Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 55

Oceania

A general name applied to the isles of the Pacific Ocean, including Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Australasia, and sometimes the Malaysian islands.

Territories and regions

Name of territory,
with flag
Area
(km²)
Population
(1 July 2002 estimate)
Population density
(per km²)
Capital
Australasia
Australia 7,686,850 20,697,241 2.5 Canberra
Christmas Island (Australia) 135 474 3.5 The Settlement
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) 14 632 45.1 West Island
New Zealand 268,680 3,908,037 14.5 Wellington
Norfolk Island (Australia) 35 1,866 53.3 Kingston
Melanesia
Fiji 18,270 856,346 46.9 Suva
Indonesia 499,852 4,211,532 8.4 Jakarta
New Caledonia (France) 19,060 207,858 10.9 Nouméa
Papua New Guinea 462,840 5,172,033 11.2 Port Moresby
Solomon Islands 28,450 494,786 17.4 Honiara
Vanuatu 12,200 196,178 16.1 Port Vila
Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia 702 135,869 193.5 Palikir
Guam (USA) 549 160,796 292.9 Hagåtña
Kiribati 811 96,335 118.8 Bairiki
Marshall Islands 181 73,630 406.8 Majuro
Nauru 21 12,329 587.1 Yaren
Northern Mariana Islands (USA) 477 77,311 162.1 Saipan
Palau 458 19,409 42.4 Melekeok
Polynesia
American Samoa (USA) 199 68,688 345.2 Fagatogo, Utulei
Cook Islands (NZ) 240 20,811 86.7 Avarua
French Polynesia (France) 4,167 257,847 61.9 Papeete
Niue (NZ) 260 2,134 8.2 Alofi
Pitcairn Islands (UK) 5 47 10 Adamstown
Samoa 2,944 178,631 60.7 Apia
Tokelau (NZ) 10 1,431 143.1
Tonga 748 106,137 141.9 Nuku'alofa
Tuvalu 26 11,146 428.7 Vaiaku
Wallis and Futuna (France) 274 15,585 56.9 Mata-Utu
Total 9,008,458 35,834,670 4.0

Notes:

^ Regions and constituents as per UN categorisations/map except notes 2-3, 6.
oceanography - Branches, History, Ocean and atmosphere connections, Further reading [next] [back] ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) - History of OTEC, How OTEC works, Some proposed projects, Other related technologies, Political Concerns

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