Western Australia, Australian state occupying the western sector of the continent, bounded on the north by the Timor Sea; on the northwest, west, and south by the Indian Ocean; on the southeast by Great Australia Bight; and on the east by South Australia and the Northern Territory, with an area of 977,441 square miles (2,531,562 sq km). It is the largest state of the Commonwealth, having 32.81% of the land area. Over one-third of the state lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

Western Australia is the largest state of Australia. The production of minerals and energy is a central part of Western Australia's economy. A large portion of the output is exported to East Asian markets. The state produces most of Australia's oil and condensate and all of its liquefied natural gas. It is the country's principal gold-producing region. Extensive and rich iron ore deposits are mined in the Pilbara region. Other industrial minerals include alumina, bauxite, copper, diamonds, gypsum, lead, nickel, mineral sands, salt, spodumene, tantalite, and zinc.