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Countries |
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Guide to DXing |
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Real Radio |
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Background:
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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
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 1990s, a performance due in
large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term
concerns include climate-change issues such as the depletion of the
ozone layer and more frequest droughts, and management and
conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
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Location:
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Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 00 S, 133 00 E
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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25,760 km
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Maritime claims:
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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
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Climate:
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generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north
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Terrain:
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mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium,
nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural
gas, petroleum
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Land use:
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arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million
hectares of cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.81% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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25,450 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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398 cu km (1995)
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%)
per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the
invigorating 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
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Population:
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20,600,856 (July 2008 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.1% (male 2,014,230/female 1,920,604)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 7,005,588/female 6,895,817)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,226,432/female
1,538,185) (2008 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 37.4 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 38.3 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.801% (2008 est.)
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Birth rate:
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11.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.73 years
male: 77.86 years
female: 83.75 years (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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14,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 200 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
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Ethnic groups:
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white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%,
unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
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Government type:
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federal parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
October; ends last Sunday in March
note: Australia is divided into three time zones
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Administrative divisions:
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6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New
South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia,
Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
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Dependent areas:
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Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)
Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands,
Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island
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Independence:
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1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
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National holiday:
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Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as 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)
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Constitution:
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9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
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Legal system:
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based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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Executive branch:
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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)
head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3
December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3
December 2007)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of
Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the
governor general to serve as government ministers
elections: 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
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats;
12 members from each of the six states and 2 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 vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state
can have fewer than 5 representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to
be held no later than 2010); House of Representatives - last
held 24 November 2007 (next to be called no later than 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37,
Australian Labor Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First
Party 1, other 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal
Party 55, National Party 10, independents 2
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Judicial branch:
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High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are
appointed by the governor general)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob
BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal
Party [Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING];
Liberal Party [Brendan NELSON]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]
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International organization participation:
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ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia
Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA,
NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los
Angeles, New York, San Francisco
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian
Capital Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
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Flag description:
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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 or Federation 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; 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
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Economy - overview:
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Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per capita GDP on
par with the four dominant West European economies. Robust business
and consumer confidence and high export prices for raw materials and
agricultural products are fueling the economy, particularly in
mining states. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, a
housing market boom, and growing ties with China have been key
factors behind the economy's 16 solid years of expansion. Drought,
robust import demand, and a strong currency have pushed the trade
deficit up in recent years, while infrastructure bottlenecks and a
tight labor market are constraining growth in export volumes and
stoking inflation. Australia's budget has been in surplus since 2002
due to strong revenue growth.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$766.8 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$889.7 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$37,500 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 25.6%
services: 70.7% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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10.9 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.2%
services: 75.2% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.4% (November 2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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30.5 (2006)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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27.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $312 billion
expenditures: $299.6 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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15.2% of GDP
note: The Commonwealth government eliminated its net debt
in 2006, but continues a gross debt issue to support the market
for risk-free securities. (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry
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Industries:
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mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.5% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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236.7 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 8.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.9% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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219.8 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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572,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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903,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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333,200 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - imports:
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611,400 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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1.437 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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38.62 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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25.72 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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12.9 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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750.6 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$50.96 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$139.4 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 19.6%, China 12.3%, South Korea 7.5%, US 6.2%, India 5.5%,
NZ 5.5%, UK 5% (2006)
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Imports:
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$152.7 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and
petroleum products
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Imports - partners:
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China 14.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 9.6%, Singapore 6%, Germany 5.1%
(2006)
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $2.123 billion (2006)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$71.15 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$757.9 billion (30 June 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$246.2 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$226.8 billion (2006 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$804.1 billion (2005)
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Currency (code):
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Australian dollar (AUD)
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Currency code:
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AUD
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006),
1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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9.94 million (2006)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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19.76 million (2006)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: excellent domestic and
international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of
radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid
growth of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 61; landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with
links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern
Cross fiber optic submarine cable provides links to New
Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 19
(10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2
Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5
other) (2007)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
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Radios:
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25.5 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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104 (1997)
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Televisions:
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10.15 million (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.au
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Internet hosts:
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9.458 million (2007)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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571 (2002)
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Internet users:
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15.3 million (2006)
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Airports:
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461 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 317
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 138
914 to 1,523 m: 143
under 914 m: 13 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 144
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 109
under 914 m: 16 (2007)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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condensate/gas 469 km; gas 26,719 km; liquid petroleum gas 240
km; oil 3,720 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 38,550 km
broad gauge: 3,727 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 20,519 km 1.435-m gauge (1,877 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,074 km 1.067-m gauge (2,453 km
electrified)
dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 810,641 km
paved: 336,962 km
unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and
Murray-Darling river systems) (2006)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,322,527
GRT/1,501,865 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1,
container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo
6, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 16 (Canada 2, France 1, Germany 2,
Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 5)
registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 1,
Bahamas 3, Bermuda 4, Fiji 1, The Gambia 1, Liberia 2,
Marshall Islands 1, Panama 4, Singapore 6, Tonga 1, UK 1, US
2, Vanuatu 2, unknown 1) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,
Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney
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Military branches:
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Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian
Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental
consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat
units in non-combat support roles (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 4,999,988
females age 16-49: 4,870,043 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 4,137,176
females age 16-49: 4,022,588 (2008 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age
annually:
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males age 16-49: 146,248
females age 16-49: 139,697 (2008 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.4% (2006)
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Transnational Issues |
Australia |
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Disputes - international:
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Timor-Leste and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed
portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon
revenues evenly 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 in the Timor Sea;
Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore and Cartier
Islands; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve
to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain
catch; regional states continue to express concern over Australia's
2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime
identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to
Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claims
to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to
extend its continental margins covering over 3.37 million square
kilometers or roughly thirty percent of its claimed exclusive
economic zone; since 2003, Australian Defense Force leads the
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to
maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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This page was last updated on 1 May,
2008
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MW Guide:
Introduction
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