Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27° 0' S, 133° 0' E
Coastline km: 25,760 km km
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Elevation: lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Population: 20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)
Languages: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Capital: Canberra
Divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia