Oceania

Oceania is a geographical (often geopolitical) region consisting of numerous countries and territories ? mostly islands ? in the Pacific Ocean, usually including Australia and New Zealand. For the oceans of the Earth, see Oceans.

Countries and territories of Oceania

Oceania has been traditionally divided into Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia (originally by the French explorer Dumont d'Urville in 1831). This subdivision is no longer recognized as correct by most geographers and scientists — who prefer to divide Oceania into Near Oceania and Remote Oceania — but it is still the most popular one.

Related Topics:
Micronesia - Melanesia - Polynesia - Dumont d'Urville - 1831 - Near Oceania - Remote Oceania

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Most of Oceania consists of small island nations. Australia is the only continental country and Papua New Guinea is the only country with a land border, which it shares with Indonesian western New Guinea.

Related Topics:
Indonesia - Western New Guinea

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The nations of Oceania have varying degrees of independence from their colonial powers and have negotiated a wide range of constitutional arrangements to suit their circumstances. The following list contains the countries and territories that are classified as part of Oceania by the United Nations; other countries are sometimes considered part of Oceania see Other Interpretations below.

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Australia

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• Australia - Commonwealth Realm¹
• Norfolk Island - external territory of Australia

Melanesia

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• Fiji - republic
• New Caledonia - sui generis collectivity of France²
• Papua New Guinea - Commonwealth Realm¹
• Solomon Islands - Commonwealth Realm¹
• Vanuatu - republic

Micronesia

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• Guam - organised, unincorporated territory of the United States
• Kiribati - republic
• Marshall Islands - republic in free association with the United States
• Micronesia, Federated States of - republic in free association with the United States
• Nauru - republic
• Northern Mariana Islands - organised, unincorporated commonwealth in political union with the United States
• Palau - republic in free association with the United States
• Wake Island - unorganised, unincorporated territory of the United States

Polynesia

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• American Samoa- unorganised, unincorporated territory of the United States
• Cook Islands - self-governing state in free association with New Zealand
• French Polynesia - "overseas country" of France²
• Niue - self-governing state in free association with New Zealand
• New Zealand - Commonwealth Realm¹
• Pitcairn - overseas territory of the United Kingdom
• Samoa - constitutional monarchy under Malietoa Tanumafili II
• Tokelau - semi-autonomous territory of New Zealand
• Tonga - absolute monarchy under King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
• Tuvalu - Commonwealth Realm¹
• Wallis and Futuna Islands - overseas collectivity of France²

Notes:

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• Commonwealth Realms are independent constitutional monarchies in which Elizabeth II reigns as Queen
• See administrative divisions of France