Outline of Australia

{{see also|Index of Australia-related articles}}

{{Short description|Continent and country}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}

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File:Australia (orthographic projection).svg]]

This outline of Australia is an overview of and topical guide to various aspects of the country of Australia:

Australia refers to both the continent of Australia and to the Commonwealth of Australia, the sovereign country. The continent of Australia, the world's smallest continent, is in the Southern Hemisphere and borders both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The Commonwealth of Australia comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the major island of Tasmania, other nearby islands, and various external territories.{{cite web|date=2 July 2009|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/australia/|title=Australia|work=The World Factbook|publisher=United States Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=23 July 2009}} Neighbouring countries are Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east.

The Australian mainland has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years by Aboriginal Australians.[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Both-Aborigines-and-Europeans-Rooted-in-Africa-54225.shtml Both Australian Aborigines and Europeans Rooted in Africa – 50,000 years ago] After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and then European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606,MacKnight, CC (1976).The Voyage to Marege: Macassan Trepangers in Northern Australia. Melbourne University Press the eastern half of Australia was later claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation as part of the colony of New South Wales, commencing on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown colonies were established during the 19th century.

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General reference

File:As-map.png]]

Geography

File:Topography of australia.jpg]]

File:Australia-climate-map MJC01.png]]

File:Australian Map Extremities.svg

{{Further|Australia (continent)}}

Geography of Australia

=Environment=

==Geographic features==

=Regions=

{{Main|List of regions in Australia|l1=Regions of Australia}}

==Multi-state regions==

==Administrative divisions==

===States===

===Territories===

====Mainland territories====

====External territories====

===Municipalities===

=Demography=

Demographics of Australia

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
style="text-align: center; background: #cccccc"

|width="24%"| State/territory

|width="15%"| Land area (km2)

width="4%"| Rank

|width="15%"| Population (2012)

width="4%"| Rank

|width="15%"| Population density (/km2)

width="4%"| Rank

|width="15%"| % of population in capital

width="4%"| Rank
align="left"| 25x15px New South Wales

| 800,642

5th

| 7,348,900

1st9.183rd63.5%5th
align="left"| 25x15px Victoria

| 227,416

6th

| 5,679,600

2nd24.972nd74.8%4th
align="left"| 25x15px Queensland

| 1,730,648

2nd

| 4,610,900

3rd2.665th47.5%7th
align="left"| 25x15px Western Australia

| 2,529,875

1st

| 2,472,700

4th0.987th76.7%3rd
align="left"| 25x15px South Australia

| 983,482

4th

| 1,662,200

5th1.696th76.8%2nd
align="left"| 25x15px Tasmania

| 68,401

7th

| 512,400

6th7.494th42.3%8th
align="left"| 25x15px Australian Capital Territory

| 2,358

8th

| 379,600

7th160.981st98.7%1st
align="left"| 25x15px Northern Territory

| 1,349,129

3rd

| 236,900

8th0.188th55.6%6th

List all suburbs in Australia

Government and politics

[[File:Australian states political.gif|thumb|right|Political parties in government in 1945.

{{legend|red|Labor}}

{{legend|blue|Liberal}}

{{legend|#3C0|National/Country}}

{{legend|#87CEFA|Other Coalition}}

{{legend|#F4A460|Other}}

{{legend|#DCDCDC|No government}}]]

{{Monarchy of Australia}}

{{main|Government of Australia|Politics of Australia}}

=Federal government=

==Branches of the government==

===Executive branch===

===Legislative branch===

===Judicial branch===

==Military==

=Foreign relations=

=International organisation membership=

The Commonwealth of Australia is a member of the:

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{{Col-2}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Col-end}}

=Law and order=

=State and territory governments=

=Local government=

{{See also|Local government}}

History

=History of states=

Culture

Economy and infrastructure

=State economies=

Education

=States education=

Religion and belief systems in Australia

Sport

See also

References

{{Reflist}}