Australia

Flag: Coat of arms

Anthem: Advance Australia Fair

Capital: Canberra

Largest city Sydney

Official language(s) None

National language English (de facto)

Demonym Australian, Aussie

Government Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

- Monarch Queen Elizabeth II

- Governor-General Quentin Bryce

- Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Independence from the United Kingdom

- Constitution - 1 January 1901

- Statute of Westminster - 11 December 1931

- Statute of Westminster Adoption Act - 9 October 1942 (with effect from 3 September 1939)

- Australia Act - 3 March 1986

Area

- Total - 7, 617, 930 km2 (6th) - 2, 941, 299 sq mi

Population

- 2010 estimate - 22, 518, 752 (52nd)

- 2006 census - 19, 855, 288

- Density - 2.833/km2 (232nd) - 7.3/sq mi

Calling code - +61

Drives on the left

Currency - Australian dollar (AUD)

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the northeast and New Zealand to the southeast.

For at least 40, 000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of the roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, formally founded on 7 February 1788 (although formal possession of the land had occurred on 26 January 1788). The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and is a Commonwealth realm. The population is 22 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The nation's capital city is Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.

A prosperous developed country, Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy. Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance such as human development, quality of life, health care, life expectancy, public education, economic freedom and the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, APEC, Pacific Islands Forum and the World Trade Organization.