Australia is a large sovereign country in the Southern Hemisphere. Part of the larger Australian continent and the Oceania geographical region, Australia is geographically and ethnically diverse. Here are some interesting facts about Australia. Let’s read.
15 amazing facts about Australia
1. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world by area. It has an area of approximately 7.7 million sq km (2.96 million square miles).
2. Sydney is the largest city in Australia. It is the capital of New South Wales state. The city has a population of over 5 million.
3. The capital city of Australia is Canberra. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). With a population of over 150,000, Canberra is Australia’s largest inland city.
4. Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia. The city has a population of about 5 million. Melbourne was the capital of Australia from 1901 to 1927.
5. The inland Taipan snake found in Australia is the most venomous snake in the world. Inland Taipan has the lowest median lethal dose among all venomous snakes.
6. Australia became the second country after New Zealand in 1902 to provide voting rights to females. However, Indigenous Australian women were granted the right to vote in 1962.
7. Australia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The population density of Australia is just about 3 people per square kilometer (9 people per square mile) (2022).
8. The highest peak in mainland Australia is Mount Kosciuszko which is 2,228 m (7,310 ft) high. Mount Kosciuszko is located in New South Wales state.
9. Nearly 20 percent of Australia is desert. The various deserts of Australia are collectively known as the Great Australian desert. The largest desert in Australia is the Great Victoria Desert.
10. The red Kangaroo is the largest indigenous terrestrial mammal in Australia.
11. Emu is the second tallest bird in the world after the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia.
12. There are 6 States, 3 internal territories, and 7 external territories in Australia.
| State | Capital | Area rank | Population rank |
| Queensland | Brisbane | 2 | 3 |
| New South Wales | Sydney | 4 | 1 |
| South Australia | Adelaide | 3 | 5 |
| Tasmania | Hobart | 6 | 6 |
| Victoria | Melbourne | 5 | 2 |
| Western Australia | Perth | 1 | 4 |
13. It is estimated that more than 85 percent of the total Australian population lives near the coast. Most of the big cities in Australia are coastal cities.
14. Australia is home to a large population of saltwater crocodiles, the largest crocodile species in the world.
15. Religion data (2021)
- Christianity – 43.9%
- No religion – 38.9%
- Islam – 3.2%
- Hinduism – 2.7%
- Buddhism – 2.4%
Extra
- The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S latitude) passes through Australia.
- There are over 8,000 smaller islands in Australia.
- Australia has no official language. English is the most spoken language in Australia.
Basic facts about Australia
| Capital | Canberra |
| Largest city | Sydney |
| Area | 7.7 million square km (2.96 million square miles) |
| Area rank | 6th |
| Population | 25.4 million (2021 census) |
| Most spoken language | English |
| Number of states | 6 |