Australia is an independent Western democracy with a population of more than 20 million. It is one of the world’s most urbanized countries, with about 70 percent of the population living in cities. Australia’s lifestyle reflects its mainly Western origins, but Australia is also a multicultural society, which has been enriched by over six million settlers from almost 200 nations.
Four out of ten Australians are migrants or the first-generation children of migrants, half of them from non-English speaking backgrounds.Australia has had one of the most outstanding economies of the world in recent years. As a high-growth, low-inflation, low interest rate economy, it is more vibrant than ever before. There is an efficient government sector, a flexible labor market and a very competitive business sector. With its abundant physical resources, Australia has enjoyed a high standard of living since the nineteenth century.