Australia population
The Australia population section is where we share general facts and information about the population of Australia
Australia is a culturally diverse nation; people who were born overseas make up nearly one quarter of our population.
The original inhabitants of Australia were the Aboriginals who had been occupying this vast land for many thousands of years before European settlement.
The Australia population of over 22,000,000 includes Indigenous Australians and people of different races, religions and immigrants from countries all over the world.
Christianity is the main religion of the population of Australia. The Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims are the minority.
Today Australia is one of the most cosmopolitan communities in the world, with over six million people from some 200 different countries settling here since 1945.
Australian Ethnic groups are approximately - Caucasians 92%, Asians 7%, Aboriginal and other groups 1%
The Life Expectancy for males in Australia is 79 years and for Females it is 84 years.
The literacy level in Australia is high with 99% of Australians over 15 able to read and write.
The principal language in Australia is English. The other major languages spoken are Greek, Italian and Chinese.
The population density in Australia as of June 2006 was 2.7 people per square kilometre.
Most of the Australia population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the country.
Australia has one of the most urbanised populations in the world. More than 80 per cent of Australian people live within 100 kilometres of the coast.
Before the European settlers arrived, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people lived in most areas of the Australian continent.
When the Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 the non-indigenous population of Australia was approximately 3.8 million. Of these three-quarters were born in Australia, and most of them were English, Irish or Scottish descendants.
The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 restricted the migration to Australia to people that where principally of European origin, this was overturned after the Second World War and millions of refugees and migrants arrived in Australia.
The Australian Federal Government sets immigration intake numbers on an annual basis. Australian immigration policies are the same for all applicants and are non-discriminatory.
If you are interested in immigrating to Australia or just want more information please visit the Australian Government Immigration site.
Go to next facts page: Australia geography
Return from Australia Population to Australian-Information-Stories home page
"The Legend of Bimi"
Introduction
There's a tale that begins in the sand hills
That I would like to tell,
Built from myth and many legends,
And my pen it does compel.
The desert's a hot, a hostile place,
Nothing's changed since time began,
There's a hazy unreality there
As if it, in the dreamtime was planned.
The noon of the day is so hot and still,
And over all an expectant hush,
Like a canvas that's waiting impatiently
For the touch of the artists brush.
The fire of the day can change swifly
To the night of startlingly cold,
Many legends are told of the people
Who live in this land so old.
To continue to read the introduction to this wonderful piece of poetry our Mother wrote called
"The Legend of Bimi" just go to our
Epic Poetry page
We know you will love it!