What is the capital of Australia?

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. It was purpose-built as a compromise between the rival cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and became the capital in 1913. Sydney is the largest city by population.

What currency does Australia use?

Australia uses the Australian Dollar (AUD), abbreviated as A$ or AU$. It was introduced in 1966, replacing the Australian pound. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, A$1, and A$2 denominations.

How many time zones does Australia have?

Australia spans five standard time zones: AWST (UTC+8), ACWST (UTC+8:45), ACST (UTC+9:30), AEST (UTC+10), and LHST (UTC+10:30). Several states also observe daylight saving time, adding further offsets in summer.

What is the population of Australia?

Australia's population is approximately 26.5 million people (2024 estimate). Despite being the sixth-largest country by area, it is one of the least densely populated — about 3.5 people per square kilometer — with most residents concentrated in coastal cities.

What side of the road do Australians drive on?

Australians drive on the left side of the road, a legacy of British colonial rule. Steering wheels are on the right side of the vehicle.

What is the voltage and plug type in Australia?

Australia uses 230V / 50Hz electricity. The standard plug type is Type I — a three-pin angled flat blade plug. Visitors from the US, Europe, and Asia will typically need a plug adapter.

What is Australia's emergency number?

Australia's universal emergency number is 000 for police, fire, and ambulance. The international equivalent, 112, also works on mobile phones. For non-emergency police assistance, call 131 444.

Is Australia a monarchy or a republic?

Australia is a constitutional monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy. The British monarch (currently King Charles III) is the head of state, represented in Australia by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister leads the elected government.

Australia Country Facts

Name: Australia Country Facts
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Author: Nham Vu

Explore key facts about Australia covering geography, population, government, economy, culture, and travel essentials — all in one place.

Geography

Continent

Oceania (its own continent)

Total Area

7,692,024 km²

World Rank by Area

6th largest country

Capital City

Canberra

Largest City

Sydney

Coastline Length

25,760 km

Highest Point

Mt. Kosciuszko — 2,228 m

Longest River

Murray River — 2,508 km

Climate Types

Tropical, arid, temperate

States

6 states

Territories

2 mainland territories

Surrounding Oceans

Indian & Pacific Oceans

People & Culture

Population

~26.5 million (2024)

Population Density

~3.5 people per km²

Official Language

English (de facto)

Demonym

Australian

Ethnic Groups

Anglo-Celtic, Asian, Indigenous

Indigenous Peoples

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Life Expectancy

~81 M / ~85 F years

Urban Population

~87% urban

National Anthem

Advance Australia Fair

National Animal

Kangaroo & emu (coat of arms)

National Day

Australia Day — January 26

Religion

Secular; Catholic, Anglican, none

Government

Government Type

Federal parliamentary monarchy

Head of State

King Charles III

Governor-General

Representative of the Crown

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Legislature

Senate + House of Representatives

Constitution

In force since January 1, 1901

Voting

Compulsory (age 18+)

Independence

Federation: January 1, 1901

Major Parties

Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Greens

Economy

Currency

Australian Dollar (AUD)

GDP (nominal)

~USD 1.7 trillion (2023)

GDP per Capita

~USD 65,000 (2023)

Economic System

Mixed market economy

Top Industries

Mining, finance, healthcare

Major Exports

Iron ore, coal, gold, LNG

Top Trading Partners

China, Japan, USA, UK

Stock Exchange

ASX (Australian Securities Exchange)

Central Bank

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

Travel Essentials

Country Code (phone)

+61

Internet TLD

.au

Emergency Number

000 (or 112 on mobile)

Driving Side

Left

Electricity

230V / 50Hz — Type I plug

Time Zones

UTC+8 to UTC+11 (5 zones)

Visa Policy

ETA required for most visitors

ISO 3166-1

AU / AUS / 036

Tipping Culture

Not expected; appreciated

Speed / Distance

Metric (km)

Tap Water

Safe to drink

Healthcare

Medicare (residents); insurance advised

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Summary

Explore key facts about Australia covering geography, population, government, economy, culture, and travel essentials — all in one place.

How it works

Facts are organized into themed cards: Geography, People, Government, Economy, and Travel.
Use the search box to filter facts across all categories instantly as you type.
Click any category tab to jump directly to that section.
Each fact card shows a label and a value — click the copy icon to copy the value.
All data is baked into the page — no server requests, no API calls.
Use the Reset button to clear the search and return to the full view.

Use cases

Quickly look up Australia's capital city, currency, or dialing code before a trip.
Check time zone offsets when scheduling calls with Australian contacts.
Research Australia for a school project or geography quiz.
Verify visa requirements and electricity standards before packing.
Compare Australia's land area and population to other countries.
Find the official language, national anthem, and government type.
Look up Australia's GDP or major industries for a business report.
Get the emergency services number and driving side before renting a car.

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Last updated: 2026-06-10 · Reviewed by Nham Vu