6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.
Population:
19,357,594 (July 2001 est.)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Languages:
English, native languages
Elevation:
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
Climate:
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate. Growth in 2001 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets.
Industry:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Ethnicgroups:
Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Yellow fever:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age entering Australia within 6 days of having stayed overnight or longer in an infected country, as listed in the Weekly epidemiological record.
