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Dimensions

Covering a total area of 7.69 million square kilometres, mainland Australia is the world’s largest island – but the smallest continent. Australia is big – in distance, the continent stretches about 3700 kilometres from north to south, and 4000 kilometres from east to west, making it the sixth-largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil.

Because it stretches through numerous climate zones – from tropical to temperate – Australia offers a huge diversity of environments, scenery and climatic conditions rarely found in a single country. Whatever your areas of interest – sightseeing, natural attractions, historical places, outdoor activities – chances are you can see it or do it somewhere in Australia. The downside of Australia’s immense size are the vast distances one often needs to travel. When planning travel within Australia, allow adequate time to get from one place to another, and remember that if you travel everywhere by air, you might be saving time but you will also miss so much of Australia’s unique natural beauty.

Of the world’s six largest countries, Australia is the only one that is completely surrounded by water. Along its 36,735 kilometres of coastline are in excess of 7,000 beaches, many of spectacular beauty, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon. Some have not had their sands disturbed by visitors in decades, and visitors to many that have often find they have the beach to themselves. The mainland and Tasmania – Australia’s largest island – are also surrounded by many thousands of small fringing islands and numerous larger ones. Nearly forty percent of the total coast comprises island coastlines. There are also 618 continental islands which were once part of the mainland, as well as 44 low wooded islands and approximately 300 coral cays.

State border corners, facts and histories

Land Area of Australia’s States and Territories
Australia is the world’s sixth largest country, after Russia, Canada, China, USA, and Brazil. In addition to the mainland, Australia is surrounded by many thousands of small fringing islands and numerous larger ones, which amount to an area half the size of Tasmania. Area shown in square kilometres. States and territories are listed from the largest to smallest.

Western Australia
Percentage of total area: 33.0%
Mainland area: 2,526,786
Island area: 3,089
Total area: 2,529,875

Queensland
Percentage of total area: 22.5%
Mainland area: 1,723,936
Island area: 6,712
Total area: 1,730,648
Northern Territory

Percentage of total area: 17.5%
Mainland area: 1,335,936
Island area: 13,387
Total area: 1,349,129
South Australia

Percentage of total area: 12.7%
Mainland area: 978,810
Island area: 4,672
Total area: 983,482

New South Wales
Percentage of total area: 10.4%
Mainland area: 800,628
Island area: 14
Total area: 800,642

Victoria
Percentage of total area: 3.0%
Mainland area: 227,010
Island area: 404
Total area: 227, 416

Tasmania
Percentage of total area: 0.9%
Mainland area: 64,519
Island area: 3,882
Total area: 68,401

Australian Capital Territory
Percentage of total area: less than 1%
Mainland area: 2,358
Island area: nil
Total area: 2,358

Jervis Bay Territory
Percentage of total area: less than 1%
Mainland area: 72
Island area: 1
Total area: 73

AUSTRALIA
Percentage of total area: 100%
Mainland area: 7,659,861
Island area: 32,163
Total area: 7,692,024

Australia is responsible for administering seven external territories – Norfolk Island, the uninhabited Coral Sea Islands Territory, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, the uninhabited Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory, the Territory of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic and the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Australia’s size compared
Australia is one of about 210 countries. At 7,692,024 km2, it comprises just five percent of the world’s land area (149,450,000 km2), yet it is the planet’s sixth largest country after Russia, Canada, China, USA, and Brazil. Australia is also the smallest continental land mass (or largest island).

Whilst the areas of Canada and the United States are similar to Europe, their populations are markedly smaller, by factors of eighteen (3 persons per km2) and two (29 persons per km2) respectively. Australia is not far behind in size, but its population compared to Europe is 30 times smaller. Japan’s population density is 336 persons per km2 and the United Kingdom’s is 244 persons per km2, compared to Australia’s 2.5 persons per km2.

State and Territory Borders
Shows length of borders in kilometres

New South Wales: 4,635 km
Queensland: 3,339 km
South Australia: 3,185 km
Northern Territory: 3,179 km
Victoria: 2,541 km
Western Australia: 1,862 km
Australian Capital Territory: 32 km
Jervis Bay Territory: 32 km
Tasmania: 85 metres

Longest Border
New South Wales has the longest border of all the States and Territories. It adjoins Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory, making a total of 4635 kilometres.

Shortest Border
A little known fact is that there is a land border between Tasmania and Victoria. Straddling the declared parallel line of latitude of 39° 12′ S separating the two states is Boundary Islet. This rocky outcrop in Bass Strait measures approximately 85 metres east-west by 160 metres north-south.

Facts and Figures
Size: The distance from Sydney, on the east coast, to Perth on the west coast is 3 to 4 day’s drive at a distance of 4025 km by road, which is about a four-hour flight, or 3,279km as the crow flies.

Population: 23.9 million (estimated January 2016)

Population Clock (estimated population today)

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