Which country is also a continent?

Australia is the country that is also commonly identified as a continent. The country occupies most of the Australian continental landmass and includes the mainland, Tasmania and many smaller islands.

Australia is the smallest of the traditional seven continents by land area. It is also the world’s sixth-largest country, covering about 7.69 million square kilometres. Because one sovereign country dominates the continental landmass, Australia is often called an “island continent,” although geographers distinguish a continent from an island.

The terminology can become confusing because “Australia” may refer to the country, the mainland, or the continent depending on context. In some geographical classifications, the broader continental region is called Sahul or Australia–New Guinea, reflecting the land connection that existed during lower sea levels in the Ice Age.

Australia is part of Oceania, a wider region that also includes New Zealand and the Pacific island countries. New Zealand is a country in Oceania, but it is not a continent; Antarctica is a continent, but not a sovereign country.