Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country made up of the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. Its land area of 7,688,287 km² (2,968,464 sq mi) makes it the sixth-largest country in the world. It is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent. It is also a megadiverse country, which means it has many kinds of plants and animals. Its size gives it many kinds of landscapes and climates, from large deserts in the middle to tropical rainforests along the coast.

The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia about 50,000 to 65,000 years ago. When the British settled there, Aboriginal Australians spoke more than 250 different languages. They had one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Australia's written history began with Dutch exploration of most of the coastline in the 1600s. British settlement started in 1788, when the colony of New South Wales was set up as a place to send prisoners. By the mid-1800s, most of the continent had been explored, and five more self-governing British colonies were created. Each gained responsible government by 1890. The colonies federated in 1901 to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This was part of a longer process of gaining more independence from the United Kingdom, which included the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 and ended with the Australia Act 1986.

Australia is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. It is a federation made up of six states and ten territories. Almost 29 million people live there, mostly in cities, and most of them live along the eastern coast. Canberra is the nation's capital. Its largest cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with more than five million people. Australia's culture is diverse, and many of its people were born in other countries. It has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its natural resources and its international trade relations are important to the country's economy. Australia ranks highly for quality of life, health, and education.

Australia is a middle power and has the world's fourteenth-highest military expenditure. It is a member of international groups including the United Nations, the G20, the OECD, the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Community, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Australia also works with other countries on defence, intelligence, and security through ANZUS, AUKUS, and Five Eyes. It is a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

Etymology

Main article: Name of Australia

The name Australia comes from the Latin words Terra Australis Incognita, which mean 'unknown southern land'. For a long time, people used this name for an imagined continent in the Southern Hemisphere. Some 16th-century mapmakers wrote the word Australia on their maps, but it did not name the modern country. When the Dutch began visiting and mapping Australia in the 1600s, they called it New Holland. The explorer Matthew Flinders made the name Australia popular after he sailed around the continent in 1803. His book was published in 1814, and it still used the name Terra Australis. In December 1817, Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales, officially recommended the name Australia to replace New Holland. The British Admiralty adopted the name in 1824. The British Parliament used it in laws in 1828. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office used it in The Australia Directory in 1830. The name "Commonwealth of Australia" was made official for the new federation of six former colonies in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK).

Informal names for Australia include "Oz", "Straya" and "Down Under".

History

Main article: History of Australia

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Australian history.

Main articles: Prehistory of Australia and Indigenous Australians

Main articles: European maritime exploration of Australia, European land exploration of Australia, and History of Australia (1788–1850)

Main articles: History of Australia (1788–1850) and History of Australia (1851–1900)

Main article: History of Australia (1901–1945)

See also: Federation of Australia, Military history of Australia during World War I, and Military history of Australia during World War II

Main article: History of Australia (1945–present)

The first people of Australia are Indigenous Australians. They include Aboriginal Australians of the mainland and Tasmania, and Torres Strait Islanders from the Torres Strait Islands. People are estimated to have lived on the continent for 50,000 to 65,000 years. They arrived by land bridges and short sea crossings. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.

In 1606, the crew of a Dutch ship made the first recorded European landing in Australia. In 1770, Captain James Cook mapped the east coast and claimed it for Great Britain. On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove. That date later became Australia Day. Most early settlers were convicts.

After European settlement, many Indigenous people died, mainly from infectious diseases. As settlement grew, many people were harmed in frontier conflicts.

Separate colonies were formed over time. The six colonies gained responsible government between 1855 and 1890, while still part of the British Empire. Gold rushes brought many new migrants in the mid-1800s. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies was achieved, and the Commonwealth of Australia was created as one nation.

Australia fought in the First World War, including at Gallipoli in 1915. The day of that campaign is remembered on Anzac Day. Australia also fought in the Second World War. Afterward, it relied on the United States as its main ally. In the three decades after World War II, many migrants arrived. The White Australia policy was gradually relaxed from the 1960s. In 1999, voters rejected abolishing the monarchy and becoming a republic.

After the September 11 attacks, Australia joined the United States in the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and other restrictions were introduced from March 2020. In October 2023, Australia declared that COVID-19 was no longer a communicable disease incident of national significance.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Australia and Environment of Australia

See also: Environmental issues in Australia

Australia includes the mainland continent, the island of Tasmania, and many smaller islands. It also has faraway areas such as Christmas Island, Norfolk Island, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Australia is the sixth-largest country by total area in the world. The mainland is the world's smallest continent. The Indian and Pacific oceans surround the country. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies off the north-east coast. Much of the land is very dry. About 70% of Australia is arid or semi-arid, and the mainland is fairly flat. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia. Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain on the mainland. The Murray-Darling is the main river system. Most Australians live near the coast. The country has one of the lowest population densities in the world.

Australia sits on the Australian tectonic plate. The mainland is fairly stable and has no active volcanoes. The plate is still moving, though, which causes some earthquakes. The Newcastle earthquake of 1989 was Australia's deadliest. Australia's climate ranges from wet and tropical in the north to dry in the centre. It is the driest inhabited continent. Rainfall changes a lot from year to year, which can lead to droughts and floods. Australia's climate has also changed. Since 1910, temperatures have risen by 1.5 °C, partly because of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Australia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, which means it has a huge variety of living things. It has been separated from other continents for a long time, so many of its plants and animals are found nowhere else. For example, most of its kangaroos and koalas live only in Australia. About two-thirds of the world's marsupials live there too. Many Australian plants have adapted to dry land and poor soil. Some animals, such as the thylacine, have died out, and many others are at risk today. The main threats include changes to the land, animals brought in from elsewhere like the feral cat and red fox, and climate change. The federal law Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 helps protect threatened species. The National Reserve System covers over 22% of the land as protected areas.

Government and politics

Australia is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federation. It has kept its mostly unchanged constitution since Federation in 1901. Power is shared between the federal government and the state governments. The federal government has three main parts. The Parliament includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Australian Government is led by the prime minister and their Cabinet. The High Court and other federal courts make up the third part. After elections on 3 May 2025, the prime minister is Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party. Charles III is King of Australia. The governor-general represents him at the federal level.

Australia's electoral system uses preferential voting. Voting is required for citizens who are enrolled and aged 18 and older. The two main political groups that usually form the federal government are the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition. The Coalition includes the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Australian Greens have been the third largest party since 2004. Australia has six states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. It also has two mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The country is a middle power and a member of the United Nations. Its armed forces include the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. Together, these make up the Australian Defence Force. Australia has generally strong protections for civil and political rights. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2017.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Australia

Further information: Economic history of Australia and Tourism in Australia

Australia has a mixed-market economy that is highly developed and rich in natural resources. It is the world's twelfth largest by nominal terms and the twenty-third largest by PPP. As of 2021, Australia had the second-highest amount of wealth per adult, after Luxembourg. It also has one of the highest per capita incomes globally. About 14.6 million people are in its labour force. The unemployment rate was 4.2% in December 2025. The Australian Council of Social Service estimated that the poverty rate of Australia is over 13.6% of the population, which is more than 3.2 million people. The Australian dollar is the national currency. Three island countries in the Pacific also use it: Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu.

Australian government debt was about $963 billion in June 2022. This was 45.1% of the country's total GDP, which is the world's eighth-highest. Services make up about 71.2% of GDP, and its agriculture sector makes up 3.6%. Australia is the world's 24th-largest exporter and 21st-largest importer. China is Australia's largest trading partner. In 2022, Australia ranked tenth in the Human Development Index (HDI). In 2019, it welcomed 9.5 million international tourists.

Energy

Main articles: Energy policy of Australia, Electricity sector in Australia, and Renewable energy in Australia

In 2021–22, Australia's electricity came mainly from black coal (37.2%), natural gas (18.8%), solar (13.3%), brown coal (12%) and wind (11.1%). In 2020, renewable sources provided 27.7% of Australia's electricity. This was more than the target of 20% by 2020 that the Commonwealth government set in 2009. In 2022, a new target of 82% renewable energy by 2030 was set. In 2021, a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 was also set.

Science and technology

In 2019, Australia spent $35.6 billion on research and development, about 1.79% of GDP. In 2022, startup ecosystems in Sydney and Melbourne were valued at $34 billion. Australia ranked 22nd in the Global Innovation Index in 2025. Australia has only 0.3% of the world's population, but in 2020 it produced over 4% of the world's published research. CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, carries out 10% of the country's research. Australians invented atomic absorption spectroscopy, and they helped develop key parts of Wi-Fi technology. Australia also created the first commercially successful polymer banknote. As of 2026, 14 Australian scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry or medicine, and two have won the Fields Medal. Space exploration is supported by the Square Kilometre Array, the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the Siding Spring Observatory and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Australia

Main articles: List of cities in Australia by population and List of cities in Australia

Main article: Immigration to Australia

Main article: Languages of Australia

Main article: Religion in Australia

See also: Health care in Australia

Main article: Education in Australia

Australia has about 27.8 million people as of December 2025. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Australia has a population density of 3.4 people per square kilometre. This makes it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Most people live on the east coast, especially between South East Queensland and Adelaide. In 2018, 67% of people lived in big cities. Five cities have more than one million people: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Like many developed countries, Australia has an older population. There are more retirees and fewer working-age people. In 2021, the average age was 39 years.

Between 1788 and the Second World War, most settlers and immigrants came from the British Isles, mainly England, Ireland and Scotland. Australia also had immigrants from China and Germany in the 1800s. After the white Australia policy ended in 1973, Australia adopted multiculturalism. Later, a large wave of immigration brought many people from Southern and Eastern Europe. Today, Australia has the world's eighth-largest immigrant population. Immigrants make up 30% of the population. In 2022–23, 212,789 permanent migrants were admitted. Most came on skilled visas, but the program also includes family members and refugees. The Australian Bureau of Statistics asks residents about their ancestries at each census.

In 2021, the most common ancestry groups were European (57.2%), Oceanian (33.8%) and Asian (17.4%). Among the European groups, 46% were North-West European and 11.2% were Southern and Eastern European. The Asian groups included Southern and Central Asian, North-East Asian and South-East Asian. Other groups were North African and Middle Eastern (3.2%), Peoples of the Americas (1.4%) and Sub-Saharan African (1.3%). The most common single ancestries were English (33%), Australian (29.9%), Irish (9.5%), Scottish (8.6%), Chinese (5.5%), Italian (4.4%), German (4%), Indian (3.1%), Aboriginal (2.9%), Greek (1.7%), Filipino (1.6%), Dutch (1.5%), Vietnamese (1.3%), and Lebanese (1%). In the 2021 census, 3.8% of people identified as Indigenous. This includes Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.

English has no legal status in Australia. However, it is the de facto official and national language because it is so widely used. Australian English has its own accent and vocabulary, and General Australian is the standard dialect. The Australian sign language called Auslan was used at home by 16,242 people in 2021. In 2021, English was the only language spoken at home by 72% of people. The next most common home languages were Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Punjabi. More than 250 Australian Aboriginal languages are thought to have existed when Europeans first arrived.

Australia has no state religion. The Australian Constitution prevents federal laws from setting up any religion. In 2021, 38.9% of people had no religion, up from 15.5% in 2001. The largest religion is Christianity (43.9%), with the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Australia as the largest groups. Other religions that grew with non-British immigration include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism.

Australia's life expectancy is 83 years, the fifth-highest in the world. It has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of illness and early death. Australia spent about 9.91% of its GDP on health care in 2021. It started a national insurance scheme in 1975. In 1981, this became universal again as Medicare.

Education is compulsory, and home schooling is registered. However, states and territories are mainly responsible for schools. A national curriculum has been used since 2014. Australia also has many international students. Education is one of its largest exports, after iron ore and coal.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Australia

Australian culture is varied. It is shaped by the country's Indigenous traditions, by British and Irish heritage, and by immigrants who have come to Australia since 1945. The culture of the United States has also had a strong influence. Many Australians think of equality, mateship, a relaxed attitude and a lack of formality as part of their national identity. These can be heard in Australian slang and Australian humour, which is often dry and playful. New citizens and visa holders must agree to "Australian values." The Department of Home Affairs lists these as respect for personal freedom, the rule of law, opposition to unfair treatment, and the "fair go," which means everyone should have an equal chance and people should care for those in need.

Arts

Australia has more than 100,000 Aboriginal rock art sites. Modern Indigenous Australian art uses traditional designs and stories. Its artists include Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Early European painters were fascinated by the strange new land. The Heidelberg School of the 19th century showed feelings of national pride before Australia became a federation. Writers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson described life in the bush. Paterson's song "Waltzing Matilda" is often treated as Australia's unofficial national anthem. Aboriginal peoples have a long tradition of singing and dancing. Singers and bands such as Nellie Melba, the Bee Gees, AC/DC and Kylie Minogue have become famous around the world.

Media

Main articles: Cinema of Australia, Television in Australia, Media of Australia, and Censorship in Australia

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) was the first feature-length story film in the world. Hollywood later became the most powerful force in the film industry. During the 1970s, the Australian New Wave made successful films. Crocodile Dundee and the Mad Max films became hits around the world. Australia has two public broadcasters: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service, which serves many cultures. There are also commercial networks and many local stations. In 2024, Reporters Without Borders ranked Australia 39th out of 180 countries for press freedom. This is mainly because most newspapers are owned by News Corp Australia and Nine Entertainment.

Cuisine

Most Indigenous Australian groups ate native plants and animals. These foods are known as bush tucker, and many non-Indigenous Australians enjoy them today. The first European settlers brought British and Irish cuisine. Dishes such as fish and chips and the Australian meat pie come from this history. Migrants who arrived after the Second World War changed the cuisine even more. Foods such as the flat white, Pavlovas, lamingtons and Vegemite are often called iconic. Australia is also a leading maker and drinker of Australian wine, and it ranks highly for beer consumption.

Sport and recreation

Main article: Sport in Australia

Australia is one of five countries to have taken part in every Summer Olympics of the modern era. It has hosted the Games in (/wiki/1956_Summer_Olympics) and (/wiki/2000_Summer_Olympics). Australia will also host the 2032 Games in Brisbane. Australia has professional leagues for four football codes. Australian rules football draws the most television viewers in most states. The surf lifesaving movement began in the early 1900s. Volunteer lifesavers are one of the country's best-known symbols.