Oceania Countries and Regions

Oceania (Prehistory & History – War & Bombing)

World War II reinforced the strategic and economic importance of Oceania. The populations of the colonies of Melanesia and Micronesia were involuntarily involved in the fighting between Japan and the Allied forces led by the United States, while the southeastern Melanesian and many of the Polynesian islands served as supply and base areas. For the first time, the inhabitants of Oceania became acquainted with an incredible material wealth and met with mutual respect and sympathy with the many foreign soldiers, which stimulated the desire for independence. After World War II, the United States, Britain and France conducted more than 250 nuclear weapons tests on coral islands in Micronesia and Polynesia. In 1963, the United States and Britain stopped the trials, while France, despite international protests, continued. The impact on the health of local people is extensive.

OCEANIA COUNTRIES

The countries of Oceania are known as the New World. This is due to the fact that the continent was colonized after the colonization of the countries of America, known as the New World. The countries in question were inhabited by native peoples, and their colonization process began around 1770, with the arrival of the British on the continent.

Together, the countries of Oceania occupy an area of 9,008,458 km2 and are home to around 40,117,432 inhabitants. There is a diversity of cultures, traditions and peoples in these countries. Several languages are spoken, such as bislamá, Castilian, chamorro, among others.

How many are there and which countries in Oceania?

There are 14 countries in Oceania, or independent territories, and about 22 facilities that are managed by countries that do not belong to the continent. Countries have no land border, being separated by bodies of water.

→ Independent countries in Oceania and their capitals

  1. Australia – capital: Canberra
  2. Federated States of Micronesia – capital: Palikir
  3. Fiji – capital: Suva
  4. Marshall Islands – capital: Majuro
  5. Solomon Islands – capital: Honiara
  6. Kiribati – capital: South Tarawa
  7. Nauru – capital: Yaren
  8. New Zealand – capital: Wellington
  9. Palau – capital: Ngerulmund
  10. Papua New Guinea – capital: Port Moresby
  11. Samoa – capital: Apia
  12. Tonga – capital: Nuku’alofa
  13. Tuvalu – capital: Funafuti
  14. Vanuatu – capital: Port Vila

Regions of Oceania

Oceania is a continent with very different characteristics from the rest, formed by thousands of islands of different sizes, between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It was then necessary to divide it into regions to facilitate the identification of each area. Thus, Oceania is divided into four regional portions:

Australasia It covers the territories of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and smaller islands.
Melanesia Covers the territories of Maluku Islands, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji
Micronesia It covers the territories of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Micronesia and Nauru States.
Polynesia It covers the territories of islands located in the south of the Pacific Ocean and the areas of the countries Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.

All about the countries of Oceania and their flags

Australia

  • Gentile: Australian
  • English language
  • Area: 7,692,024 km2
  • Population: 25,080,200 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product : US $ 1.313 trillion
  • Human Development Index : 0.939
  • General aspects: It is located above the Indo-Australian plate and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It is the largest country in Oceania.

Federated States of Micronesia

  • Gentile: micronese
  • English language
  • Area: 702 km2
  • Population: 107,862 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 627 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.627
  • General aspects: Nation made up of 607 islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The main four are: Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap, Pohnpei.

Fiji

  • Gentile: Fijian
  • Language: English, Fijian and Fijian Hindi
  • Area: 18,274 km2
  • Population: 905,354 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 5.477 billion
  • Human Development Index: 0.741
  • General aspects: Island nation made up of 332 islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The main ones are: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Marshall Islands

  • Gentile: Marshallese or Marshallese
  • Language: Marshallese and English
  • Area: 181.4 km2
  • Population: 53,127 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 115 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.708
  • General aspects: The nation is located in Micronesia, and although independent, the defense of the island is guaranteed by the United States. The Marshall Islands are made up of 29 atolls (oceanic ring-shaped islands) and five islands.

Solomon Islands

  • Gentile: Salomonic or Salomian
  • English language
  • Area: 28,450 km2
  • Population: 599,419
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 1.725 billion
  • Human Development Index: 0.546
  • General aspects: The nation is located in the Pacific Ocean and consists of islands, such as Choiseul, Shortland Islands, New Georgia Islands, Santa Isabel, among many others.

Kiribati

  • Gentile: Kiribatian
  • Language: English and Gilbertese
  • Area: 811 km2
  • Population: 110,136 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 165.6 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.612
  • General aspects: The nation consists of 33 islands located in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the smallest countries in the world.

Nauru

  • Gentile: nauruano
  • English language
  • Area: 21 km2
  • Population: 11,200 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 160 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.652
  • General aspects: The smallest island country in the world, Nauru is surrounded by a reef exposed in the Pacific Ocean.

New Zealand

  • Gentile: New Zealander
  • Language: English and Maori
  • Area: 268,680 km2
  • Population: 4,908,420 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 198.2 billion
  • Human Development Index: 0.917
  • General aspects: The country is geographically isolated, being 2,000 km away from Australia. New Zealand is considered one of the most developed countries in the world.

Palau

  • Gentile: palauano or palauense
  • Language: English, Palauano and Manulau
  • Area: 459 km2
  • Population: 20,842 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 157.7 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.798
  • General aspects: Palau is located in the Micronesia region, being a nation made up of eight main islands and about 250 smaller islands.

Papua New Guinea

  • Gentile: papuase
  • Language: English, hiri motu and tok pisin
  • Area: 462,840 km2
  • Population: 6,187,591 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 18.45 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.544
  • General aspects: Papua New Guinea is located in Melanesia and is considered one of the nations with the greatest cultural plurality. About 848 languages are spoken in the country.

Samoa

  • Gentile: Samoan
  • Language: English and Samoan
  • Area: 2,831 km2
  • Population: 176,287 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 1,218 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.713
  • General aspects: The country is located in the Polynesia region and is made up of two islands, Upolu and Savai’i, and eight smaller islands.

Tonga

  • Gentile: Tongan or Tonga
  • Language: English and Tongan
  • Area: 747 km2
  • Population: 106,322 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 801.7 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.726
  • General aspects: Tonga is a country located in the region of Polynesia made up of 117 islands. It comprises a location of intense volcanic activity.

Tuvalu

  • Gentile: Tuvaluan
  • Language: English and Tuvaluan
  • Area: 26 km2
  • Population: 12,273 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 14.94 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.590
  • General aspects: Tuvalu is located south of the continent Oceania and consists of nine islands.

Vanuatu

  • Gentile: vanuatuense
  • Language: bislama, English and French
  • Area: 12,189 km2
  • Population: 208,754 inhabitants
  • Gross Domestic Product: US $ 739 million
  • Human Development Index: 0.603
  • General aspects: Nation located in the Melanesia region, consisting of 83 smaller islands. It is a region of intense volcanic activity.

Sources: Countryaah

Oceania Countries and Regions