Pacific Islands: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 19, 2026

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Map of the Pacific Islands region showing political boundaries, major island groups, and countries such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia, and Kiribati. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation and ocean depth, with key islands and capitals labeled throughout the central and southwestern Pacific Ocean.

houses on stilts, Papua New Guinea

Map of the Pacific Ocean region showing three major culture areas highlighted in different colors: Micronesia in purple, Melanesia in green, and Polynesia in yellow. The map includes labeled islands and island groups such as Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, with the culture area boundaries spanning across the central and southern Pacific.

Aerial view of Bora-Bora showing green volcanic peaks surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and a narrow strip of land, with deep blue ocean beyond, in French Polynesia.

islet of Bairiki, Kiribati

traditionally dressed dancers, Solomon Islands

Population-density map of Pacific island countries and territories, with darker shading indicating more people per square kilometer. Naoero is the most densely populated, while many larger island groups, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia, have lower densities.

Thatched hut on stilts over clear blue water in Bora-Bora, French Polynesia, with an island and palm trees in the background.

William Dampier

Oceanic voyages of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew, 1519–22

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Topics

Samoa Galapagos Islands Spratly Islands Aleutian Islands Kuril Islands Moluccas Ryukyu Islands Mariana Islands Marquesas Islands Chatham Islands

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Island, New Caledonia.

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