View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.au

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

7,772,888 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

14,663,622 (2006)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

11.46 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

18.42 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

104 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $249.8 billion expenditures: $240.2 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Australian dollar (AUD)

Current account balance [time series]

$-42.09 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$323.4 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

35.2 (1994)

Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, $13 billion in 2004, and nearly $17 billion in 2005. Housing prices probably peaked in 2005, diminishing the prospect that interest rates would be raised to prevent a speculative bubble. Conservative fiscal policies have kept Australia's budget in surplus from 2002 to 2005.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

221 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

237 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$103 billion (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ 6.5%, India 5% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$612.8 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$635.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 26.2% services: 70% (2004 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$31,600 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Imports [time series]

$119.6 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

US 13.9%, China 13.7%, Japan 11%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.6% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.1% (2005 est.)

Industries [time series]

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.7% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

25.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

10.42 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.2% services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

25.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

35.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

2.549 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

875,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

523,400 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

530,800 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

16.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$43.26 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.1% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 7,686,850 sq km land: 7,617,930 sq km water: 68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Climate [time series]

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Coastline [time series]

25,760 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

Irrigated land [time series]

25,450 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.81% (2005)

Location [time series]

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Terrain [time series]

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Capital [time series]

name: Canberra geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 08 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March (ended first Sunday in April 2006) note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Constitution [time series]

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia

Dependent areas [time series]

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr. embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600 FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000 FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003) head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005) cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars

Government type [time series]

federal parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

International organization participation [time series]

ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3

National holiday [time series]

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 4,943,676 females age 18-49: 4,821,264

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 4,092,717 females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 142,158 females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.7% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.6% (male 2,031,313/female 1,936,802) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,881,863/female 6,764,709) 65 years and over: 13.1% (male 1,170,589/female 1,478,806) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.51 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

14,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.5 years male: 77.64 years female: 83.52 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.9 years male: 36 years female: 37.7 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Net migration rate [time series]

3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

20,264,082 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.85% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

East Timor and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims

Illicit drugs [time series]

Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

Transportation

Airports [time series]

455 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 311 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 133 914 to 1,523 m: 143 under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 144 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 111 under 914 m: 15 (2006)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 53 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,361,000 GRT/1,532,874 DWT by type: bulk carrier 17, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 1, France 3, Germany 3, Japan 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 3) registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 2, Bermuda 3, Fiji 1, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2, Netherlands 1, NZ 2, Panama 3, Portugal 1, Singapore 7, Tonga 1, UK 3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2006)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate/gas 546 km; gas 31,323 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,808 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Railways [time series]

total: 47,738 km broad gauge: 4,015 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 28,662 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified) narrow gauge: 14,831 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified) dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 810,641 km paved: 336,962 km unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2002)