"Jens Arne Maennig" <maennig0612@cricetus.com> wrote in message 
news:1d9k3cjc3myxf$.dlg@news.cricetus.com...
> Otter wrote:
>> "Jens Arne Maennig" <maennig0612@cricetus.com> wrote in message
>> news:d2lnsroxusqd$.dlg@news.cricetus.com...
>
>>> I'm absolutely willing to believe you that Australia has a healthier
>>> economy than, for example, Germany.  With 25 % of the inhabitants on
>>> 21 times the area, there are, well, certain chances and opportunities.
>>
>> You might be surprised to know that Australia has always been a dry
>> continent, and it is currently in the grip of severe drought.  The
>> area of land that can be utilised economically is far less than
>> your simple calculation suggests.
>
> Okay, let's look at it from an other point of view: The economic
> sector with the highest need of land might be farming.  Australia is
> currently able to export about 80 % of its agricultural production.  A
> sign of not enough land?

There is plenty of land.  But much of it, at the best of times, is of 
marginal use for farming (even wheat/sheep production) because of the 
typically low rainfall.  With the current drought conditions, it's much 
worse.  With what land is left, and its relatively small population, 
Australia can still produce most of what is needed internally, and a surplus 
for export.

The point is that you can't simply make a comparison between countries or 
continents and their populations. You wouldn't compare Africa with Europe on 
that basis.