Australia

Broadcast media

the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster, operates radio and TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages; several large national commercial TV networks, a large number of local commercial TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio stations are accessible; cable and satellite systems are available (2008)

Internet country code

.au

Internet hosts

17.081 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 8

Internet users

15.81 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 25

Telephone system

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile telephones international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.47 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 20

Telephones - mobile cellular

24.4 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 43

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $494.3 billion expenditures: $514.4 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Central bank discount rate

3% (February 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 4.35% (31 December 2010 est.) note: this is the Reserve Bank of Australia's "cash rate target," or policy rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.2% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 6.98% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$44.9 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -$57.14 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$1.506 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.497 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.3 (2008) country comparison to the world: 120 35.2 (1994)

Economy - overview

The Australian economy has experienced continuous growth and features low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system. By 2012, Australia had experienced more than 20 years of continued economic growth, averaging 3.5% a year. Demand for resources and energy from Asia and especially China has grown rapidly, creating a channel for resources investments and growth in commodity exports. The high Australian dollar has hurt the manufacturing sector, while the services sector is the largest part of the Australian economy, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of jobs. Australia was comparatively unaffected by the global financial crisis as the banking system has remained strong and inflation is under control. Australia has benefited from a dramatic surge in its terms of trade in recent years, stemming from rising global commodity prices. Australia is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia is an open market with minimal restrictions on imports of goods and services. The process of opening up has increased productivity, stimulated growth, and made the economy more flexible and dynamic. Australia plays an active role in the World Trade Organization, APEC, the G20, and other trade forums. Australia has bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the US, has a regional FTA with ASEAN and New Zealand, is negotiating agreements with China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as with its Pacific neighbors and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and is also working on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement with Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, and Vietnam.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.031 (2013 est.) 0.9658 (2012 est.) 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008)

Exports

$251.7 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $257.9 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 29.5%, Japan 19.3%, South Korea 8%, India 4.9% (2012)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.488 trillion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$998.3 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $974.2 billion (2012 est.) $939.7 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 54.6% government consumption: 17.8% investment in fixed capital: 27.4% investment in inventories: 0.1% exports of goods and services: 20.9% imports of goods and services: -20.8% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 27.4% services: 68.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $42,500 (2012 est.) $41,700 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 3.7% (2012 est.) 2.4% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

24.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 25.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 25.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$245.8 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $263 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 18.4%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.9%, Singapore 6%, Germany 4.6%, Thailand 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 1.8% (2012 est.)

Labor force

12.44 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.1% services: 75% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $1.198 trillion (31 December 2011) $1.455 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

32.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 32.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$48.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $49.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.661 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.648 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$440.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $426 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$661.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $610.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.222 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $2.255 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$526.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $534.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Unemployment rate

5.7% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 5.2% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

392.3 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

314,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Crude oil - imports

475,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Crude oil - production

519,100 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.433 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - consumption

213.5 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - from fossil fuels

78.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

13.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - from other renewable sources

5.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - installed generating capacity

59.13 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - production

225.5 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - consumption

33.39 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - exports

30.27 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - imports

10.92 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - production

48.24 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.219 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.023 million bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Refined petroleum products - exports

70,810 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Refined petroleum products - imports

304,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Refined petroleum products - production

675,200 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Area

total: 7,741,220 sq km country comparison to the world: 6 land: 7,682,300 sq km water: 58,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Climate

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

Coastline

25,760 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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 freshwater resources

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 22.58 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%) per capita: 1,152 cu m/yr (2010)

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Geography - note

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders; the only continent without glaciers; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating 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

25,460 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6.16% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.05% other: 93.79% (2011)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires volcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands

Natural resources

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Total renewable water resources

492 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Canberra geographic coordinates: 35 16 S, 149 08 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April note: Australia has three time zones

Constitution

9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901; amended several times, last in 1977; note - a referendum to amend the constitution to reflect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 is to be completed by the end of 2014 (2013)

Country name

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

Dependent areas

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John BERRY (since 25 September 2013) 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY (since 7 February 2010) 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

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Anthony John "Tony" ABBOTT (since 18 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Warren TRUSS (since 18 September 2013) cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy 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

Flag description

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

federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s): High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); note - each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court beyond the state and territory supreme courts judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: subordinate courts at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Magistrates' Courts of Australia; Family Court; subordinate courts at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members 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 vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) elections: Senate - last held on 7 September 2013; House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2013 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2016) election results: Senate NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National Coalition 53.45%, Australian Labor Party 46.55%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 90 (Liberal 58, Liberal National 22, Nationals 9, Country Liberals 1), Australian Labor Party 55, Australian Greens Party 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Palmer United Party 1, independents 2

National anthem

name: "Advance Australia Fair"

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

National symbol(s)

Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu

Political parties and leaders

Australian Greens Party [Christine MILNE] Australian Labor Party [Bill SHORTEN] Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS] Family First Party [Steve FIELDING] Katter's Australian Party [Bob KATTER] Liberal National Party of Queensland [Campbell NEWMAN] Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT] National Party of Australia [Warren TRUSS] Palmer United Party [Clive PALMER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups, environmental groups, social groups, trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 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 of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). 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 Allied effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its location in one of the fastest growing regions of the world economy. Long-term concerns include aging of the population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, making it particularly vulnerable to the challenges of climate change. Australia is home to 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world. In January 2013, Australia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,316,464 females age 16-49: 5,116,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,411,958 females age 16-49: 4,239,985 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 143,565 female: 135,800 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army; Royal Australian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force); Royal Australian Air Force; Joint Operations Command (JOC) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.71% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 51 1.84% of GDP (2011) 1.71% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 2,075,316/female 1,969,645) 15-24 years: 13.3% (male 1,534,947/female 1,457,250) 25-54 years: 41.8% (male 4,783,473/female 4,626,603) 55-64 years: 11.8% (male 1,321,246/female 1,341,329) 65 years and over: 15.1% (male 1,569,197/female 1,828,611) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

12.19 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.2% (2007) country comparison to the world: 136

Contraceptive prevalence rate

72.3% note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2005)

Death rate

7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51 % youth dependency ratio: 28.9 % elderly dependency ratio: 22.1 % potential support ratio: 4.5 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 56

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Health expenditures

9% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 46

Hospital bed density

3.9 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 190 male: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

English 76.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Greek 1.2%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.1%, other 10.4%, unspecified 5% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.07 years country comparison to the world: 10 male: 79.63 years female: 84.64 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

Sydney 4.543 million; Melbourne 3.961 million; Brisbane 2.039 million; Perth 1.649 million; Adelaide 1.198 million; CANBERRA (capital) 399,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 164

Median age

total: 38.3 years male: 37.5 years female: 39 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.5 (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Net migration rate

5.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 44

Physicians density

3.85 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

22,507,617 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Population growth rate

1.09% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Religions

Protestant 28.8% (Anglican 17.1%, Uniting Church 5.0%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.8%, Baptist, 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Pentecostal 1.1%), Catholic 25.3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.6%, other Christian 4.5%, Buddhist 2.5%, Muslim 2.2%, Hindu 1.3%, other 8.4%, unspecified 2.2%, none 22.3% note: percentages add up to more than 100% due to rounding (2006 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 20 years male: 19 years female: 20 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.7% country comparison to the world: 102 male: 12.4% female: 11% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 89.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed exclusive economic zone; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing

Illicit drugs

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; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,368 (Afghanistan) (2013)

Airports

480 (2013) country comparison to the world: 16

Airports - with paved runways

total: 349 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 914 to 1,523 m: 155 under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 131 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 101 under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 41 country comparison to the world: 75 by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 7, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 5, Germany 2, Singapore 2, South Africa 1, UK 5, US 2) registered in other countries: 25 (Bahamas 1, Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 4, Singapore 12, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate/gas 637 km; gas 30,054 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,609 km; oil/gas/water 110 km; refined products 72 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Gladstone, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Kembla, Sydney dry bulk cargo port(s): Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore) container port(s) (TEUs): Brisbane (1,004,983), Melbourne (2,467,967), Sydney (2,028,074)(2011) LNG terminal(s) (export): Darwin, Karratha

Railways

total: 38,445 km country comparison to the world: 7 broad gauge: 3,355 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 21,674 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified) narrow gauge: 9,539 km 1.067-m gauge (2,067 km electrified); 3,877 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 823,217 km country comparison to the world: 9 paved: 356,343 km unpaved: 466,874 km (2011)

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2011) country comparison to the world: 43