All Oceanian Countries: Complete List with Capitals and Flags

How many countries are in Oceania?

Oceania has 14 sovereign countries recognized by the United Nations, spread across 8.5 million km² with around 46 million people — less than 1% of the world's population.

From the vast Australian outback to the coral atolls of the Pacific, Oceania is a continent of contrasts. It is home to the world's smallest island state (Nauru, 21 km²) and the sixth largest country on the planet (Australia). The region harbors ancient cultures — the Aboriginal Australians, New Zealand's Maori, and Melanesian and Polynesian peoples — as well as unique ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.

Ready to test your knowledge? After exploring this list, try our Listing quiz to name all Oceanian countries or our Oceanian flag quiz!

Alphabetical list of the 14 countries in Oceania

If you want the quickest possible answer, here is the full list of Oceanian countries covered in this guide. We follow the scope of the 14 sovereign states recognized by the United Nations.

Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

For a more visual overview, you can also explore our Oceania regional page and the full directory of world countries.

What are the countries of Australasia?

Australasia has 2 countries. This subregion of Oceania brings together the continent's two major powers: Australia, a vast island-continent of 7.7 million km², and New Zealand, a volcanic archipelago with spectacular landscapes. Together, they account for over 70% of Oceania's population and nearly all of its GDP.

What are the countries of Melanesia?

Melanesia has 4 countries. Located northeast of Australia, this region is home to the largest islands in the Pacific and exceptional linguistic diversity: Papua New Guinea alone has over 800 languages, making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world.

What are the countries of Micronesia?

Micronesia has 5 countries. Scattered across thousands of kilometers in the western Pacific, this region is made up of small atolls and volcanic islands. It is home to Nauru, the third smallest state in the world (21 km²), and Palau, renowned for its lagoons of exceptional beauty.

What are the countries of Polynesia?

Polynesia has 3 sovereign countries recognized by the UN. This vast triangle covers an immense stretch of the Pacific, from Samoa to Tonga and Tuvalu. Polynesian peoples share deep cultural and linguistic ties, heirs to an extraordinary tradition of open-ocean navigation.

Which countries are members of the Pacific Islands Forum?

The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), founded in 1971, is the region's main political and economic organization. It brings together 18 members, including the 14 sovereign countries on this page, as well as New Caledonia, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Niue.

The Forum plays a key role in regional cooperation, particularly on climate change — an existential threat for low-lying atolls like Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. It also promotes the sustainable development of the blue economy and the management of the Pacific's vast exclusive economic zones.

All 14 countries on this page are members of the Forum: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

What about New Caledonia? Non-sovereign territories in Oceania

Oceania is more than just its 14 sovereign states. Several non-independent territories play an important role in the region, particularly French territories:

• New Caledonia (🇳🇨): a sui generis collectivity of France located in Melanesia, east of Australia. With 264,596 inhabitants and 18,575 km², it is more populated and larger than several sovereign Oceanian states. Three self-determination referendums were held (2018, 2020, 2021), all won by remaining part of the French Republic. New Caledonia is a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum.
• French Polynesia (🇵🇫): a French overseas collectivity comprising 118 islands (including Tahiti and Bora Bora), with 280,000 inhabitants. It is also a member of the Pacific Islands Forum.
• Cook Islands and Niue: states in free association with New Zealand, members of the Pacific Islands Forum. They are not UN member states but are recognized by many countries.
• Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands: US territories in the Pacific.

Although non-sovereign, these territories actively participate in regional cooperation and often enjoy a high degree of autonomy.

What are Oceania's geographic records?

Oceania is a continent of extreme contrasts between the immensity of Australia and tiny Nauru. Here are the most notable records:

• Largest country: Australia (7,692,024 km2), the 6th largest country in the world and the only country-continent
• Smallest country: Nauru (21 km2), the 3rd smallest state in the world after Vatican City and Monaco
• Most populated country: Australia (27.5 million inhabitants)
• Least populated country: Tuvalu (10,643 inhabitants)
• Highest mountain: Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea (4,509 m)
• Largest coral reef: the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (344,400 km2), visible from space
• Greatest linguistic diversity: Papua New Guinea, with over 800 languages spoken
• Smallest area (excluding microstates): Fiji (18,272 km2)

How can you learn Oceanian countries?

Think you know all the Oceanian countries? Challenge yourself with our interactive quizzes:

• Listing Mode: can you name all 14 Oceanian countries on a map? It's the ultimate challenge for geography enthusiasts.
• Flag Quiz Mode: can you recognize Oceanian flags? Test your visual memory with our flag quiz.
• MapGuessing Mode: place Oceanian countries on the map as precisely as possible. Every kilometer counts!

Whether you're a student, traveler, or simply curious, these quizzes are the best way to learn Oceanian geography while having fun.