Geography & Culture · free reference

Oceania: countries, capitals and cultures

14 countries, one section each, A to Z. Every fact lists its source, and you can share a link to any country.

AustraliaFijiNew ZealandPapua New GuineaSolomon IslandsVanuatu
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Flag of Australia

Australia

Australia and New Zealand#australia

Capital
Canberra[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
The Great Dividing Range in the Eastern Uplands; Mount Kosciuszko is the highest point[2]
Languages
English (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Great Barrier Reef UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country by area.[2]

Read the full Australia guide

Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Australia (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Australia (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/au (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Fiji

Fiji

Melanesia#fiji

Capital
Suva[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land bordersAn archipelago of some 300 islands and 540 islets in the South Pacific (Britannica).[1]
Landform or river
Some 300 islands, about 100 of them inhabited; Suva is on Viti Levu, the largest[1]
Languages
English (official), Fijian[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Levuka Historical Port Town UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
Fiji is made up of some 300 islands, and about 100 of them have people living on them.[1]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Fiji-republic-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Fiji-republic-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/fj (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Kiribati

Kiribati

Micronesia#kiribati

Capital
Bairiki seat of government (executive)[2][3]Government seats are on South Tarawa: Bairiki (executive), Ambo (legislative) and Betio (judicial) (Britannica). RAE gives Bairiki; IBGE labels Tarawa; Toda Matéria gives Tarawa do Sul. Quizzes accept every listed form.
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Low-lying coral atolls in the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line islands[2]
Languages
English (official), Gilbertese[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Phoenix Islands Protected Area UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
Kiribati is made up of 33 islands.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Kiribati (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Kiribati (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ki (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands

Micronesia#marshall-islands

Capital
Majuro[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Two parallel chains of low-lying coral atolls; Kwajalein is the largest atoll[2]
Languages
Marshallese, EnglishBritannica does not say which language is official.[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) English is listed by Britannica; a Marshallese greeting is not yet sourced.[4]
Landmark
Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
The country has more than 1,200 islands and islets.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Marshall-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Marshall-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/mh (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Micronesia

Micronesia

Also: Federated States of Micronesia[6]

Micronesia#micronesia

Capital
Palikir[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Islands and atolls spread about 2,800 km east to west in the Caroline Islands[2]
Languages
Malayo-Polynesian languages, EnglishBritannica does not say which language is official.[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) English is listed by Britannica; local greetings are not yet sourced.[4]
Landmark
Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
The country has four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.[2]
Sources (6)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Micronesia-republic-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Micronesia-republic-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/fm (accessed 2026-10-26)
  6. IBGE, Atlas Geográfico Escolar: Oceania (político) · atlasescolar.ibge.gov.br/images/mapas/pdf/continentes-e-regioes-do-mundo-oceania-politico-p-59.pdf (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Nauru

Nauru

Micronesia#nauru

Capital
Yaren seat of government[2][3]Britannica: "There is no official capital, but government offices are located in Yaren district." RAE and IBGE give Yaren.
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
A single island with a thin strip of fertile land around its edge[2]
Languages
Nauruan, EnglishBritannica does not say which language is official.[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) English is one of the two languages Britannica lists; a Nauruan greeting is not yet sourced.[4]
Did you know?
Nauru once had the world's largest concentration of phosphate.[2]
Sources (4)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Nauru (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Nauru (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of New Zealand

New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand#new-zealand

Capital
Wellington[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Mountain ranges run through both main islands, the North Island and the South Island[2]
Languages
English (official), Māori (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Tongariro National Park UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
New Zealand's two main islands are separated by Cook Strait.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/New-Zealand (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/New-Zealand (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/nz (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Palau

Palau

Micronesia#palau

Capital
Melekeok[2][3]Britannica and RAE give Melekeok; the IBGE atlas and Toda Matéria give Ngerulmud. Quizzes accept both.
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Fertile islands with mangrove swamps along the coasts and rainforest in the hills[2]
Languages
Palauan (official), English (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
Palau became an independent country in 1994.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Palau (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Palau (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pw (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Melanesia#papua-new-guinea

Capital
Port Moresby[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
The land border with Indonesia crosses the island of New Guinea.[4]
Landform or river
High central mountains, the highlands[2]
Languages
English (official), Tok Pisin (official), Hiri Motu (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [5]
Landmark
Kuk Early Agricultural Site UNESCO World Heritage site[6]
Did you know?
Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975.[2]
Sources (6)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Papua-New-Guinea (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  6. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pg (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Samoa

Samoa

Polynesia#samoa

Capital
Apia[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Two main volcanic islands, Upolu and Savai'i[2]
Languages
Samoan (official), English (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Festival or tradition
'Ie Samoa, the fine mat and its cultural value Tradition[5]
Did you know?
In 1997 the word "Western" was dropped from the country's name (Western Samoa).[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Samoa-island-nation-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Samoa-island-nation-Pacific-Ocean (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ie-samoa-fine-mat-and-its-cultural-value-01499 (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands

Melanesia#solomon-islands

Capital
Honiara[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Heavily wooded, mountainous islands drained by short, fast rivers[2]
Languages
English (official), Pijin (an English-based pidgin)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
East Rennell UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
The country includes the islands of Guadalcanal, Malaita, San Cristobal, Choiseul, Santa Isabel and Rennell.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Solomon-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Solomon-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/sb (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Tonga

Tonga

Polynesia#tonga

Capital
Nukuʻalofa[2][3]
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Some 170 islands: low coral islands in the east and mountainous volcanic islands in the west[2]
Languages
Tongan (official), English (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Festival or tradition
Lakalaka, dances and sung speeches Tradition[5]
Did you know?
People of the Lapita culture lived in Tonga at least 3,000 years ago.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Tonga (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Tonga (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/lakalaka-dances-and-sung-speeches-of-tonga-00072 (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Polynesia#tuvalu

Capital
Funafuti[2][3]Britannica gives "Vaiaku, Fongafale islet (of Funafuti atoll)"; RAE and IBGE give Funafuti. Quizzes accept Funafuti.
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Five atolls and four coral islands, all low-lying, below 6 m[2]
Languages
Tuvaluan, English (widely used)Britannica does not say which language is official.[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) English is widely used (Britannica); a Tuvaluan greeting is not yet sourced.[4]
Did you know?
Tuvalu became independent in 1978.[2]
Sources (4)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Tuvalu (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Tuvalu (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)

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Flag of Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Melanesia#vanuatu

Capital
Port Vila[2][3]Britannica spells it "Port-Vila".
Neighbors (land borders)
No land borders[2]
Landform or river
Mountainous volcanic islands, with several active volcanoes[2]
Languages
Bislama (official), English (official), French (official)[2]
Say hello
Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
Landmark
Chief Roi Mata's Domain UNESCO World Heritage site[5]
Did you know?
The highest point is Tabwémasana (1,879 m), on Espiritu Santo.[2]
Sources (5)
  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Vanuatu (accessed 2026-10-26)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Vanuatu (accessed 2026-10-26)
  3. RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
  4. Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
  5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/vu (accessed 2026-10-26)

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