the primary embarkation point for heroin and ATS imports other than MDMA (ecstasy) for which South Korea was the primary embarkation point although MDMA is increasingly being produced domestically with number of detected labs nearly doubled. The US is the principal embarkation point for imported cannabis; 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; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines