🇦🇺 Australia

Commonwealth of Australia · Australia and New Zealand

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Key facts

Capital	Canberra
Population	25.0 million
Area	7,692,024 km² (2,969,906 mi²)
Official language(s)	English
Currency	Australian dollar ($)
Region	Oceania
Subregion	Australia and New Zealand
Continent	Oceania
Demonym	Australian
Calling code	+61
Time zone	Australia/Sydney

Government

Government type	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Head of state	Monarch (head of state): King Charles III As of January 2026 — verify current officeholders.
Major political parties	Labor Party, Liberal Party, Nationals, Greens
Major religions	Christianity (declining), Unaffiliated (rising), Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism
Important cities	Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra

History of Australia

Independence / founding: Federation 1 January 1901

• Indigenous Australia (65,000+ yrs)
• British colonisation
• Federation
• Modern nation

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived in Australia for over 65,000 years. British colonisation began in 1788 as a penal settlement. Six colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It is now a prosperous, highly urbanised multicultural democracy in the Asia-Pacific.

Culture

National animal / bird	Red kangaroo and emu (on the coat of arms)
National dish	Meat pie, Vegemite, the barbecue
Music	Rock & pop; Indigenous music (didgeridoo)
National sport	Cricket, Australian rules football