ABOUT AUSTRALIA

Population: 20 million

Official Language: English

Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)

Capital: Canberra

Surface area: 7.74 million square kilometres

Gross Domestic Product: $835 billion (US$603 billion)

Workforce: Almost 10 million

National colours: Green and gold

National Day: Australia Day 26 January

Households with internet access: 37 per cent

Registered motor vehicles 12.46 million

People with mobile phones: 12.7 million

Overseas visitors (12 months to December 2006): 5.2 million