Australia Demographics

What is the population of Australia?

Population	25,466,459
Population Growth Rate	1.11%
Urban Population	89.2%
Population in Major Urban Areas	Sydney 4.543 million; Melbourne 3.961 million; Brisbane 2.039 million; Perth 1.649 million; Adelaide 1.198 million; CANBERRA (capital) 399,000
Nationality Noun	Australian(s)
Nationality Adjective	Australian
Ethnic Groups	Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Languages Spoken	English, native languages

Australia Learning

What is school like in Australia?

Classroom

Education is a priority in Australia and is regulated by each state or territory. The teaching tends to be interactive and challenging, with much student participation. The schools place much emphasis on technology, ensuring access for students and teachers to multimedia materials, Internet access, and general computer usage.

An average school lunch costs no more than US$3-4. Traditional lunches include meat pies, sausage rolls, and hotdogs, although health-conscious menus are tending more toward foods such as sushi, noodles with vegetables, sandwiches, and watermelon slices. School lunch shops are run by the Parents and Citizens’ Association, whose volunteers create menus and prepare the food.

Education Culture

Australia offers two general types of schools: government and private. Government schools provide “free” education to the children, but families and others are encouraged to make donations to enhance what each school has to offer in both its curriculum and its extracurricular activities. Private schools charge tuition fees that range widely and are often founded on alternative educational philosophies, including religious ones.

Though there is some diversity between states and territories concerning the school year, most follow a general calendar of four terms with breaks in between called holidays. The longest holiday extends over Christmas, which is the major summer holiday, and usually lasts for five or more weeks.

Children are required to attend school in Australia until age 15. Preschool, which is offered beginning at age 3, is not obligatory. Attendance is usually not very high until the year before entering primary school, which serves as a preparatory year. Most children participate in that year. Primary school, which covers ages 6 to 12 or 13, is mandatory. This is followed by secondary school, from ages 12 or 13 to 17 or 18, depending on the regulations of the local state or territory.

Learning

Australian schools are rigorous and expect their students to work hard in school. Most school days begin at about 9:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday.

Most Australian schools require their students to wear a conservative uniform, determined by a local school council.

Nearly all elementary schools will teach the core subjects of mathematics, science, arts, technology, languages, and English. Education is demanding, and most students understand that they will have a significant amount of homework regularly.

Although the last two years of secondary school are not required, they do play a significant role in preparing students who desire to attend a university or advance towards a specific career. During those years, students will focus their studies on particular disciplines such as digital media, agriculture, performing arts, or applied mathematics rather than being required to study general topics. Approximately 99% of all students complete the mandatory first 10 years of school and earn a School Leaving Certificate, with slightly over 70% continuing on to finish the final two years offered.

To School

Children usually take public transportation to and from school. Unlike North American schools, there is no bus system dedicated solely to the schools, but public transportation supports the needs of students, as regulated by each state.

Australia Health Information

What are the health conditions in Australia?

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49	72.3%
Contraceptive Prevalence - note	Note: Percent of women aged 18-44
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	7.01
Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved	100%
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	100%
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	9%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate	0.1%
HIV/Aids Deaths	90
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	3.9
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births	4.15
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births	4.8
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	4.49
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	7
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth	30.5
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	26.8%
People Living with HIV/AIDS	20,000
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	3.85
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	100%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved	100%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.77
Underweight - percent of children under five years	0.2%

Australia Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Australia?

Life Expectancy at Birth	82 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female	85 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male	80 Years
Median Age	38 Years
Median Age - female	38 Years
Median Age - male	37 Years

Australia Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Australia median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	12
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	7.01
Median Age	38 Years
Median Age - female	38 Years
Median Age - male	37 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	5.83
Population Growth Rate	1.11%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female	1.05
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female	1.05
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female	1.03
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female	1.01
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.06
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female	1.01
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female	.85

Australia Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Australia?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Excellent medical care is available in Australia. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash/credit card payments for health services. We recommend travel insurance.

Australia Education

What is school like in Australia?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	5.6%
Literacy - female	99%
Literacy - male	99%
Literacy - total population	99%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female	20 Years
School Life Expectancy - male	19 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	20 Years

Australia Literacy

Can people in Australia read?

Literacy - female	99%
Literacy - male	99%
Literacy - total population	99%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language	English, native languages

Australia Crime

Is Australia a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Although U.S citizens are not specifically targeted for crime, travelers should be aware that robberies, burglaries, assault, and auto theft are common in Australia’s larger cities. Weapons are increasingly used in such crimes, which also may be associated with drug trafficking, gang activities, and drug or alcohol usage. Foreign visitors in popular tourist areas are targets for pickpockets, purse-snatchers, and petty thieves. Be careful when consuming alcohol with unfamiliar people, as drink spiking can occur; appropriate security precautions should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Australia Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Australia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, such as inside certain areas of Australian airports, near prisons, and at military bases. If you break local laws, your U.S. passport won’t help. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. In Australia, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you violate Australian laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Australia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Australia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Please be aware that all objectionable material is subject to declaration and inspection and may be illegal in Australia. Objectionable material includes child pornography, bestiality, explicit sexual violence, and graphic degradation, as well as terrorism-related material and anything providing instruction in or encouraging drug use, crime, or violence. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Australia Population Comparison

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