Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
President: Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Population
22,015,576
37,367,226
Life Expectancy
81.900 years
74.730 years
Capital City
Canberra
Algiers
Largest city
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Algiers (population: 1,977,660)
Human Development Index
0.965
0.748
GDP per capita
$40,800 US
$7,400 US
Literacy Rate
99%
69.9%
Corruption Perception Index
8.7
3.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
29.6%
6.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.100%
10.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
federal parliamentary democracy
republic
Independence date
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$1,376,000,000,000 $
$4,699,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.000%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
46
2
Location
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
7,741,220 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
25,760 km
998 km
Climate
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
