Capital of Australia: Canberra — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Australia is Canberra. Australia sits in Oceania, has a population of 26,177,413, and uses the AUD. Official languages include English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Canberra
- Continent: Oceania
- Population: ~26,177,413
- Area: 7,692,024 km²
- Population density: 3.4 people per km²
- Official language: English
- Currency: AUD
- ISO code: AU
How big is Australia?
By population, Australia ranks 55th in the world, holding roughly 0.33% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 6th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Australia has 3.4 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Oceania, Australia is the most populous country of 14.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Australia in population are Niger (26,207,977) and North Korea (26,069,416).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Brazil (8,515,767 km²) and China (9,596,961 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and Botswana, and 52 others.
The AUD is not unique to Australia — it is also used by Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Australia
Canberra was chosen as the seat of government as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. Not Sydney, not Melbourne: Canberra. For the flag, look for the big seven-pointed star under the Union Jack.
The flag of Australia: blue, red and white
🇦🇺 The flag is a blue flag with the Union Jack in the top corner by the flagpole, a large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star below it, and the five stars of the Southern Cross on the right. The Commonwealth Star stands for the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901: six points for the six original states and one for the territories. On the right is the Southern Cross constellation.
Region and neighbours
Australia is a country in Oceania made up of the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and many smaller islands, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Australia
- The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies off the north-east coast and stretches for more than 2,300 km.
- Mount Kosciuszko, 2,228 m high, is the highest mountain on the Australian mainland.
- The Murray–Darling is Australia's major river system.
Sources: Wikipedia: Australia, Wikipedia: Flag of Australia, Wikipedia: Canberra, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Australia
- Oceania capitals quiz — match Australia to Canberra
- Oceania flags quiz — spot the Australia flag among its neighbours
Australia capital quiz
What is the capital of Australia 🇦🇺?
- Funafuti
- Canberra
- Majuro
- Tarawa
Show answer
Canberra
What is the capital of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬?
- Yaren
- Nukuʻalofa
- Port Moresby
- Funafuti
Show answer
Port Moresby
What is the capital of New Zealand 🇳🇿?
- Funafuti
- Wellington
- Honiara
- Ngerulmud
Show answer
Wellington
What is the capital of Fiji 🇫🇯?
- Suva
- Honiara
- Majuro
- Nukuʻalofa
Show answer
Suva
What is the capital of Solomon Islands 🇸🇧?
- Canberra
- Honiara
- Port Moresby
- Wellington
Show answer
Honiara
Australia in Oceania
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and Solomon Islands.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Oceania is the block Australia belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra.
What is the population of Australia?
About 26,177,413, making it the 55th most populous country in the world.
How big is Australia?
7,692,024 square kilometres, ranking 6th by land area, at a density of 3.4 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Australia use?
The AUD, shared with 3 other countries.
What are the colours of the Australia flag?
The flag of Australia is a blue flag with the Union Jack in the top corner by the flagpole, a large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star below it, and the five stars of the Southern Cross on the right. The Commonwealth Star stands for the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901: six points for the six original states and one for the territories. On the right is the Southern Cross constellation.
Which countries border Australia?
None. Australia is a country in Oceania made up of the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and many smaller islands, between the Indian and Pacific oceans, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Australia?
Canberra was chosen as the seat of government as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. Not Sydney, not Melbourne: Canberra. For the flag, look for the big seven-pointed star under the Union Jack.
More capitals to learn
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