For more information see the Australia profile.

Australia is the only nation that occupies an entire continent. Known as "The Land Down Under", it is located south of the equator between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Most of the population lives in the well watered coastal region, while the dry interior, or "Outback", is sparsely populated.

Australia was established as a British colony for convicts in 1788. The continent was divided into several separate colonies by Great Britain, and eventually non-convicts began to emigrate to Australia. In 1901 the colonies were granted independence as one nation.

Australia has a long tradition of religious freedom, but that status has been threatened by restrictive legislation. In recent years Christianity has been in serious decline as secularization has advanced.