World Factbook
Australia
Commonwealth of Australia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: blue, with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower-left quadrant; on the right half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white, with one small five-pointed star and four larger seven-pointed stars meaning: the largest star is known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star and represents the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901; the star has one point for each of the six original states, plus one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories
Capital
name
Canberra
etymology
the name may derive from the Aboriginal word nganbirra , meaning "meeting place"
time zone note
Australia has six time zones, including Lord Howe Island (UTC+11)
time difference
UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
geographic coordinates
35 16 S, 149 08 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Constitution
history
approved in a series of referenda from 1898 through 1900 and became law 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage requires approval of a referendum bill by absolute majority vote in both houses of Parliament, approval in a referendum by a majority of voters in at least four states and in the territories, and Royal Assent; proposals that would reduce a state’s representation in either house or change a state’s boundaries require that state’s approval prior to Royal Assent
Country name
etymology
the name Australia derives from the Latin australis meaning "southern;" the Australian landmass was long referred to as "Terra Australis," or the Southern Land
conventional long form
Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form
Australia
Independence
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
Legal system
common law system based on the English model
Dependent areas
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Jervis Bay, Norfolk Island (7)
Government type
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court
subordinate courts
subordinate courts: at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Samantha (Sam) MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
head of government
Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general
National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
National color(s)
green, gold
National heritage
note
note: includes one site on Heard Island and McDonald Islands
total World Heritage Sites
21 (5 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Great Barrier Reef (n); Greater Blue Mountains Area (n); Fraser Island (n); Gondwana Rainforests (n); Lord Howe Island Group (n); Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (c); Shark Bay (n); Sydney Opera House (c); Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (m); Kakadu National Park (m); Murujuga Cultural Landscape (c)
Political parties
Australian Greens Party or The Greens Australian Labor Party or ALP Australia's Voice Centre Alliance (formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team or NXT) Jacqui Lambie Network or JLN Katter's Australian Party (KAP) Liberal Party of Australia The Nationals Pauline Hanson's One Nation or ONP United Australia Party
note: the Labor Party is Australia’s oldest political party, established federally in 1901; the present Liberal Party was formed in 1944; the Country Party was formed in 1920, renamed the National Country Party in 1975, the National Party of Australia in 1982, and since 2003 has been known as the Nationals; since the general election of 1949, the Liberal Party and the Nationals (under various names) when forming government have done so as a coalition
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
note
note: the well-known and much-loved bush ballad "Waltzing Matilda" is often referred to as Australia's unofficial national anthem; Australian poet Banjo PATERSON wrote the original lyrics in 1895, and they were first published as sheet music in 1903; since 2012, a Waltzing Matilda Day has been held annually on 6 April, the anniversary of the first performance of the song in 1895
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
Commonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree ( Acacia pycnantha ), kangaroo, emu
National coat of arms
King George V of the United Kingdom granted the current Commonwealth Coat of Arms to Australia on 19 September 1912; the center of the shield has the symbols of Australia’s six states; the kangaroo and the emu symbolize a nation moving forward, since neither animal can move backward easily; the gold Commonwealth star sits above the shield, with six points representing the Australian states and the seventh representing the territories; the gold and blue in the wreath under the star are the livery, or identifying, colors for the coat of arms; Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, frames the shield
Administrative divisions
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
3 years
number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/3/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
46%
parties elected and seats per party
Australian Labor Party (ALP) (94); Liberal National coalition (43); Independents (10); Other (3)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
6 years
number of seats
76 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
5/3/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
56.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Australian Labor Party (ALP) (16); Liberal (6); The Greens (6); Liberal/Nationals (4); Pauline Hanson's One Nation (3); Liberal National Party of Queensland (2); Other (3)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 797-3168
chancery
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 797-3000
chief of mission
Ambassador Kevin Michael RUDD (since 19 April 2023)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
email address and website
info.us@dfat.gov.au https://usa.embassy.gov.au/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[61] (02) 9373-9184
embassy
Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory 2600
telephone
[61] (02) 6214-5600
mailing address
7800 Canberra Place, Washington DC 20512-7800
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Erika OLSON (since January 2025)
consulate(s) general
Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
email address and website
AskEmbassyCanberra@state.gov https://au.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Quad, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction