Australia
Oceania · 21 specs
Direct Answer
Australia (AU / AUS / 036) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using AS/NZS 3112 (Type I) sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT). The official currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD, $), country calling code is +61 (exit code 0011), primary emergency dispatch is 000 (and 112 from mobiles), and the standard document format is ISO 216 A4.
Source: Standards Australia / AS/NZS 3112 / ACMA / ISO 3166-1 / Australia Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Commonwealth of Australia ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Australia |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | AU |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | AUS |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 036 UN M49 (Code 009) |
| Country Calling Code | +61 ACMA (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 0011 dial prefix for international calls |
| Internet ccTLD | .au auDA Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | AUS UNECE 1949/1968 Convention |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Australian Dollar (AUD, $) 100 Cents (¢; 1c/2c phased out 1992) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (+10% / -6%), 50 Hz AS 60038 / AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type I (AS/NZS 3112) 10 A & 15 A inverted V-prong |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Australian Road Rules |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) National Measurement Act 1960 |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) AS/NZS ISO 216 |
| Standard Business Envelope | ISO 269 DL (110 × 220 mm) & C4 |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 000 (Triple Zero) / 112 (Mobiles) Telstra Emergency Call Service |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 2000 Sydney) Australia Post Standard |
| Primary Time Zones (Continental) | UTC+8 (AWST), UTC+9.5 (ACST), UTC+10 (AEST) DST observed in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT |
| Date Format Standard | DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 23/08/2026) Commonwealth standard |
| Number Radix / Separators | $1,234.56 (Comma thousands, Dot decimal) National Standard |
Pioneering Polymer Banknotes (1988) & Outback Road Trains
- Polymer Currency Invention: In 1988, Australia (CSIRO and Reserve Bank of Australia) invented and issued the world's first polymer (plastic) banknotes, incorporating transparent diffractive optical windows. Australia's Note Printing Australia now exports polymer substrate to over 30 countries.
- Outback Road Trains: Operates the world's largest road freight transport units, with quad-trailer Road Trains measuring up to 53.5 metres (175 ft) in length operating under specialized heavy-vehicle permits.
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (+10% / -6%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type I (AS/NZS 3112). Uses Type I inverted V-prong sockets (compatible with Australian/New Zealand or Chinese/Argentine configurations).
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +61. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 0011 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 000 (Triple Zero) / 112 (Mobiles). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Australian Dollar (AUD, $).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under Standard time.
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 2000 Sydney).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Commonwealth of Australia.