🌏 GEOGRAPHY • OCEANIA • AUSTRALIA

Australian States & Territories

Discover the six states and ten territories of Australia, including their capitals, abbreviations and political status.

Australia is a country in Oceania and is divided into six states. The country also has ten territories located outside the state borders, although their powers of self-government vary.

The Australian states and territories are important administrative divisions of the country. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

For official information about Australian states and territories, visit the Australian Government's official website.

🇦🇺 Australian Government — States & Territories

The 6 States of Australia

NSW

New South Wales

Capital: Sydney
QLD

Queensland

Capital: Brisbane
SA

South Australia

Capital: Adelaide
TAS

Tasmania

Capital: Hobart
VIC

Victoria

Capital: Melbourne
WA

Western Australia

Capital: Perth

Australian States: Abbreviations & Capitals

Abbreviation State Capital
NSW New South Wales Sydney
QLD Queensland Brisbane
SA South Australia Adelaide
TAS Tasmania Hobart
VIC Victoria Melbourne
WA Western Australia Perth
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Continent

Australia is located in Oceania.

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States

Australia has six states.

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Territories

Australia also has ten territories.

Australian Territories

In addition to its six states, Australia has ten territories. These territories have different administrative arrangements and levels of self-government.

  • Ashmore and Cartier Islands
  • Australian Antarctic Territory
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  • Coral Sea Islands
  • Jervis Bay Territory
  • Northern Territory
  • Norfolk Island
  • Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Learn About the Australian States

Watch the Geos King video to learn more about the six Australian states and their capitals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many states does Australia have?
Australia has six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
What is the capital of Australia?
Canberra is the national capital of Australia. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory.
What are the six Australian states?
The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
What are the capitals of the Australian states?
Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, and Perth is the capital of Western Australia.
Does Australia have territories?
Yes. In addition to its six states, Australia has ten territories with different administrative arrangements and levels of self-government.
Is the Australian Capital Territory a state?
No. The Australian Capital Territory, commonly abbreviated as ACT, is a territory rather than one of Australia's six states. Canberra, Australia's national capital, is located within the territory.

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