Australia is an independent western democracy with a population of more than 21 million. It is one of the world's most urbanized countries, with about 70% of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the southeastern corner of the continent. Australia's life style reflects its mainly western origins, but Australia is also a multi cultural society, which has been enriched by nearly 5 million settlers from almost 200 nations. Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent.

Its landmass of nearly 7.7 million square km is the flattest (after Antarctica) driest of continents, yet it has extremes of climate and topography.

Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent its landmass of nearly 7.7 million square km is the flattest (after Antarctica) driest of continents, yet it has extremes of climate and topography. There are rain forests and vast planes in the north and snowfields in the southeast, desert in the center and fertile croplands in the east, south and southwest.

The Australia economy is diverse with a well-developed territory or service sectors a full range of secondary manufacturing and an expanding base of new technology, large-scale resource development and productive primary industries.The Australia economy is diverse with a well-developed territory or service sectors a full range of secondary manufacturing and an expanding base of new technology, large-scale resource development and productive primary industries

Australia's six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. The Mainland territories are the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), home of the national capital, Canberra that includes Jervis Bay Territory and the Northern Territory.