List of islands in the Pacific Ocean
This is a list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, collectively called the Pacific Islands. Three major groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean are Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Depending on the context, Pacific Islands may refer to countries and islands with common Austronesian origins, islands once or currently colonized, or Oceania. The indigenous inhabitants of the Pacific Islands are referred to as Pacific Islanders. This list is organized by archipelago or political unit. In order to keep this list of moderate size, links are given to more complete lists for countries with large numbers of small or uninhabited islands.
Name ambiguity[]
The umbrella term Pacific Islands has taken on several meanings.[1] Sometimes it is used to refer only to the islands defined as lying within Oceania.[2][3] More commonly, it is used to refer to the islands of the Pacific Ocean that were previously colonized by the British, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, or Japanese, or by the United States. Examples include the Pitcairn Islands, Taiwan, and Borneo.[4]
List of the largest Pacific islands[]
Islands of the Pacific Ocean proper, with an area larger than 10,000 km2.
Name | Area (km2) | Country/Countries | Population | Population density | Region | Subregion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Guinea | 785,753 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | 7,500,000 | 9.544 | Oceania / Australia | Melanesia |
Honshu | 227,960 | Japan | 103,000,000 | 451.8 | Asia | East Asia |
Sulawesi | 174,600 | Indonesia | 18,455,000 | 105.7 | Asia | Southeast Asia |
South Island | 150,437 | New Zealand | 1,135,500 | 7.5 | Oceania / Zealandia | Polynesia |
North Island | 113,729 | New Zealand | 3,749,200 | 33.0 | Oceania / Zealandia | Polynesia |
Luzon | 109,965 | Philippines | 48,520,000 | 441.2 | Asia | Southeast Asia |
Mindanao | 104,530 | Philippines | 25,281,000 | 241.9 | Asia | Southeast Asia |
Tasmania | 90,758 | Australia | 514,700 | 5.671 | Oceania / Australia | Australasia |
Hokkaido | 77,981 | Japan | 5,474,000 | 70.2 | Asia | East Asia |
Sakhalin | 72,493 | Russia | 580,000 | 8.001 | Asia | North Asia |
Taiwan Island (Formosa) | 35,883 | Taiwan | 23,000,000 | 641 | Asia | East Asia |
Kyushu | 35,640 | Japan | 13,231,000 | 371.2 | Asia | East Asia |
New Britain | 35,145 | Papua New Guinea | 513,926 | 14.62 | Oceania | Melanesia |
Vancouver Island | 31,285 | Canada | 759,366 | 24.27 | North America | Northern America |
Shikoku | 18,800 | Japan | 4,141,955 | 220.3 | Asia | East Asia |
Grande Terre | 16,648 | New Caledonia (France) | 208,709 | 12.54 | Oceania / Zealandia | Melanesia |
Palawan | 12,189 | Philippines | 430,000 | 35.28 | Asia | Southeast Asia |
Hawaii | 10,434 | United States of America | 185,079 | 17.74 | Oceania | Polynesia |
Viti Levu | 10,388 | Fiji | 600,000 | 56.97 | Oceania | Melanesia |
Pacific islands by region[]
Antarctica[]
Asia[]
- List of islands of Asia
North and Central America[]
- Central American Pacific Islands
- List of islands of North America
Oceania[]
- List of islands of Australia
- List of islands of Britain
- List of islands of the Pitcairn Islands
- List of islands of Fiji
- List of islands of France, section Pacific Ocean
- List of islands of Hawaii
- List of islands of Kiribati
- List of islands of the Marshall Islands
- List of islands of New Zealand
- List of Islands of Papua New Guinea
- List of islands of the Solomon Islands
- List of islands of Tonga
- List of islands of Tuvalu
- List of islands of the United States, section Insular areas
- List of islands of Vanuatu
South America[]
- List of islands of South America
- List of islands of Chile
- List of islands of Colombia
- List of islands of Ecuador
- List of islands of Peru
By country[]
Australia[]
- List of islands of Australia, including:
- Coral Sea Islands
- Lord Howe Island
- Norfolk Island
- Torres Strait Islands
Canada[]
- List of islands of British Columbia, many islands including:
- Haida Gwaii, some 400 islands near Alaska
- Graham Island, the main northern island
- Moresby Island, the main southern island
- Vancouver Island, Canada's largest Pacific island
- Gulf Islands, numerous islands off the southeast coast of V.I. near the U.S. San Juan Islands
- Haida Gwaii, some 400 islands near Alaska
Chile[]
- Chiloé Island
- Desventuradas Islands
- Easter Island/Rapa Nui
- Isla Salas y Gómez
- Juan Fernández Islands
China[]
Colombia[]
- Gorgona Island
- Malpelo Island
Cook Islands[]
- Aitutaki
- Atiu
- Pamati (Palmerston)
- Mangaia
- Manihiki (Humphrey)
- Manuae (Hervey)
- Mauke (Parry)
- Mitiaro
- Nassau
- Pukapuka (Danger)
- Rakahanga (Reirson)
- Rarotonga
- Suwarrow (Anchorage)
- Takutea
- Tongareva (Penrhyn)
Costa Rica[]
- Cocos Island
Ecuador[]
- Galapagos Islands
- Puná Island
Fiji[]
- Principal islands:
- Viti Levu
- Vanua Levu
- Significant outliers:
- Conway Reef
- Kadavu Island
- Taveuni
- Rotuma Island
- Archipelagos:
France[]
- Clipperton Island
- French Polynesia (Autonomous Overseas Territory of France)
- Austral Islands
- Tubuai
- Society Islands
- Marquesas
- Tuamotus
- Rangiroa
- Fakarava
- Moruroa
- Fangataufa
- Gambier Islands
- Mangareva
- Helena Island
- Austral Islands
- New Caledonia (special collectivity of France)
- Grande Terre (New Caledonia)
- Chesterfield Islands
- Ilots du Mouillage
- Isle of Pines
- Belep Islands
- New Caledonia
- Loyalty Islands
- Matthew Island and Hunter Island, administered by France as part of New Caledonia but also claimed by Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
- Alofi
- Futuna
- Wallis (Uvea)
Indonesia[]
- Natuna Islands
Japan[]
- List of islands of Japan, including:
- The five main islands:
- Hokkaido - the northernmost and second largest main island.
- Honshu - the largest and most populous island; home of the capital Tokyo.
- Kyushu - the third largest main island and closest to the Asian continent.
- Shikoku - the second smallest main island after Okinawa; between Honshu and Kyushu
- Okinawa Island - the smallest and southernmost of the main islands
- Other notable islands:
- Marcus Island
- Okinotori Islands
Kiribati[]
- Caroline Island
- Flint Island
- Gilbert Islands
- Line Islands (8 of 11)
- Kiritimati/Christmas Island
- Malden Island
- Phoenix Islands
- Starbuck Island
- Tabuaeran/Fanning Island
- Teraina/Washington Island
- Vostok Island
Malaysia[]
Marshall Islands[]
- Marshall Islands
- Bikini
- Enewetak
- Kwajalein
- Rongelap
- Majuro
Mexico[]
- Archangel Island
- Cedros Island
- Tiburón Island
- Revillagigedo Islands
- Rocas Alijos
- Guadalupe Island
Micronesia[]
Islands of Federated States of Micronesia
- Caroline Islands
- Pohnpei
- Yap
- Ulithi
- Chuuk
- Puluwat
- Kosrae
Nauru[]
- Nauru, a country and single island
New Zealand[]
- Islands of New Zealand, around 600 islands including:
- Auckland Islands
- Chatham Islands
- Chatham Island
- Pitt Island
- d'Urville Island
- Great Barrier Island
- Kapiti Island
- Kermadec Islands
- Macauley Island
- Raoul Island
- North Island
- South Island
- Stewart Island/Rakiura
- Waiheke Island
- Tokelau (mostly autonomous), three coral atolls with about 25 islands combined, including:
- Olohega (Swains Island), administered by the United States as part of American Samoa, but claimed by Tokelau due to geography, history and language
Niue[]
- Niue, a country and single island
Palau[]
Palau has over 250 islands, including:
- Angaur
- Babeldaob
- Caroline Islands
- Kayangel
- Ngerekebesang Island
- Oreor
- Peleliu
- Southwest Islands
Panama[]
Papua New Guinea[]
- List of islands of Papua New Guinea
- New Guinea, eastern half
- Bismarck Archipelago
- Admiralty Islands
- Manus Island
- Karkar Island
- New Britain
- New Ireland
- Saint Matthias Group
- Admiralty Islands
- Solomon Islands archipelago (northern part)
- Bougainville
- Buka Island
- Trobriand Islands
- Woodlark Island
- D'Entrecasteaux Islands
- Fergusson Island
- Goodenough Island
- Normanby Island (Papua New Guinea)
- Louisiade Archipelago
- Misima Island
- Tagula Island or Sudest Island
- Rossel Island
- Samarai
- Daru Island
- Kiwai Island
Philippines[]
- List of islands of the Philippines, over 7600 islands including:
- Miangas
- Spratly Islands
- Island of Palmas
- Scarborough Shoal
Russia[]
- List of islands of Russia
- Kuril Islands
- Sakhalin
Samoa[]
Solomon Islands[]
- Islands of the Solomon Islands
- Bellona
- Choiseul
- Florida Island
- Guadalcanal
- Malaita
- Maramasike
- New Georgia Islands
- Rennell
- Russell Islands
- San Cristobal
- Santa Cruz Islands
- Santa Isabel
- Shortland Islands
- Sikaiana (Stewart Islands)
- Tulagi
- Ulawa
Taiwan (Republic of China)[]
- List of islands of Taiwan, 166 islands including:
- Taiwan, the main island with over 99% of the country's total area
Tonga[]
- List of islands in Tonga; in north to south order:
Tuvalu[]
- Islands of Tuvalu
- Funafuti (atoll of at least 30 islands)
- Nanumanga (or Nanumaga)
- Nanumea (atoll of at least 6 islands)
- Niulakita
- Niutao
- Nui (atoll of at least 21 islands)
- Nukufetau (atoll of at least 33 islands)
- Nukulaelae (atoll of at least 15 islands)
- Vaitupu (atoll of at least 9 islands)
United Kingdom[]
- Pitcairn Islands, four islands:
- Pitcairn Island
- Henderson Island
- Oeno Island
- Ducie Island
United States[]
- Alaska, many islands including:
- Aleutian Islands
- Alexander Archipelago
- Nunivak Island
- St. Lawrence Island
- American Samoa
- Aunuu
- Ofu-Olosega
- Rose Atoll
- Swains Island (Olosenga, Olohega) (Disputed)
- Tau
- Tutuila
- List of islands of California
- Channel Islands
- Hawaiian Islands, many islands and islets including:
- Marianas Islands
- Guam
- Northern Marianas Islands
- Saipan
- Rota
- Tinian
- Maug
- Pagan Island
- Alamagan
- Farallon de Pajaros
- List of islands of Oregon
- United States Minor Outlying Islands, eight small island groups between Hawaii and the Philippines
- List of islands of Washington state
- Islands of Puget Sound
- San Juan Islands
Vanuatu[]
- List of islands of Vanuatu, some 83 islands including (north to south approximately):
- Disputed:
- Matthew Island and Hunter Island, administered by France as part of New Caledonia but also claimed by Vanuatu
Other islands[]
- Malay Archipelago of over 25,000 islands split amongst Indonesia, Eastern Malaysia and five other countries
- Sulawesi
Notes[]
- ^ William Collins Sons & Co Ltd (1983), Collins Atlas of the World (revised 1995 ed.), London W6 8JB: HarperCollins, ISBN 0-00-448227-1CS1 maint: location (link)
- ^ D'Arcy, Paul (March 2006). The People of the Sea: Environment, Identity, and History in Oceania. University Of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3297-1. Archived from the original on 2014-10-30. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ Rapaport, Moshe (April 2013). The Pacific Islands: Environment and Society, Revised Edition. University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-6584-9. JSTOR j.ctt6wqh08.
This is the only contemporary text on the Pacific Islands that covers both environment and sociocultural issues and will thus be indispensable for any serious student of the region. Unlike other reviews, it treats the entirety of Oceania (with the exception of Australia) and is well illustrated with numerous photos and maps, including a regional atlas.
– via JSTOR (subscription required) - ^ Wright, John K. (July 1942). "Pacific Islands". Geographical Review. 32 (3): 481–486. doi:10.2307/210391. JSTOR 210391. – via JSTOR (subscription required)
- Islands of the Pacific Ocean
- Lists of islands by ocean
- Pacific Ocean-related lists