Oceania Population 2024

Oceania, or Oceanica, is a region that includes islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean. There is no precise definition of the exact range of the region, which may include at a minimum of three subregions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, or the entire region between the Americas and Asia, which includes Australasia and the Malay Archipelago. Many also use the term Oceania to refer to Australia and its nearby islands.

The wider Oceania has an estimated population of 38.82 million in 2014. The narrower definition that includes Micronesia, Island Melanesia, and Polynesia (not New Zealand) has a population estimated at 6 million in 2014. The total population of Oceania minus mainland Australia is about 18 million.

Countries in Oceania

The following are countries that are included in the broad definition of Oceania, with their corresponding population and capitals.

Australasia:

• Australia: 24 million, Canberra
• New Zealand: 5 million, Wellington
• Norfolk Island (Australia): 2,500, Kingston
• Christmas Island (Australia): 1,500, Flying Fish Cove
• Cocos Islands (Australia): 650, West Island
• Coral Sea Islands (Australia)
• Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia)

Melanesia:

• Papua New Guinea: 5.5 million, Port Moresby
• Papua (Indonesia): 3.6 million, Jayapura
• Fiji: 875,000, Suva
• West Papua (Indonesia): 775,000, Manokwari
• Solomon Islands: 500,000, Honiara
• New Caledonia (France): 245,000, Noumea
• Vanuatu: 240,000, Port Vila

Micronesia:

• Guam (United States): 161,000, Hagåtña
• Federated States of Micronesia: 136,000, Palikir
• Kiribati: 96,000, South Tarawa
• Northern Mariana Islands (United States): 77,000, Saipan
• Marshall Islands: 74,000, Majuro
• Palau: 19,500, Melekeok
• Nauru: 12,000, Yaren
• Wake Island (United States): 12

Polynesia:

• Hawaii (United States): 1.4 million, Honolulu
• French Polynesia (France): 258,000, Papeete
• Samoa: 179,000, Apia
• Tonga: 106,000, Nuku'alofa
• American Samoa (United States): 69,000, Pago Pago
• Cook Islands (New Zealand): 21,000, Avarua
• Wallis and Futuna (France): 16,000, Mata-Utu
• Tuvalu: 11,000, Funafuti
• Easter Island (Chile): 6,000, Hanga Roa
• Niue (New Zealand): 2,100, Alofi
• Tokelau (New Zealand): 1,500, Nukunonu
• Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom): 50, Adamstown

Largest Cities in Oceania

Using the most common definition of Oceania that excludes Indonesia and the Philippines, the top 4 largest cities in Oceania are all in Australia.

• Sydney, Australia: 4.76 million. Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia.
• Melbourne, Australia: 4.35 million.
• Brisbane, Australia: 2.24 million.
• Perth, Australia: 1.97 million.
• Auckland, New Zealand: 1.41 million. Auckland accounts for 32% of New Zealand's total population.
• Adelaide, Australia: 1.29 million.
• Wellington, New Zealand: 397,000. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.
• Honolulu, Hawaii: 390,000.
• Canberra, Australia: 381,000. Canberra is the capital of Australia.
• Christchurch, New Zealand: 341,500.
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 365,000.

If Oceania is defined by its most broad borders, the largest city is Jakarta, Indonesia, which has a population of 9.8 million. It's the most populous city in Southeast Asia and one of the largest urban agglomerations n the world with a metropolitan population of more than 28 million. The second-largest city is Manila, the Philippines with an urban population of more than 21 million.

Is Oceania a Continent?

No, Oceania is not a continent. It is a region of island territories located west of South America and east of Australia. There are four main sub-regions in Oceania.

Australasia

This is an Oceania region that covers New Zealand, Australia, and its surrounding islands. The area has a population of 39 million people. The term Australasia was coined in 1756 by a French writer called Charles de Brosses. The total population in this area is about 33 million people.

Interestingly, this Oceania region's landmasses were once part of the ancient Gondwana continent.

Melanesia

This is a region in Oceania between Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Melanesia covers a landmass of 1 million square kilometers with 2,000 islands and 12 million inhabitants. Some independent nations covered under this oceanic region include the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

It is believed that humans have inhabited the area for thousands of years. The first people to settle in the region migrated from Indonesia and brought the early forms of agriculture. They were followed by people from Taiwan who had seafaring skills.

The word "Melanesia" comes from a Greek word that means" black Island." This is because the local inhabitants had a black skin tone.

Documented history shows that the different communities in this oceanic region had trade relations and were politically integrated over 3,500 years ago. The common form of trade included the exchange of obsidian and shell ornaments.

Traditionally, the social standing of Melanesian society depended on the amount of wealth an individual or family could amass.

Micronesia

This sub-region of Oceania is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean and comprises over 600 islands. The countries found on this Island include the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. The United States even administered these two countries, including the Northern Marina as the Pacific Islands Trust Territory, between 1947 and 1986.

Micronesia covers a total landmass of 271 square miles and has a population size of 534,000 people. The climate of this region is tropical, with an annual temperature of below 27°C with slight seasonal variation in temperature. There are distinct dry and rainy seasons, with the dry months occurring between December and April.

Polynesia

This is a sub-region of Oceania that covers over 100 islands in the southern and central of the Pacific Ocean. The word Polynesia is derived from a Greek word that means "many islands." The original inhabitants of the area were called Polynesians, and they were expert navigators and sailors. This oceanic region borders New Zealand to the south Eastern Island and Hawaii to the north.

Out of six million residents of Polynesia, the native Polynesians are about three million. A distinct trait of the Polynesians is that they have lighter skin and are tall. They also have dark hair that's either wavy or straight but not curled.

Out of six million residents of Polynesia, the native Polynesians are about three million. A distinct trait of the Polynesians is that they have lighter skin and are tall. They also have dark hair that's either wavy or straight but not curled.