Country Guide

Ethiopia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia


Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:1,104,300 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 27
land:1 million sq km
water:104,300 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas


Land boundaries:
total:5,925 km
border countries:Djibouti 342 km, Eritrea 1,033 km, Kenya 867 km, Somalia 1,640 km, South Sudan 1,299 km, Sudan 744 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point:Ras Dejen 4,533 m


Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:13.19%
permanent crops:1.01%
other:85.8% (2011)


    Irrigated land:
2,896 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
122 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
122 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea


Geography - note:
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; Ethiopia is, therefore, the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective:Ethiopian


Ethnic groups:
Oromo 34.4%, Amhara (Amara) 27%, Somali (Somalie) 6.2%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Afar (Affar) 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 10.5% (2007 est.)


Languages:
Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 est.)


Religions:
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.5%, traditional 2.7%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)


Population:
96,633,458country comparison to the world: 14
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:44.2% (male 21,376,243/female 21,308,454)
15-24 years:19.9% (male 9,557,462/female 9,692,275)
25-54 years:29.2% (male 14,023,218/female 14,176,263)
55-64 years:3.9% (male 1,826,602/female 1,919,212)
65 years and over:2.8% (male 1,242,171/female 1,511,558) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:83.5 %
youth dependency ratio:77.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.3 %
potential support ratio:15.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:17.6 years
male:17.4 years
female:17.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.89% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Birth rate:
37.66 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Death rate:
8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 77


Net migration rate:
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 populationcountry comparison to the world: 122
note:repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2014 est.)



Urbanization:
urban population:17% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
ADDIS ABABA (capital) 2.979 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.6


Maternal mortality rate:
350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:55.77 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 29
male:63.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female:47.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:60.75 yearscountry comparison to the world: 193
male:58.43 years
female:63.15 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
5.23 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
28.6% (2010/11)


Health expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.03 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
6.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 42.1% of population
total: 51.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 57.9% of population
total: 48.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 27.4% of population
rural: 22.8% of population
total: 23.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 72.6% of population
rural: 77.2% of population
total: 76.4% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 34


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
758,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
47,200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 8


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 191


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
29.2% (2011)country comparison to the world: 17


Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 85

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:39%
male:49.1%
female:28.9% (2007 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:7 years
male:8 years
female:6 years (2005)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:24.9%country comparison to the world: 40
male:19.5%
female:29.4% (2006)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form:Ethiopia
local long form:Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form:Ityop'iya
former:Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation:FDRE


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates:9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
9 ethnically based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples)


Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)


National holiday:
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)


Constitution:
several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President MULATU Teshome Wirtu (since 7 October 2013)
head of government:Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn (since 21 September 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers ASTER Mamo, DEBRETSION Gebre-Michael, DEMEKE Mekonnen Hassen; note - prior to his approval as prime minister, HAILEMARIAM had been acting prime minister due to the death of former Prime Minister MELES
cabinet:Council of Ministers - ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections:president elected by both chambers of Parliament for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2019); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
election results:MULATU Teshome Wirtu elected president by acclamation


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation (or upper chamber responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues) (108 seats; members chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for passing legislation) (547 seats; members directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 23 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 499, SPDP 24, BGPDP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, HNL 1, FORUM 1, APDO 1, independent 1


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Federal Supreme Court or Supreme Imperial Court (consists of 11 judges)
note - the Federal Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office:president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
subordinate courts:federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [Mohammed KEDIR]
All Ethiopian Unity Organization or AEUO [Hailu SHAWEL]
Arena Tigray [GEBRU Asrat]
Argoba People's Democratic Organization or APDO [Abdulkader MOHAMMED]
Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Party or BGPDP [Mulualem BESSE]
Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP [AYELE Chamiso]
Ethiopian Democratic Party or EDP [MUSHE Semu]
Ethiopian Federal Democratic Forum or FORUM (a UDJ-led 6-party alliance established for the 2010 parliamentary elections) [Dr. Moga FRISSA]
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF (including the following organizations: Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM; Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO; Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement or SEPDM; and Tigray People's Liberation Front or TPLF)
Gambella Peoples Unity Democratic Movement or GPUDM
Gurage Peoples Democratic Front [GIRMA Bogale]
Harari National League or HNL [YASIN Husein]
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM
Oromo People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]
Somali Democratic Alliance Forces or SODAF [BUH Hussien]
Somali People's Democratic Party or SPDP [Abdulfetah Sheck ABDULAHI]
South Ethiopian People's Democratic Union or SEPDU [TILAHUN Endeshaw]
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]
Unity for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Dr. NEGASSO Gidada]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador GIRMA Birru (since 6 January 2011)
chancery:3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 364-1200
FAX:[1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles
consulate(s):New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Patricia Marie HASLACH (since 14 August 2013)
embassy:Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:130-6000
FAX:124-2401


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia


National symbol(s):
Abyssinian lion


National anthem:
name:'Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia' (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)

lyrics/music:DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
note:adopted 1992

Economy

Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture but the government is pushing to diversify into manufacturing, textiles, and energy generation.. Coffee is a major export crop. The agricultural sector suffers from poor cultivation practices and frequent drought, but recent joint efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and donors have strengthened Ethiopia's agricultural resilience, contributing to a reduction in the number of Ethiopians threatened with starvation. The banking, insurance, telecommunications, and micro-credit industries are restricted to domestic investors, but Ethiopia has attracted significant foreign investment in textiles, leather, commercial agriculture and manufacturing. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; land use certificates are now being issued in some areas so that tenants have more recognizable rights to continued occupancy and hence make more concerted efforts to improve their leaseholds. While GDP growth has remained high, per capita income is among the lowest in the world. Ethiopia's economy continues on its state-led Growth and Transformation Plan under the new collective leadership that followed Prime Minister MELES’s death. The five-year economic plan has achieved high single-digit growth rates through government-led infrastructure expansion and commercial agriculture development. Ethiopia in 2014 will continue construction of its Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile – a controversial five billion dollar effort to develop electricity for domestic consumption and export.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$118.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$110.4 billion (2012 est.)
$101.8 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$47.34 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
8.5% (2012 est.)
11.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$1,300 (2012 est.)
$1,200 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
18.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
18.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:83.1%
government consumption:8.6%
investment in fixed capital:26.1%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:11.5%
imports of goods and services:-29.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:47%
industry:10.8%
services:42.2% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, khat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish


Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement


Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force:
45.65 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:85%
industry:5%
services:10% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
17.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
18% (2011 est.)


Population below poverty line:
39% (2012 est.)


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:4.1%
highest 10%:25.6% (2005)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 101
30 (2000)


Budget:
revenues:$6.702 billion
expenditures:$8.042 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
14.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Public debt:
50.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
39.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:official data cover central government debt, including debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury and treasury debt owned by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
8 July - 7 July


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
22.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
NA%


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
14.5% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$9.006 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$9.107 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$15.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$15.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$16.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$16.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$2.744 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-$2.031 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$3.214 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$3.039 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
coffee, khat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds


Exports - partners:
China 13%, Germany 10.8%, US 8%, Belgium 7.7%, Saudi Arabia 7.6% (2012)


Imports:
$10.68 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$10.25 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles


Imports - partners:
China 13.1%, US 11%, Saudi Arabia 8.4%, India 5.4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.382 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$3.272 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$11.99 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$10.03 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
birr (ETB) per US dollar -
19.92 (2013 est.)
17.705 (2012 est.)
14.41 (2010 est.)
11.78 (2009)
9.57 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
4.929 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - consumption:
4.451 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.061 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
9.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
89.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Crude oil - production:
100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
430,000 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
49,080 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Refined petroleum products - imports:
42,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190


Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
6.703 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
797,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 86


Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.524 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 47


Telephone system:
general assessment:inadequate telephone system with the Ethio Telecom maintaining a monopoly over telecommunication services; open-wire, microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; 2 domestic satellites provide the national trunk service
domestic:the number of fixed lines and mobile telephones is increasing from a small base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 15 per 100 persons
international:country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
1 public TV station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; a few commercial radio stations and roughly a dozen community radio stations (2009)


Internet country code:
.et


Internet hosts:
179 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 203


Internet users:
447,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119

Transportation

Airports
57 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 84


Airports - with paved runways
total:17
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:8
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
under 914 m:2 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:40
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:9
914 to 1,523 m:20
under 914 m:
8 (2013)


    Railways
total:681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)country comparison to the world: 102
narrow gauge:681 km 1.000-m gauge
note:railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)


Roadways
total:44,359 kmcountry comparison to the world: 79
paved:6,064 km
unpaved:38,295 km (2007)


Merchant marine
total:8country comparison to the world: 121
by type:cargo 8 (2010)



Ports and terminals

Military

Military branches
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian Air Force (Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:19,067,499
females age 16-49:19,726,816 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:11,868,084
females age 16-49:12,889,260 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:967,411
female:981,714 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.91% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 107
1.1% of GDP (2011)
0.91% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; 'Somaliland' secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):244,956 (Somalia); 191,303 (South Sudan); 84,271 (Eritrea); 40,781 (Sudan) (2014)
IDPs:316,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Sumale and Oromiya regions; natural disasters; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2013)



Illicit drugs
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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Australia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean


Geographic coordinates:
27 00 S, 133 00 E


Map references:
Oceania


Area:
total:7,741,220 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 6
land:7,682,300 sq km
water:58,920 sq km
note:includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north


Terrain:
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point:Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m


    Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum


Land use:
arable land:6.16% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland)
permanent crops:0.05%
other:93.79% (2011)


Irrigated land:
25,460 sq km (2006)


Total renewable water resources:
492 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
492 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires


Environment - current issues:
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural freshwater resources


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders; the only continent without glaciers; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze known as the 'Fremantle Doctor' affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective:Australian


Ethnic groups:
white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%


Languages:
English 76.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Greek 1.2%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.1%, other 10.4%, unspecified 5% (2011 est.)


Religions:
Protestant 28.8% (Anglican 17.1%, Uniting Church 5.0%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.8%, Baptist, 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Pentecostal 1.1%), Catholic 25.3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.6%, other Christian 4.5%, Buddhist 2.5%, Muslim 2.2%, Hindu 1.3%, other 8.4%, unspecified 2.2%, none 22.3%


Population:
22,507,617 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 56


Age structure:
0-14 years:18% (male 2,075,316/female 1,969,645)
15-24 years:13.3% (male 1,534,947/female 1,457,250)
25-54 years:41.8% (male 4,783,473/female 4,626,603)
55-64 years:11.8% (male 1,321,246/female 1,341,329)
65 years and over:15.1% (male 1,569,197/female 1,828,611) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:51 %
youth dependency ratio:28.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:22.1 %
potential support ratio:4.5 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:38.3 years
male:37.5 years
female:39 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.09% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 112


Birth rate:
12.19 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 162


Death rate:
7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 130


Net migration rate:
5.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


Urbanization:
urban population:89.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Sydney 4.543 million; Melbourne 3.961 million; Brisbane 2.039 million; Perth 1.649 million; Adelaide 1.198 million; CANBERRA (capital) 399,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.85 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
30.5 (2006 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:4.43 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 190
male:4.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:82.07 yearscountry comparison to the world: 10
male:79.63 years
female:84.64 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 162


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
72.3%


Health expenditures:
9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
3.85 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 125


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 81


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 123


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
26.8% (2008)country comparison to the world: 44


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
0.2% (2007)country comparison to the world: 136


Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 56

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:20 years
male:19 years
female:20 years (2011)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:11.7%country comparison to the world: 102
male:12.4%
female:11% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form:Australia


Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm


Capital:
name:Canberra
geographic coordinates:35 16 S, 149 08 E
time difference:UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
note:Australia has three time zones


Administrative divisions:
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia


Dependent areas:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island


Independence:
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)


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)


Constitution:
9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901; amended several times, last in 1977; note - a referendum to amend the constitution to reflect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 is to be completed by the end of 2014 (2013)


Legal system:
common law system based on the English model


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory


Executive branch:
chief of state:Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
head of government:Prime Minister Anthony John 'Tony' ABBOTT (since 18 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Warren TRUSS (since 18 September 2013)
cabinet:prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers
elections: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 leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general


Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)
elections:Senate - last held on 7 September 2013; House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2013 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2016)
election results:Senate NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National Coalition 53.45%, Australian Labor Party 46.55%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 90 (Liberal 58, Liberal National 22, Nationals 9, Country Liberals 1), Australian Labor Party 55, Australian Greens Party 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Palmer United Party 1, independents 2


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); note - each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court beyond the state and territory supreme courts
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:subordinate courts at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Magistrates' Courts of Australia; Family Court; subordinate courts 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


    Political parties and leaders:
Australian Greens Party [Christine MILNE]
Australian Labor Party [Bill SHORTEN]
Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]
Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]
Katter's Australian Party [Bob KATTER]
Liberal National Party of Queensland [Campbell NEWMAN]
Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]
National Party of Australia [Warren TRUSS]
Palmer United Party [Clive PALMER]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Australian Greens Party [Christine MILNE]
Australian Labor Party [Bill SHORTEN]
Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]
Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]
Katter's Australian Party [Bob KATTER]
Liberal National Party of Queensland [Campbell NEWMAN]
Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]
National Party of Australia [Warren TRUSS]
Palmer United Party [Clive PALMER]



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), 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), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY (since 7 February 2010)
chancery:1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 797-3000
FAX:[1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador John BERRY (since 25 September 2013)
embassy:Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address:APO AP 96549
telephone:[61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX:[61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general:Melbourne, Perth, Sydney


Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small, five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars


National symbol(s):
Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu


National anthem:
name:'Advance Australia Fair'

lyrics/music:Peter Dodds McCORMICK
note:adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem did not become used for all official occasions until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, 'God Save the Queen' is also played at Royal functions (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy - overview:
The Australian economy has experienced continuous growth and features low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system. By 2012, Australia had experienced more than 20 years of continued economic growth, averaging 3.5% a year. Demand for resources and energy from Asia and especially China has grown rapidly, creating a channel for resources investments and growth in commodity exports. The high Australian dollar has hurt the manufacturing sector, while the services sector is the largest part of the Australian economy, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of jobs. Australia was comparatively unaffected by the global financial crisis as the banking system has remained strong and inflation is under control. Australia has benefited from a dramatic surge in its terms of trade in recent years, stemming from rising global commodity prices. Australia is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia is an open market with minimal restrictions on imports of goods and services. The process of opening up has increased productivity, stimulated growth, and made the economy more flexible and dynamic. Australia plays an active role in the World Trade Organization, APEC, the G20, and other trade forums. Australia has bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the US, has a regional FTA with ASEAN and New Zealand, is negotiating agreements with China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as with its Pacific neighbors and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and is also working on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement with Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, and Vietnam.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$998.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$974.2 billion (2012 est.)
$939.7 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.488 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
3.7% (2012 est.)
2.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,000 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$42,500 (2012 est.)
$41,700 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
24.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
25.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.1% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:54.6%
government consumption:17.8%
investment in fixed capital:27.4%
investment in inventories:0.1%
exports of goods and services:20.9%
imports of goods and services:-20.8%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3.8%
industry:27.4%
services:68.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry


Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel


Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Labor force:
12.44 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:3.6%
industry:21.1%
services:75% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
5.2% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2%
highest 10%:25.4% (1994)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.3 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
35.2 (1994)


Budget:
revenues:$494.3 billion
expenditures:$514.4 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
33.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-1.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


Public debt:
32.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
32.4% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
1.8% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
3% (February 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
4.35% (31 December 2010 est.)
note:this is the Reserve Bank of Australia's 'cash rate target,' or policy rate


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
6.98% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$526.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$534.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$1.661 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.648 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$2.222 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$2.255 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$44.9 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
-$57.14 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$251.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$257.9 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment


Exports - partners:
China 29.5%, Japan 19.3%, South Korea 8%, India 4.9% (2012)


Imports:
$245.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$263 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products


Imports - partners:
China 18.4%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.9%, Singapore 6%, Germany 4.6%, Thailand 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$48.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$49.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$1.506 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.497 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$661.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$610.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$440.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$426 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.031 (2013 est.)
0.9658 (2012 est.)
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
225.5 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20


Electricity - consumption:
213.5 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
59.13 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
78.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
13.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
5.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Crude oil - production:
519,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Crude oil - exports:
314,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Crude oil - imports:
475,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.433 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Refined petroleum products - production:
675,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1.023 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20


Refined petroleum products - exports:
70,810 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Refined petroleum products - imports:
304,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Natural gas - production:
48.24 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20


Natural gas - consumption:
33.39 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Natural gas - exports:
30.27 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Natural gas - imports:
10.92 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.219 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
392.3 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
10.47 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 20


Telephones - mobile cellular:
24.4 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 43


Telephone system:
general assessment:excellent domestic and international service
domestic:domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile telephones
international:country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2007)



    Broadcast media:
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster, operates radio and TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages; several large national commercial TV networks, a large number of local commercial TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio stations are accessible; cable and satellite systems are available (2008)


Internet country code:
.au


Internet hosts:
17.081 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 8


Internet users:
15.81 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25

Transportation

Airports
480 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 16


Airports - with paved runways
total:349
over 3,047 m:11
2,438 to 3,047 m:14
1,524 to 2,437 m:155
914 to 1,523 m:155
under 914 m:14 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:131
1,524 to 2,437 m:16
914 to 1,523 m:101
under 914 m:
14 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate/gas 637 km; gas 30,054 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,609 km; oil/gas/water 110 km; refined products 72 km (2013)


Railways
total:38,445 kmcountry comparison to the world: 7
broad gauge:3,355 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge:21,674 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified)
narrow gauge:9,539 km 1.067-m gauge (2,067 km electrified); 3,877 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:823,217 kmcountry comparison to the world: 9
paved:356,343 km
unpaved:466,874 km (2011)


Waterways
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 43


Merchant marine
total:41country comparison to the world: 75
by type:bulk carrier 8, cargo 7, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:17 (Canada 5, Germany 2, Singapore 2, South Africa 1, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries:25 (Bahamas 1, Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 4, Singapore 12, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Gladstone, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Kembla, Sydney
dry bulk cargo port(s):Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore)
container port(s) (TEUs):Brisbane (1,004,983), Melbourne (2,467,967), Sydney (2,028,074)(2011)
LNG terminal(s) (export):Darwin, Karratha

Military

Military branches
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army; Royal Australian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force); Royal Australian Air Force; Joint Operations Command (JOC) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:5,316,464
females age 16-49:5,116,722 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:4,411,958
females age 16-49:4,239,985 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:143,565
female:135,800 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.71% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 51
1.84% of GDP (2011)
1.71% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed exclusive economic zone; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):8,368 (Afghanistan) (2013)


Illicit drugs
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook