Language
English
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	21.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	20.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	20.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	20.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	20.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	19.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	19.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	19.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	19.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
28.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Descendants of British immigrants constitute two-thirds of the Australian population, while the rest are immigrants from Asia, Europe and Latin America. There are 460,000 Australian Aborigines, a little more than 2 percent of the national population.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christians 74 percent (Catholic 27 percent, Anglican 24 percent, Methodist 8 percent). Buddhist, Muslim, Confucian and other faiths, 13 per cent.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	88.6 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	88.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	88.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	88.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	87.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	87.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	87.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	87.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1902 1962
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
97 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	19.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	20.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	20.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	20.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	20.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	20.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
Ranges from GMT +8 to GMT +11

Climate description
Generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Currency
Australian dollar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 61

Driving (left/right)
Left

Average life expectancy

2005	80.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	83.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	83.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	82.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	6 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	4 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	8 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	4	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	5	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	445 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	468 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	482 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	496 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	515 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	526 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	529 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	518 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	524 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1050 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1020 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	958 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	903 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	818 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	721 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	645 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	574 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	447 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	568 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	540 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	521 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	630 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	620 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	600 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	580 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	530 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	470 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	9 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	11	Transparency International 2007
2006	9 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	9	Transparency International
2004	9	Transparency International
2003	8 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	11	Transparency International
2001	11	Transparency International
2000	13	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	35760 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	33200 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	29470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	24890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	20630 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	19490 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	19690 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	20720 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	821.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	724.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	674.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	598.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	455.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	384.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	369.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	405.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	4.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.0 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
25.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	247 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	247 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	247 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	260 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	43	UNHCR
2007	63	UNHCR
2006	29	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	44	UNHCR
2004	13	UNHCR
2003	15	UNHCR
2002	10	UNHCR
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2008	20919	UNHCR
2007	22164	UNHCR
2006	68948	UNHCR
2005	64964	UNHCR
2004	63476	UNHCR
2003	56258	UNHCR
2002	59436	UNHCR
2001	57895	UNHCR
2000	60246	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	4.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	4.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	4.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003