Australia
A country on the continent of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a country that encompasses the continent of Australia, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area of 7,688,287 km² and the driest inhabited continent. The capital of Australia is Canberra. The population is approximately 28.3 million people as of March 2026.
The history of Australia begins with the arrival of the first Aboriginal ancestors 50,000 – 65,000 years ago, and their culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. British colonization began in 1788 with the establishment of a penal colony in New South Wales, leading to the formation of a modern multicultural democracy. Australia is still a member of the "British Commonwealth."
1999
A referendum was held in which the population did not support the transition from monarchy to republic
2008
The national government officially apologized to Indigenous peoples for past laws and policies, particularly regarding the Stolen Generations
2017
Australia recorded the longest period of continuous GDP growth in the developed world
2022
Emissions reduction targets were legislated, committing to net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 43% reduction by 2030
2023
An absolute majority of the population in a referendum did not support the idea of expanding Aboriginal rights
