Oceania

Oceania Overview

Oceania is the world’s smallest region and includes countries and territories with a wide range of fertility levels and population growth rates. It includes only three countries with a population of one million or more: Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.

Oceania’s population is projected to increase 33% by 2050—to 61 million, up from 46 million in 2024. Australia, which accounts for 59% of the region’s current population, is the source for most of this projected growth (61%). Oceania’s total fertility rate is 2.0, though it ranges greatly among countries and territories, from 1.5 in Australia, 1.6 in New Zealand, 1.8 in French Polynesia, 3.6 in Solomon Islands, and 4.4 in Samoa. The region is home to some of the world’s youngest areas and some of its oldest. In Samoa, Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Vanuatu, nearly 40% of people are under age 15. In Australia and New Zealand, 18% and 19% of the population is under age 15, respectively, and 17% are ages 65 and older.