Lesson 3/45 min
The Pacific island nations
The three regions
| Region | Meaning | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Polynesia | Many islands | Central and South Pacific; Hawaii lies here (a US state) |
| Melanesia | Black islands | Western Pacific, north and north-east of Australia |
| Micronesia | Small islands | Near the equator, in the north of Oceania |
Watch out: The book puts Fiji under Melanesia, so the exam answer to “which is not in Polynesia” is Fiji. It also lists Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia under Melanesia, though both are Micronesian countries.
Polynesian countries
- Tuvalu: the UN member with the smallest population; formerly the Ellice Islands; given its present name in 1975; in the western Pacific
- Samoa: independent through UN mediation; joined the UN on 15 December 1976
- Tonga: National Day 4 June; the only monarchy still standing in Polynesia; “Tonga” means south; the Tropic of Capricorn and the International Date Line cross near it
Melanesian countries
- Papua New Guinea: the country with the most languages in the world; in the First World War Australia seized German New Guinea (the earlier name of the area)
- Solomon Islands: a parliamentary democracy; most people are Melanesian
- Vanuatu: a small island nation in the South Pacific; Melanesians are the original people; very rainy
- Fiji: sighted by the navigator Abel Tasman in 1643; 332 islands; largest island Viti Levu; came under Britain in 1874
Watch out: The book gives 1875 for British rule in Fiji and King Charles III as head of state. Fiji was ceded to Britain in 1874 and is now a republic with a President as head of state. The book says Fiji had 4 coups; its list of years could not be matched, so it is not given here.
Micronesian countries
- Federated States of Micronesia: 607 islands in the Pacific east of the Philippines; four states: Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei and Kosrae; Yap is the island of stone money
- Palau: made of about 200 of Micronesia's islands; controlled by the United States after the Second World War; largest city Koror
- Nauru: became independent from Australia, New Zealand and Britain (1968)
- Marshall Islands: defence and economy handled by the United States; under the UN Trusteeship Council until 1986; the Ratak and Ralik chains (meaning sunrise and sunset)
- Kiribati: a Commonwealth republic in the central Pacific; 33 coral islands scattered over about 3.5 million square kilometres
Current leaders (per 2026 news)
| Country | Leader |
|---|---|
| Fiji | Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka; a general election is expected between December 2026 and February 2027 |
| Samoa | Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt |
| Tonga | Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua (July 2026 report) |
| Vanuatu | Prime Minister Jotham Napat |
| Tuvalu | Prime Minister Feleti Teo |
| Kiribati | President Taneti Maamau |
| Palau | President Surangel Whipps Jr. (host of the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum summit) |
Watch out: Reports on the Solomon Islands' prime minister in 2026 conflict (one names Matthew Wale, another Jeremiah Manele), so no name is given. The current leaders of Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands could not be checked.
Check yourself
Which UN member has the smallest population?
At a glance
- 1
Polynesia = many islands; Melanesia = black islands; Micronesia = small islands.
- 2
Tonga is the only surviving monarchy in Polynesia; National Day 4 June.
- 3
Papua New Guinea has the most languages in the world; Fiji's largest island is Viti Levu.
- 4
Samoa joined the UN on 15 December 1976; Tuvalu was earlier the Ellice Islands.
- 5
The Federated States of Micronesia has 4 states: Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae.
- 6
Kiribati has 33 coral islands; the Marshall Islands were a trust territory until 1986.