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

Area: 7,686,850 sq km

Population: 18,783,551 (July 1999 est.)

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

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

Languages: English, native languages

National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

GDP—real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$21,200 (1998 est.)