Australia ranks as one of the best countries to live in the world by international comparisons of wealth, education, health and quality of life. The sixth-largest country by land mass, its population is comparatively small with most people living around the eastern and south-eastern coastlines.
Australia is globally famous for its natural wonders, wide-open spaces, beaches, deserts, "The Bush", and "The Outback". Australia is one of the world's most highly urbanised countries; it's well known for its attractive mega cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
But it's not just uranium – according to Geoscience Australia, we're also the world's leading producer of bauxite, rutile and zircon and are sitting on the world's largest resources of gold, iron ore, lead, nickel and zinc.
Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia's capital is Canberra, located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres of Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia's ecosystem is an unusual one because of its remote location. As a result, there are many animal species that occur here and nowhere else in the world, such as the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. Australia has 516 national parks to protect its unique plants and animals.
What Australia is well known for? Australia is globally famous for its natural wonders, wide-open spaces, beaches, deserts, "The Bush", and "The Outback". Australia is one of the world's most highly urbanised countries; it's well known for its attractive mega cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Australia and its symbols
The Australian flag has the nation's vote for being the image or symbol about which we are most proud. 95% of Australians take pride in the national flag, which is enjoying increasing popularity, with half (50%) saying that they are extremely proud.
Yet, Australia is undeniably a powerful country – ranking sixth in this year's Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, a data-driven assessment that measures national resources and international influence to rank the relative power of the states in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia is a highly developed country with a mixed economy. As of 2023, Australia was the 13th-largest national economy by nominal GDP (gross domestic product), the 19th-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP, and was the 20th-largest goods exporter and 24th-largest goods importer.
But it's India that takes the crown as the most recent nation to fall in love with the varied landscapes of Australia, with an impressive 15.4 per cent increase in travellers.
Australia's long been referred to as 'the lucky country' and now we can start saying we're one of the happiest countries in the world, too. The United Nation's 2023 World Happiness Index has just been released, and Australia has come in at a very cheery 12th position.
Australia ranks 7th on the OECD Better Life Index, based on living conditions and quality of life. In 2021, renewable energy accounted for 29% of Australia's total electricity generation.
Australian stereotypical characters always use expressions like "Crikey!", "G'day, mate" and "Put another shrimp [sic] on the barbie." They are often represented as being unsophisticated and obsessed with beer and surfing, boomarangs and kangaroos. Australian men are often shown as being macho, misogynistic brutes.
There are also a number of terms for Australia, such as: Aussie, Oz, Lucky Country, and land of the long weekend.
Australia is a country that's as diverse as it is beautiful – from the ochre-red outback around Uluru and the frosty summit of Cradle Mountain, to the white sand of the Whitsunday Islands and the pink lakes of Western Australia.
On a mean wealth basis, Australia was the fourth-richest country in 2021 behind Switzerland, the US and Hong Kong.
Australia has all the ingredients required to crack this conundrum and become a new energy superpower. We have cost-competitive large-scale renewable energy, abundant minerals and natural resources, a highly skilled workforce, and deep access to capital.
Tasmania has been ranked by CommSec as having the country's best-performing economy. Queensland and South Australia have come in at equal second, followed by New South Wales.
The United Nations process the annual World Happiness Report to understand what happiness is and how it affects our lives, cultures and economy. Australia is ranked under 12, Canada 15 and the United States is 16th and a popular destination for most South Africans, the United Kingdom is 17th.
Like England, Australia boasts a high quality of life. Aussies also enjoy free healthcare and education, as well as a stable society. They too have good social security, with around 6 weeks of vacation, annual leave for illness, and maternity leave.
Overall, Australia is a very welcoming culture, and expats should not worry too much about committing a grievous taboo.
The temperate climate is a huge contributing factor that attracts many people from other developed countries, such as England, to migrate to Australia. Because Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are inverted as well so you can experience a unique summery Christmas.
Australia has lots to offer British newcomers, including a shared language and culture, and a close relationship with the UK (despite being so far apart geographically). It boasts scorchingly sunny weather, great quality of life and beautiful beaches, along with friendly people and lots of space for outdoor living.