Australia Case Study

Question 1

Why is Australia so underpopulated?

Answer 1

• Australia has a low carrying capacity due to many inhospitable environments.
• The highest recorded temperature reached 50.7°C in Oodnadatta.
• Australia is one of the driest countries on Earth.
• Cattle grazing covers 35% of the country

Question 2

What are some of the effects of its under population?

Answer 2

• It’s average population density is 3 people/ kilometre squared (world average is 53).
• Schools and hospitals may close due to lack of demand.
• There is a shortage of workers in mining, construction, engineering and healthcare.
• Migration is needed to fill the gaps in the workforce (in 2012 29,000 migrants came from India).
• Different migrant ethnicities may lead to tension.
• Less people are paying tax and 43% of the workforce is due to retire in the next 20 years.

Question 3

What is Australia’s population like?

Answer 3

• Population of 26.4 million and its the 6th largest country by area.
• 90% of the population live in the 10 largest cities along the coast.
• 28.3% of the population is born overseas

Question 4

What are some examples of the effects of under population?

Answer 4

• Southeast south Australia has been affected, with 90% less crops in some areas (e.g. village of Pooginagoric).
• Kunururra, a town in northern Australia, has a population of 5300 people due to its climate. The record temperature has been 45°C and its lowest has been 4.8°C.
• Mukinbudin, a small town in western Australia, has a population of 300 people. It is 293 km away from the biggest nearby settlement of Perth.