Australia - Profile & Facts

 

Country Name	Commonwealth of Australia
Government type	Federal Parliamentary Democracy
Administrative divisions	6 States and 2 Territories: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia (States); Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory
National holidays	Australia Day, 26 January / ANZAC Day : 25 April
Fiscal year	1 July – 30 June
Chief of State	Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Governor General	QUENTIN BRYCE AC (since 5 September 2008)
Prime Minister	Mr. Kevin Rudd (since 3 December 2007)
Population	21, 262,641 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure	0-14 years: 18.6% (male 2,026,975 / female 1,923,828) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,318,743/ female 7,121,613) 65 years and over: 13.5% (male 1,306,329 / female  1,565,153)   (2009 est.)
Net migration rate	6.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
GDP (Purchasing power parity)	$800.2 billion (2008 est.)
Agriculture-products	Wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries	Mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Major Export (commodities)	Coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Major Export – partners	Japan 22.2%, China 14.6%, South Korea 8.2%, India 6.1%, US 5.5%, NZ 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2008)
Major Imports	Machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products.
Major Import – partners	China 15.4%, US 12%, Japan 9.1%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5%, UK 4.3%, Thailand 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1%   (2008)
Natural resources	Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum.
Languages	English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, other 8.2%, Unspecified 5.7%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%
GDP – composition By sector	Agriculture: 3.4%, Industry: 26.8%, Services: 69.8% (2008 est.)
Ethnic groups	Whites 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Ports and terminals	Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kemble, Port Walcott, Sydney
Climate & Seasons	Summer – December to February Autumn – March to May Winter – June to August Spring – September to November

INDIA AND AUSTRALIA

Time difference

Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane (Eastern)              -           IST + 4.5 hours

Adelaide (South Australia)                                                    -           IST + 4 hours

Perth (Western Australia)                                                      -           IST + 2.5 hours

Except for Western Australia, there will be an additional difference of one hour during Summer.