Country data

Location: Central between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean, Europe

Time zone: CET – 7 to – 9 (during summer time CET – 8 to – 10)

Total area: 7,741,220 km²

Land area: 7,682,300 km²

Water area: 58,920 km²

Length of the state border: 0 km

Coastline: 25,760 km

Capital: Canberra

> Territories (with capital): 8
New South Wales (Sydney / Canberra), Northern Territory (Darwin), Queensland (Brisbane), South Australia (Adeleide), Tasmania (Hobart), Victoria (Melbourne), Western Australia (Perth)

Electric current: 220/240 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 61 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Population

Population: approx. 22.5 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 3

Life expectancy: 80 (male), 85 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 29% Protestants
• 25% Roman Catholic
• 2% Buddhists
• 2% Muslim
• 42% other

Climate

The tropical north is replaced in the interior by a moderate desert climate and changes to a high mountain climate in the south.

The seasons are opposite to those in Europe.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Australian dollar (AUD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: widely available in the larger cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops in the larger cities.

Regulations: Foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. A declaration is required from a total value of AUD 10,000.

There is no limit to the amount of local currency that can be imported and exported up to AUD 2,000. If a higher amount is to be exported, approval must first be obtained from customs.

In many small towns and in the central inland areas, you almost always have to pay cash.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 50 cigarettes or 50 g of tobacco products
• 2 liters of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

In the south and east of the country there are frequent bush and forest fires in the hot summer months.

Please observe the safety instructions from the local authorities.

Behavioral advice

There are isolated cases of pickpockets and car break-ins in the major tourist centers. You should therefore not show valuable things visibly.

Otherwise, Australia is a fairly safe country to travel to.

Economy

The strongest industries have long been mineral extraction and agriculture.

The development of the technical industry and the tourism sector are being promoted by the strong state funding.

Industries: chemistry, ore mining, industrial and transport accessories, agriculture, food production, steel

Natural resources: diamonds, natural gas, coal, copper, nickel, silver

Land use:

• Usable land: 6%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 54%
• Forests: 19%
• other: 21%