Australia
Commonwealth of Australia
People: Australian
Australia is the only country that is also a continent, known for the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback and its unique wildlife. Australia is located in Australia and New Zealand and has a population of around 27.5 million. Its capital city is Canberra, and the most widely spoken official language is English. As an island nation, Australia has no land borders.
By the numbers, Australia is the 54th most populous of the 196 countries covered on this site, home to 0.34% of the world's population. By land area it ranks 6th out of 196, with a population density of roughly 4 people per km².
Facts last checked 31 August 2026.
Australia — key facts at a glance
| Official Name | Commonwealth of Australia |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Canberra |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Region | Australia and New Zealand |
| Population | 27,536,874 |
| Area | 7,692,024 km² |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) $ |
| Official Language | English |
| Dialling Code | +61 |
| Internet TLD | .au |
| Timezones | UTC+05:00, UTC+06:30, UTC+07:00, UTC+08:00, UTC+09:30, UTC+10:00, UTC+10:30, UTC+11:30 |
| Drives on the | Left side |
| Emergency Number | 000 (or 112 from mobiles) |
| ISO Code | AU / AUS |
| Borders | Island nation / no land borders |
Travelling to Australia?
Heading there soon? A guide to what to pack for Australia makes sure the essentials are covered. Pack a universal travel adapter for your devices. You can also check clothing and shoe sizes in Australia before you shop, and look up popular foods from Australia if you want to know what's on the menu.
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Getting to and around Australia
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Planning a trip to Australia?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Australia
What is the capital and currency of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra and the currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), symbol $.
What is the capital of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra.
What currency does Australia use?
Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD, symbol: $).
What language do they speak in Australia?
The official language of Australia is English.
What is the dialling code for Australia?
The international dialling code for Australia is +61.
What side of the road does Australia drive on?
Australia drives on the left-hand side of the road.
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