The vast Outback is just one of Australia's treasures. The island nation-continent is famously hospitable, its cities are peppy and beautiful, and its sceneries, from world-standard beaches to forested canyonlands, are almost infinitely engaging.

• TOTAL AREA: 7,686,850 sq km

• LAND AREA: 7,617,930 sq km

• WATER AREA: 68,920 sq km

• POPULATION: 20,264,082

• RELIGIONS: Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3%

• LANGUAGES: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8%

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

• CAPITAL CITY: Canberra

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: Australian dollar (AUD)

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC +9.5