Australia-Commonwealth of Australia

Australia (official name English: Commonwealth of Australia) is a state in the southern hemisphere of the Earth, comprising the entire land mass of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania off its southern coast, the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island with its tributary islands and, as outlying territories, the Pacific Norfolk Island, the Cocos Islands, Christmas Island and the Ashmore and Cartier Islands and the Heard and McDonald Islands in the Indian Ocean. Since the Antarctic Treaty of 1933, the country has also laid claim to the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Its neighboring countries are New Zealand in the southeast and Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea in the north. Australia has about 25 million inhabitants and is sparsely populated. With an area of more than 7.6 million km², it is the sixth largest country in the world.

The capital is Canberra, the largest city is the metropolis Sydney. Other metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Gold Coast. Australia is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. The country has a highly modern service economy and significant raw material deposits. Its culture and economic strength make it an attractive destination for migrants; however, Australia's migration and asylum policies impose strict legal criteria for immigration.