.jpg)
List of the largest Pacific islands
| Name | Area (km 2 ) | Country/Countries | Population | Region |
| New Guinea | 785,753 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | 15,000,000 | Oceania |
| Honshu | 227,960 | Japan | 103,000,000 | Asia |
| Sulawesi | 174,600 | Indonesia | 18,455,000 | Asia |
| South Island | 150,437 | New Zealand | 1,135,500 | Oceania |
Which island countries are located in the Pacific Ocean?
- Northern Mariana Islands.
- Micronesia.
- Fiji.
- French Polynesia.
- Kiribati.
- Marshall Islands.
- Nauru.
- New Caledonia.
What are the best islands in the South Pacific?
South Pacific's most idyllic islands for a tropical getaway
- Rarotonga & the Cook Islands. ...
- Fiji. ...
- Tahiti & French Polynesia. ...
- Vanuatu. ...
- Samoa & American Samoa. ...
- New Caledonia. ...
- Tonga. ...
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Few places on the planet are as intriguing Easter Island 164 square kilometer island so far east, it's technically a part of Chile.
- Solomon Islands. ...
- Remote South Pacific islands. ...
Who are Pacific Islander countries?
Pacific Islanders, Pacificer, Pasifika, or Pasefika, are the peoples of the Pacific Islands—particularly those who are indigenous to them. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas —of any of the three major subregions of Oceania (Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia), distinct from those inhabitants of the Pacific islands who are of ...
What continent do the Pacific islands belong to?
Pacific Islands, island geographic region of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises three ethnogeographic groupings— Melanesia , Micronesia , and Polynesia —but conventionally excludes the neighbouring island continent of Australia , the Asia-related Indonesian , Philippine , and Japanese archipelagoes, and the Ryukyu , Bonin , Volcano , and Kuril ...
See more
How many countries are in the Pacific Islands?
15There are 15 independent Pacific Island nations in addition to tens of thousands of islands, islets, and atolls.
Which countries are part of the Pacific Islands?
What is the Pacific Islands Forum?AreaCountry/AreaPopulation (in 2000) (million)MelanesiaSolomon Islands40.9 (note: 1)Vanuatu18.3PolynesiaSamoa17.4Tonga9.812 more rows
What are the 6 Pacific Islands?
Pacific Island Countries have been traditionally grouped along racial and cultural lines as Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. The Melanesian islands include Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Torres Strait Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
What are 4 Pacific Islands?
These areas include the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, as well as Australia, the Aleutian Islands, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan.
Is Taiwan considered Pacific Islander?
Banks claimed that, "although islands such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and the Aleutian Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, islanders from these locales are not typically considered Pacific Islanders.
What are the 7 Polynesian islands?
Geographically, the Polynesian Triangle is drawn by connecting the points of Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. The other main island groups located within the Polynesian Triangle are Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia.
Why is Fiji not part of Polynesia?
As it did so, tensions between the Melanesian and Polynesian people grew and, ultimately, a significant number of the Lapita people chose, or were coerced, to leave Fiji and settle in locations further east, such as Tonga, Samoa and other islands which are today collectively known as Polynesia.
Are Filipinos Pacific Islanders?
The entirety of the Philippines—an archipelago—is situated on the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, it is technically a part of the Pacific islands. That makes inhabitants of the Philippines or Filipinos in general Pacific Islanders.
Is Japan a Pacific island?
Ultimately, it is up to a person how they choose to identify, but according to Britannica, the Pacific Islands excludes nearby islands like Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.
Is Hawaii part of Pacific islands?
Pacific Islanders refer to those whose origins are the original peoples of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Polynesia includes Hawaii (Native Hawaiian), Samoa (Samoan), American Samoa (Samoan), Tokelau (Tokelauan), Tahiti (Tahitian), and Tonga (Tongan).
How many islands make up the Pacific Islands?
At 63.8 million square miles (165.25 million square kilometers), the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, covering approximately 33% of the Earth's total surface [1]. The vast ocean contains approximately 30,000 islands divided between the Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia regions [3].
Is Jamaica considered Pacific Islander?
In the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the term "Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander" refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and the Marshalls or other Pacific Islands.
How many islands make up the Pacific Islands?
At 63.8 million square miles (165.25 million square kilometers), the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, covering approximately 33% of the Earth's total surface [1]. The vast ocean contains approximately 30,000 islands divided between the Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia regions [3].
Why is Fiji not part of Polynesia?
As it did so, tensions between the Melanesian and Polynesian people grew and, ultimately, a significant number of the Lapita people chose, or were coerced, to leave Fiji and settle in locations further east, such as Tonga, Samoa and other islands which are today collectively known as Polynesia.
What are the 3 regions of the Pacific?
The three subregions of the Pacific Ocean - Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.
Are Filipinos considered Pacific Islanders?
The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands located in the Pacific. But according to the US Census Bureau, Pacific Islanders are people who either descend or are from the three regions of Pasifika–– Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. The Philippines is not part of any of them.
What are the Pacific Islands?
The Pacific Islands is made up of three subregions: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia: 1 Melanesia means “black islands” in Greek and consists of roughly 2,000 islands in South Pacific Ocean that extends from New Guinea, stretches to New Caledonia and includes the Arafura Sea. 2 Micronesia includes the area between Hawaii and the Philippines, and also consists of about 2,000 islands. 3 Polynesia encompasses about 1,000 islands that stretch from Hawaii, to Easter Island to New Zealand.
How many countries are there in the Pacific?
However, according to a World Health Organization report, there are 15 countries in the Pacific Islands: Northern Mariana Islands. Micronesia. Fiji.
How many islands are there in the Pacific Ocean?
The Pacific Islands is made up of three subregions: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia: Melanesia means “black islands” in Greek and consists of roughly 2,000 islands in South Pacific Ocean that extends from New Guinea, stretches to New Caledonia and includes the Arafura Sea.
How many islands are there in Polynesia?
Polynesia encompasses about 1,000 islands that stretch from Hawaii, to Easter Island to New Zealand. All are part of the larger geographic region Oceania, which is comprised of thousands of islands across Central and South Pacific Ocean that also includes Australia.
Is the Philippines or Japan a Pacific Island country?
Ultimately, it is up to a person how they choose to identify, but according to Britannica, the Pacific Islands excludes nearby islands like Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. By geographic definition, Australia is part of Oceania, while Indonesia and the Philippines are part of Southeast Asia and Japan is considered an East Asian nation.
How many Pacific Island countries are there?
How Many Pacific Island Countries Are There? (There are 12 countries)
What are the Pacific countries?
Sometimes Pacific Countries can mean just the island nations in the ‘Australia/Australasia/Oceania’ region. But sometimes it includes all of Australia and then also all the way into Asia and Australia. Therefore including Borneo and Papua New Guinea, for example. Also, you can distinguish between ‘Pacific Islands’ and ‘Pacific Island countries’.
What is the difference between Pacific Islands and Pacific Island countries?
Also, you can distinguish between ‘Pacific Islands’ and ‘Pacific Island countries’. The former can refer to any island that finds itself within the Pacific Ocean. And there are lots of those. From Tanzania to Vancouver island. Whereas Pacific Island “countries’ are sovereign nations that find themselves within the Pacific Ocean.
How many countries are there in the Pacific?
There are 12 countries. There are countless other Pacific Islands of course. But all those extra islands aren’t countries. Think of Rapa Nui/Easter Island, for example, which belongs to Chile. Or Tasmania which belongs to Australia.
What are the islands in the Pacific?
Some islands within the Pacific Islands are ‘ almost ‘ countries. Much like Tibet, the Faroe Islands, Greenland or Svalbard. Yet they belong to China, Denmark, Denmark, and Norway . Most people believe they are independent nations. But technically speaking they aren’t.
Which country is the closest to being a country?
Of the list below both the Cook Islands and Niue are the closest to being countries. Yet they still officially belong to New Zealand. Where NZ allows them to behave almost entirely with autonomy.
What are the Pacific Islands?
This is a list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, collectively called the Pacific Islands. Three major groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean are Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Depending on the context, Pacific Islands may refer to countries and islands with common Austronesian origins, islands once or currently colonized, or Oceania. The indigenous inhabitants of the Pacific Islands are referred to as Pacific Islanders. This list is organized by archipelago or political unit. In order to keep this list of moderate size, links are given to more complete lists for countries with large numbers of small or uninhabited islands.
What are the islands in the Pacific Ocean?
More commonly, it is used to refer to the islands of the Pacific Ocean that were previously colonized by the British, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, or Japanese, or by the United States. Examples include the Pitcairn Islands, Taiwan, and Borneo.
What are the main islands of Japan?
List of islands of Japan, including: The five main islands: Hokkaido - the northernmost and second largest main island. Honshu - the largest and most populous island; home of the capital Tokyo. Kyushu - the third largest main island and closest to the Asian continent.
What are the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands called?
The indigenous inhabitants of the Pacific Islands are referred to as Pacific Islanders. This list is organized by archipelago or political unit. In order to keep this list of moderate size, links are given to more complete lists for countries with large numbers of small or uninhabited islands.
Which countries colonized the Pacific Ocean?
More commonly, it is used to refer to the islands of the Pacific Ocean that were previously colonized by the British, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, or Japanese, or by the United States. Examples include the Pitcairn Islands, Taiwan, and Borneo.
How many islands are there in Tokelau?
Tokelau (mostly autonomous), three coral atolls with about 25 islands combined, including: Olohega (Swains Island), administered by the United States as part of American Samoa, but claimed by Tokelau due to geography, history and language.
Which Pacific island country has the most tourists?
Thus, no wonder that Fiji is now the most visited Pacific Island country with 842,884 tourist arrivals in 2017.
Which country is French Polynesia?
2. French Polynesia. An overseas island country attached to France, French Polynesia captures a 9.3% share of all tourist arrivals in the Pacific ACP and SPTO member country. The French Polynesian islands are located midway between Australia and California in the South Pacific Ocean.
What is the best place to dive in PNG?
Surfing can also be enjoyed here all-year-round. The Kokoda Track and other walking tracks are also popular in PNG. 4. Samoa . The island nation of Samoa, the heart of Polynesia, located between New Zealand and Hawaii, is a tropical paradise.
What is the island nation of Samoa?
The island nation of Samoa, the heart of Polynesia, located between New Zealand and Hawaii, is a tropical paradise. Narrow coastal plains, volcanic mountains, and lush green rainforests characterize the landscape of this country. Samoa offers accessible adventures to tourists. The country has several national parks, waterfalls, blowholes, caves, lava fields, and beaches that will captivate every nature lover. It is also known to have one of the Pacific region’s most well-preserved traditional societies. 145,176 tourists visited Samoa in 2017 making it the fourth most visited of the Pacific Island nations.
What is Samoa known for?
It is also known to have one of the Pacific region’s most well-preserved traditional societies. 145,176 tourists visited Samoa in 2017 making it ...
How many tourists visited Papua New Guinea in 2017?
Although tourism in Papua New Guinea is only a fledgling industry, the country already captured 6.7% of all tourists visiting the South Pacific Island countries in 2017.
Where is Fiji located?
Fiji. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is an archipelagic country with over 330 picture-perfect, sun-kissed islands. It is a perfect holiday destination for people of all ages. Visitors from all corners of the globe are attracted to Fiji’s world-class beaches, spas, and spectacular sceneries.
How many regions are there in the Pacific?
The Pacific islands consist of three main regions.
Which country has the largest population of Pacific Islanders?
Auckland, New Zealand has the world's largest concentration of urban Pacific Islanders living outside of their own countries, and is sometimes referred to as the "Polynesian capital of the world.".
What is the meaning of "Pacific Islander"?
Local usage in New Zealand uses Pacific islander (formerly Pacific Polynesians, or Pasifika) to distinguish those who have emigrated from one of these areas in modern times from the New Zealand Māori, who are also Polynesian but are indigenous to New Zealand.
What are the islands in Melanesia?
In addition those places listed above, Melanesia includes the Louisiade Archipelago, the Admiralty Islands, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, Western New Guinea (part of Indonesia ), Maluku Island, Aru Islands, Kei Islands, the Santa Cruz Islands (part of the Solomon Islands), Loyalty Islands (part of New Caledonia), Norfolk Island, and various smaller islands.
What countries are part of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme?
In 2008, a "Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme" was announced as a three-year pilot experiment. It provides visas for workers from Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea to work in Australia. Aside from Papua New Guinea, the scheme includes one country each from Melanesia (Vanuatu), Polynesia (Tonga), and Micronesia (Kiribati)—countries that already send workers to New Zealand under its seasonal labour scheme.
What is a Pacific Islander?
As "Pacific Islander" can be understood to denote both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands, as well as excluding Aboriginal Australians, the term is distinct from referring to the indigenous peoples of Oceania . Polynesians include Native Hawaiians ( Hawaii ), Samoans ( Samoa and American Samoa ), Tokelauans ( Tokelau ), ...
What is a Samoan?
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific islands. It includes people who indicate their race as ' Native Hawaiian ', ' Guamanian or Chamorro', ' Samoan ', and 'Other Pacific Islander' or provide other detailed Pacific Islander responses.
What is an island country?
This is a list of island countries. An island is a landmass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water. Many island countries are spread over an archipelago, as is the case with the Federated States of Micronesia and Indonesia (both of which consist of thousands of islands). Others consist of a single island, such as Barbados or Nauru, ...
Which is the largest island country in the world?
Indonesia is the world's largest island country by area (1,904,569 km 2 ), and by total number of islands (more than 18,307), and is also the world's most populous island country, with a population of 267,670,543 (the fourth-largest population in the world, after China, India, and the United States ).
What are the former colonies?
Former colonies, possessions, protectorates, and other territories. Cape Breton Island, now part of Nova Scotia, Canada. Danish West Indies, now the United States Virgin Islands. The Territory of Hawaii, now Hawaii, a state of the United States.
Which country controls the island of Akrotiri?
In the south of the island are the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, controlled by the United Kingdom. ^ The largest oceanic island in the world. ^ The western portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Asia while the eastern portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Australia.
Which archipelago is now a governorate of Yemen?
Socotra Archipelago, now a governorate of Yemen. Tasmania, now a state of Australia, shares a land boundary with Victoria (Australia) on Boundary Islet. Vancouver Island, now a part of British Columbia, Canada. People's Republic of Zanzibar, now a member of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Is Hong Kong a part of China?
Hong Kong Island (1841–1860), now a part of Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. United States of the Ionian Islands, protectorate of the United Kingdom. Septinsular Republic, protectorate in the Ionian Islands under nominal Russo-Ottoman joint sovereignty.
Is Northern Cyprus a member of the United Nations?
Northern Cyprus' sovereignty has been recognized by only one United Nations member state ( Turkey ). It is not a member state of the United Nations. Most states recognize Cyprus ' claim to sovereignty over Northern Cyprus. ^ The Granitic Seychelles is a part of the Seychelles microcontinent.
Overview
Geopolitics and Oceania grouping
The 2007 book Asia in the Pacific Islands: Replacing the West, by New Zealand Pacific scholar Ron Crocombe, considers the phrase Pacific Islands to politically encompass American Samoa, Australia, the Bonin Islands, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, East Timor (technically in the Indian Ocean), Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, the Galápagos Islands, Guam, Hawaii, the Ker…
Name ambiguity and groupings
The umbrella term Pacific Islands has taken on several meanings. Sometimes it is used to refer only to the islands defined as lying within Oceania. At other times, it is used to refer to the islands of the Pacific Ocean that were previously colonized by the British, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, or Japanese, or by the United States. Examples include Borneo, the Pitcairn Islands and Taiwan (also known as Formosa).
By continent
• List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands
• List of islands of Asia
• Central American Pacific Islands
• List of islands of North America
• List of islands of Australia
By country
• List of islands of Australia, including:
• List of islands of British Columbia, many islands including:
• Chiloé Island
• Desventuradas Islands
• Easter Island/Rapa Nui