What is the largest state in Australia?
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, covering about 2.5 million square kilometres, roughly a third of the continent. It is one of the largest sub-national divisions in the world.
Western Australia is larger than many countries. It is more than three times the size of Texas and around ten times the size of the United Kingdom.
Despite its size, the state has a population of just under three million people, most of whom live in and around Perth in the southwest corner.
Landscapes and resources
The state includes the Kimberley in the north, the Pilbara mining region, the deserts of the interior and the Wheatbelt and forests of the southwest. Its coastline stretches more than 12,000 kilometres.
Western Australia's economy is driven by mining, especially iron ore from the Pilbara, as well as gold, natural gas and lithium. The state produces a large share of Australia's export income.
Queensland is the second-largest state, at about 1.7 million square kilometres. The Northern Territory, while not a state, is larger than New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania combined.
Did You Know?
Western Australia covers three time zones in practice, including the unofficial Central Western time zone.