Note: Profiles of all nations are given with info on religious stats and
socio-economics in that nation for your
consideration.
Christian
Dating :
Australia
Geography
Area: 7.7 million sq. km. (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of the 48
contiguous United States.
Cities: (2003) Capital--Canberra (pop. 323,000). Other cities--Sydney
(4.2 million), Melbourne (3.6 million), Brisbane (1.7 million), Perth
(1.4 million).
Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying.
Climate: Relatively dry, ranging from temperate in the south to tropical
in the north.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Australian(s).
Population (2004): 20.2 million.
Annual population growth rate: 1.2%.
Ethnic groups: European 92%, Asian 6%, Aboriginal 2%.
Christian singles note-Religions
(2001): Anglican 21%, Roman Catholic 27%, other Christian 20%, other
non-Christian 5%, no religion 16% and not stated 12%.
Languages: English.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 15 in all states except
Tasmania, where it is 16. Literacy--85%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5/1,000. Life expectancy--males
77 yrs., females 82 yrs.
Work force (10.3 million): Agriculture--4%; mining,
manufacturing, construction, and utilities--21%; services--70%;
public administration and defense--5%.
Government
Type: Democratic, federal-state system recognizing British monarch as
sovereign.
Constitution: July 9, 1900.
Independence (federation): January 1, 1901.
Branches: Head of state is the governor general, who is appointed by the
Queen of Australia (the British Monarch). Legislative--bicameral
Parliament (76-member Senate, 150-member House of Representatives). The
House of Representatives selects as head of government the Prime
Minister, who then appoints his cabinet. Judicial--independent
judiciary. Administrative subdivisions: Six states and two territories.
Political parties: Liberal, Nationals, Australian Labor, Australian
Democrats, Australian Greens, and Family First. The Liberal Party and
the Nationals form the governing coalition.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory over 18.
Central government budget: FY 2003-04--$129.3 billion; FY
2004-05--$138.4 billion.
Defense: 1.9% of GDP for FY 2004-05.
Economy
GDP: (2003) $504.4 billion.
Inflation rate: (2003) 2.8% p.a.
Trade: Exports ($91.8 billion, 2003)--coal, gold, iron ore, crude
oil and petroleum products, wheat, aluminum. Major markets--Japan,
U.S. ($8.1 billion), China, New Zealand, South Korea.
Imports ($107.3 billion, 2003) passenger motor vehicles,
computers, crude oil and petroleum products, aircraft and parts,
medicaments. Major suppliers--U.S. ($16.8 billion), Japan, China,
Germany, U.K., New Zealand, Taiwan, and Singapore.
PEOPLE
Australia's aboriginal inhabitants, a hunting-gathering people generally
referred to as Aboriginals and Torres Straits Islanders, arrived more
than 40,000 years ago. Although their technical culture remained
static--depending on wood, bone, and stone tools and weapons--their
spiritual and social life was highly complex. Most spoke several
languages, and confederacies sometimes linked widely scattered tribal
groups. Aboriginal population density ranged from 1 person per square
mile along the coasts to 1 person per 35 square miles in the arid
interior. When Capt. James Cook claimed Australia for Great Britain in
1770, the native population may have numbered 300,000 in as many as 500
tribes speaking many different languages. The aboriginal population
currently numbers more than 410,000, representing about 2.2% of the
population. Since the end of World War II, the government and the public
have made efforts to be more responsive to aboriginal rights and needs.
Immigration has been a key to Australia's development since the
beginning of European settlement in 1788. For generations, most settlers
came from the British Isles, and the people of Australia are still
predominantly of British or Irish origin, with a culture and outlook
similar to those of Americans. However, since the end of World War II,
the population has more than doubled; non-European immigration, mostly
from the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, has increased
significantly since 1960 through an extensive, planned immigration
program. From 1945 through 2000, nearly 5.9 million immigrants settled
in Australia, and about 80% have remained; nearly two of every seven
Australians is foreign-born. Britain and Ireland have been the largest
sources of post-war immigrants, followed by Italy, Greece, New Zealand,
and the former Yugoslavia.
Christian
dating in Aust ralia
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