10/09/2024
Australia (official German name; English Commonwealth of Australia , obsolete German Australischer Bund ) is a country in the southern hemisphere , which comprises the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania to the south , the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island with its neighboring islands, and as external territories the Pacific Norfolk Island , the Cocos Islands , Christmas Island , the Ashmore and Cartier Islands , and Heard and McDonald Islands in the Indian Ocean . Since 1933 the country has also laid claim to the Australian Antarctic Territory . The Antarctic Treaty postponed the assertion of claims indefinitely. Australia's neighboring countries are New Zealand to the southeast and Indonesia , East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north.
Australia has a population of about 25.8 million and is sparsely populated. With an area of more than 7.6 million km², it is the sixth largest country in the world . [ 6 ] The capital is Canberra , the largest city is the metropolis of Sydney . Other metropolitan areas are Melbourne , Brisbane , Perth , Adelaide and Gold Coast .
Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of per capita and total wealth , ranking fifth out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index in 2021. The country has a highly modern service economy and significant natural resource reserves . Its culture and economic strength make it an attractive destination for migrants , although Australia's migration and asylum policy sets strict legal criteria for immigration.
