Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
President: Nursultan Nazarbayev
Population
22,015,576
17,522,010
Life Expectancy
81.900 years
69.630 years
Capital City
Canberra
Astana
Largest city
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Almaty (population: 2,000,900)
Human Development Index
0.965
0.807
GDP per capita
$40,800 US
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
99%
99.5%
Corruption Perception Index
8.7
2.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
29.6%
12.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
Alijan Ibragimov ($1.2bn US)
Unemployment Rate
5.100%
5.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
federal parliamentary democracy
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Independence date
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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)
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
Exports
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
