Oceania & Pacific Islands

Page Updated December 2024

Asian and Pacific Country Profiles  Full country profiles that provide a guide to history, politics and economic background of the country including a picture of the current leader. From the BBC archives.

Brunei Brunei is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo; the remainder of the island's territory is divided between the nations of Malaysia. Wikipedia.

Brunei Atlas Of Brunei.

Cook Islands The Cook Islands are 15 islands whose total land area is 92.7 sq miles. The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand and were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is older and consists of six atolls, which are sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth. The climate is moderate to tropical. Wikipedia.

Fiji Fiji is an archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 7,100 sq miles. Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific due to an abundance of forest, mineral, and fish resources. Wikipedia.

Fiji Atlas Of Fiji.

French Polynesia French Polynesia is an overseas territory of France. It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 1,200 miles in the South Pacific Ocean. Among its 118 islands and atolls, 67 are inhabited. Tahiti, the capital is a major tourist destination. Wikipedia.

French Polynesia Atlas Of French Polynesia.

Guam This strategic US territory doesn't quite fit the 'Tropical Paradise' mold. This tiny Pacific island boasts the world's largest K-mart store, while its best beach is off limits to non-military personnel. Guam houses a major US Air Force base in the Western Pacific. Guam is largest island in Micronesia. Wikipedia.

Guam Atlas Of Guam.

Guam: Andersen Air Force Base The most important U.S. air base west of Hawaii, Andersen is the only one in the Western Pacific that can permanently base U.S. heavy strategic bombers (one of the four Air Force Bomber Forward Operating Locations), including B-1B, B-2, and B-52 bombers. It is one of two critical US bases in the Asia Pacific region, along with Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Wikipedia.

Kiribati is a country in the central Pacific Ocean. The nation comprises 33 atolls and reef islands and one raised coral island. Wikipedia.

Kiribati Atlas Of Kiribati. 

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands were conquered by US forces from the Japanese during World War II. They became the area where the United States conducted atomic testing during the postwar years. Micronesian colonists reached the Marshall Islands using canoes circa 2nd millennium BC, with inter-island navigation made possible using traditional stick charts. They eventually settled here. Islands in the archipelago were first explored by Europeans in the 1520s. Wikipedia.

Marshall Islands Atlas Of Marshall Islands.

Micronesia Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a shared cultural history with two other island regions, Polynesia to the east and Melanesia to the south. Wikipedia.

Nauru Nauru is an island country in Micronesia in the Central Pacific. Nauru is the smallest country in the South Pacific and third smallest state by area in the world, behind only Vatican City and Monaco. 

New Caledonia New Caledonia, liberated from the Japanese during WWII, is a French Overseas Territory. It was discovered by the explorer James Cook in 1774. 

Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is an insular area and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 15 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The Islands were captured from the Japanese at the end of World War II. Wikipedia.

Northern Mariana Islands Atlas Of Northern Mariana Islands.

Palau Palau is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country contains approximately 340 islands, forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, and has an area of 180 sq miles. Wikipedia.

Palau Atlas Of Palau.

Papua New Guinea The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically. It is known to have numerous groups of uncontacted peoples, and researchers believe there are many undiscovered species of plants and animals in the interior. Wikipedia.

Papua New Guinea Atlas Of Papua New Guinea.

Philippines  Usually a pleasant and beautiful land, the Philippines currently suffers from government instability, grinding poverty, social unrest and terrorism. Not a recommended destination. Wikipedia.

Philippines Atlas Of Philippines.

Samoa, American American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Samoa. American Samoa consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. It's capital is Pago Pago. Wikipedia.

Samoa, American Atlas Of American Samoa.

Samoa (Western) Samoa contains two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu with four smaller islands surrounding the landmasses. The capital city is Apia. Samoa is a self governing country. Wikipedia.

Samoa Atlas Of Samoa.

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania lying to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu and covering a land area of 11,000 sq miles. The country's capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal. 

Tonga Tonga is a Polynesian sovereign state and archipelago comprising 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. Wikipedia.

Tonga Atlas Of Tonga.

Wayfinders: A Pacific Odyssey  Based on the 1 hour documentary film, this site is a complete resource on Polynesia and the epic sailing canoe journeys of the Polynesians. A beautiful and comprehensive resource on the Pacific! With additional Web site links.