Facts About Australia



OFFICIAL NAME
Commonwealth of Australia

LAND
Area: 7,682,300 sq km (2,966,151 sq mi).
Capital: Canberra (1991 est. pop., 310,000).
Largest city: Sydney (1991 est. pop., 3,698,500).
Elevations: Highest--Mount Kosciusko, 2,228 m (7,310 ft); lowest--15 m (49 ft) below sea level, at Lake Eyre.

PEOPLE
Population (1994 est.): 17,800,000; density: 2.3 persons per sq km (6.0 per sq mi).
Annual growth (1994): 0.8%
Distribution (1994): 85% urban, 15% rural.
Official language: English.
Major religions: Protestantism, Roman Catholicism.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH
Literacy (1994): virtually 100% of adult population.
Universities (1990): 45.
Hospital beds (1990): 86,036.
Physicians (1986): 36,610.
Life expectancy (1993): women--80; men--74.
Infant mortality (1994): 6.6 per 1,000 live births.

ECONOMY
GNP (1993 est.): $300 billion; $17,050 per capita.
Labor distribution (1992): manufacturing--14%; commerce and services--68%; agriculture and fishing--5%; construction--7%; government and public authorities--5%.
Foreign trade (1992): imports--$37.7 billion; exports--$39.5 billion; principal trade partners--Japan, United States, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore.
Currency: 1 Australian dollar = 100 cents.

GOVERNMENT
Type: Federal parliamentary state.
Government leaders (1998): John Howard--prime minister.
Legislature: Parliament.
Political subdivisions: 6 states, 2 territories.

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads (1992): 35,760 km (22,220 mi) total.
Roads (1992): 837,872 km (520,629 mi) total.
Major ports: 13.
Major airfields: 9.



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