Area

7,686,850 sq km

Population

19.7 million -  98% white (mostly of British origin), 228,000 Aborigines

Capital

Canberra (population 310,103)

Other towns

Sydney (conurbation 3,657,000), Melbourne (conurbation 3,081,000), Brisbane (conurbation 1,302,000), Perth (conurbation 1,193,000), Adelaide (conurbation 1,050,000), Newcastle (conurbation 429,000), Wollongong (conurbation 238,000), Gold Coast (conurbation 265,000), Hobart (conurbation 184,000)

Currency

Australian Dollar = 100 cents

Languages

English (official), Aboriginal languages

Life expectancy

men 75, women 80

GNP

$20,090 per head

Head of state

Queen Elizabeth II represented by Governor General

Head of government

Prime Minister