Australia

Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in 1999.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

geographically close to: Indonesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste
related countries: United Kingdom

Official Name:
Commonwealth of Australia
short form: Australia

ISO Country Code: au

Time:
Time Zone: EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Local Time = UTC +10h
Actual Time Canberra: Sun-Oct-23 03:24
DST from, October-March

Country Calling Code: +61

Capital City: Canberra (pop. 347 000)

Other Cities/towns:
Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane (1.6 million) Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne (3.5 million), Sydney (4.2 million), Perth (1.3 million)

Government:
Democratic, federal-state system recognizing British monarch as sovereign.
Constitution: 9 July 1900.
Independence (federation): 1 January 1901.

Geography:
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.
Area: 7.7 million sq. km. (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of the 48 contiguous United States.
Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying.

Climate:
Relatively dry, ranging from temperate in the south to tropical in the north.

People:
Nationality: Australian(s).
Population: 20.3 million (2005)
GNI per capita PPP: $ 31 020 (year)
Ethnic groups: European 92%, Asian 6%, Aboriginal 2%.
Religions: Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 21%, other non-Christian 5%, no religion 15%.
Languages: English (official), Italian 12,4%, Greek 9.2 %, Cantonese 7.9 %, only 51 000 people speaking an Australian Indigenous Language at home.
Literacy: 85%.

Natural resources:
Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum.

Agriculture products:
Wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry.

Industries:
Mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel.

Exports partners:
Japan 13,9%, USA 6,7%, China 6.4%, New Zealand 5,7%, South Korea 5,7%, UK 5.2%, Taiwan 2.6% (2003)

Imports partners:
USA 15.8%, Japan 12.5%, China 11%, Germany 6.1%, UK 4.2% (2003)

Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)

(Source: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and others)