Western Australia is about the size of Western Europe, but has a population of less than two million people. More than 70% of its people live in the capital Perth.  The State is the leading supplier of bulk ores for the world aluminium and steel industries. Other minerals produced include nickel and titanium, rare earths, gold and diamonds. With the development of major gas fields off its northwest coast, the State has become the source of bulk supplies of liquefied petroleum gas  to north Asia