Australia Facts
Australia is an island country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania/Australia. Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent of the seven continents and although some consider Australia as the largest island in the world, Australia is commonly referred to as a country and a continent. (Greenland is the biggest island in the world).
Australia is also the driest inhabited continent of the world.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, USA, China and Brazil.
The country is divided into six states (Southern Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania) and two self-governing territories: Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (which is around Canberra, the capital city).
The country’s interior consists of arid and semi-arid areas which are referred to as ‘outback’. About 70% of Australia are outback, while the coastal plains are more fertile and house the majority of Australia’s population. About 35% of Australia’s land area are covered by deserts.
Most of Australia’s population live in the eastern and southern parts of the country and along the coastline.
Australia is roughly the same size as the USA without the states of California and Texas.
Australia belongs to the Commonwealth countries.