Table of Contents
Overview
Australia is a country in Oceania and the sixth-largest country in the world by land area, covering about 7.68 million square kilometres. According to recent estimates, Australia has a population of approximately 27.2 million, with the majority living in urban areas along the eastern and southeastern coasts. The capital city is Canberra, which serves as the political centre and hosts national institutions such as Parliament House.
Agriculture
Australia’s agriculture sector uses about 55% of the country’s land, largely for grazing, and contributes roughly 2.4% to national GDP while employing about 2.2% of the workforce. Major agricultural outputs include wheat, barley, canola, cotton, sugarcane, and rice, alongside a large livestock sector dominated by cattle and sheep for beef, dairy, and wool.
Crime
Australia generally has low to moderate crime levels, with most incidents involving property-related offences rather than serious violence. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 9% of households experienced property crime in 2023–24, including break-ins, theft and vehicle theft, while a smaller share of individuals reported assault or robbery. Recorded homicide rates remain low by global standards (around 2 per 100,000 people), and overall crime patterns vary by state and urban area.
Demographics
Australia is a country in Oceania with a population of approximately 27.6 million people as of 2024. The population is highly urbanised, with nearly 90% of residents living in cities, mainly along the eastern and southeastern coasts. Australia has a median age of about 38 years and a culturally diverse population, with roughly 30% of residents born overseas. Indigenous Australians make up about 3.2% of the population.
Economy
Australia has a highly developed, high-income economy with an estimated nominal GDP of about $1.83 trillion in 2025 and a GDP per capita of $65,946, placing it among the world’s top 15 national economies. The services sector dominates output, supported by mining, finance, education, and tourism. Major exports include iron ore, coal, natural gas, and beef.
Education
Australia’s education system is well‑developed and accessible, covering early childhood, primary, and secondary schooling through a mix of 9,653 schools and diverse providers. In 2024, around 4.13 million students were enrolled, with 63.4% in government schools, 19.9% in Catholic schools, and 16.8% in independent schools. The apparent retention rate to Year 12 is roughly 79.9%, and the average student‑to‑teacher ratio is about 12.9 to 1, reflecting broad participation and relatively small class sizes.
Geography
Australia is a country and continent located in the Southern Hemisphere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It covers an area of approximately 7.692 million km², making it the sixth-largest country in the world. The capital is Canberra, while major cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Health
Australia has a well-developed healthcare system with high life expectancy and broad access to medical services. As of 2023, the average life expectancy is 83 years, and the country spends roughly AUD 140 billion on healthcare annually, covering hospitals, doctors, and public health programs.
Military
Australia’s military is organised as the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which includes the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). As of mid‑2025, the ADF had about 61,189 permanent full‑time personnel, and recent recruitment reached its highest annual intake in 15 years, with over 7,000 new enlistments in 2024 to 2025.
Miscellaneous
Australia’s tourism sector is a significant part of the national economy, drawing millions of visitors each year and employing hundreds of thousands of people. In the 2024–25 financial year, tourism directly contributed about AUD 81.1 billion to Australia’s GDP, accounting for roughly 2.9% of the economy. International visitor spending and domestic tourism both increased, with jobs in tourism rising to 696,000, the highest level in recent years.
Religion
Australia is a religiously diverse and increasingly secular country. While Christianity has historically been the dominant religion, recent years have shown a steady rise in people identifying with no religion, alongside the continued presence of other major world religions due to immigration and multiculturalism.
Weather
Summers (December–February) can be very hot and dry, with temperatures above 30 °C common in many regions, while winters (June–August) tend to be cooler in the south and mild up north. In 2024, Australia was the second-warmest year on record, with national average temperatures about 1.46 °C above long-term averages, and rainfall patterns varied significantly by region.