One of the most multicultural countries in the world, Australia blends one of the earth’s oldest continuing cultures with traditions and people from throughout the world.
The origins of Australia’s Indigenous peoples stretch back more than 40,000 years, and their cultural traditions remain a strong part of the country’s identity.
These Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders represent a wide range of communities, each with their own unique mixture of cultures, customs and some 60 languages.
Across the country’s total population, more than 270 ancestries were separately identified in the most recent census. More than 200 languages are spoken in the community in addition to the different languages spoken by Indigenous Australians. More than three million people speak a language other than English at home. A quarter of Australians were born overseas, and another 20% have at least one parent born overseas.
The result is a country of some 22 million diverse but inclusive inhabitants, characterised by vibrant optimism and a relaxed, egalitarian disposition.
The Australian lifestyle reflects its democratic traditions and values, its geographic proximity to the Asian and Pacific regions, and the social, cultural and linguistic influences of the millions of migrants and refugees who have made Australia their home.
