| Commonwealth of Australia | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
 | ||||||
| Capital | Canberra 35°18.48′S 149°7.47′E | |||||
| Largest city | Sydney | |||||
| Official languages | None | |||||
| National language | English | |||||
| Demonym |
| |||||
| Government | Federal parliamentary, constitutional monarchy | |||||
| - | Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||
| Governor-General | Sir Peter Cosgrove | |||||
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott | |||||
| Chief Justice | Robert French | |||||
| Legislature | Parliament | |||||
| Upper house | Senate | |||||
| Lower house | House of Representatives | |||||
| Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||||
| Constitution | 1 January 1901 | |||||
| - | Statute of Westminster Adoption Act | 9 October 1942 (with effect from 3 September 1939) | ||||
| - | Australia Act | 3 March 1986 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 7,692,024 km2 (6th) 2,969,907 sq mi | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2014 estimate | 23,601,900 (51st) | ||||
| - | 2011 census | 21,507,717 | ||||
| - | Density | 2.8/km2 (233rd) 7.3/sq mi | ||||
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) | |||||
| Time zone | (UTC+8 to +10.5) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | various (UTC+8 to +11.5) | ||||
| Drives on the | left | |||||
| Calling code | +61 | |||||
.svg)
Australia officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages grouped into roughly 250 language groups. After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 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 federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and several territories. The population of 23.6 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated in the eastern states and on the coast.
States or Territory Name In Australia:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Australian Antarctic Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Coral Sea Island
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Jervis Bay Territory
New South Wales
Norfolk Island
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
