Timeline of sovereign states in Oceania

Last updated

This timeline lists all sovereign states and dependencies in Oceania, both current and defunct, from the year 1750 onwards.

Contents

Timeline

Current Sovereign States  / Decadesbefore1750176017701780179018001810182018301840185018601870188018901900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020102020
Flag of Australia.svg
Australia
Flag of New South Wales.svg
New South Wales
Australian Aboriginal nations1788 Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of Queensland.svg
Queensland
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations1823 Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1859 Flag of Queensland.svg Colony of Queensland ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of South Australia.svg
South Australia
Australian Aboriginal nations1834 Flag of South Australia.svg Colony of South Australia ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of Tasmania.svg
Tasmania
Aboriginal Tasmanian nations1803 Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1825 Flag of Tasmania.svg Colony of Tasmania ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg
Victoria
Aboriginal Australian nations1803 Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1851 Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Colony of Victoria ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of Western Australia.svg
Western Australia
Aboriginal Australian nations1829 Flag of Western Australia.svg Colony of Western Australia ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [1] 1901 Flag of Western Australia.svg Western Australia ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [2]
Flag of Chile.svg
Chile
Flag of Easter Island.svg
Easter Island
Rapa Nui 1888 Flag of Easter Island.svg Easter Island ( Flag of Chile.svg Chile) [3]
Flag of Fiji.svg
Fiji
Fijians 1871 Flag of the United Kingdom of Fiji 1871-1874.svg Kingdom of Fiji [4] 1874 Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg Colony of Fiji ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [5] 1970 Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji [5]
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of New Caledonia.svg
New Caledonia
Kanak 1853 Flag of France.svg / Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg New Caledonia ( Flag of France.svg France) [6]
Flag of French Polynesia.svg
French Polynesia
Polynesians 1788 Flag of the Kingdom of Tahiti.svg Kingdom of Tahiti [7] 1842 Flag of the Tahiti Protectorate 1843-1880.svg Kingdom of Tahiti ( Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg France [notes 1] ) [8] 1880 Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia ( Flag of France.svg France) [8]
Flag of Indonesia.svg
Indonesia
Maluku flag (proposed).png
Maluku
Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg Dutch East India Company rule ( Prinsenvlag.svg Dutch Empire) [9] 1800 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch East Indies ( Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands) [10] 1949 Maluku flag (proposed).png Maluku ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia) [11] 1999 Maluku flag (proposed).png Maluku ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia)
Flag of North Maluku.svg
North Maluku
1999 Flag of North Maluku.svg North Maluku ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia) [12]
Flag of Papua 2.svg
Papua
Papuans 1949 Morning Star flag.svg Dutch New Guinea ( Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands) [13] 1963 Flag of Indonesia.svg Irian Jaya ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia)2003 Flag of Papua 2.svg Papua ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia)
Flag of West Papua (vectorised).svg
West Papua
2003 Flag of West Papua (vectorised).svg West Papua ( Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia) [14]
Flag of Kiribati.svg
Kiribati
Micronesian 1892 Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert and Ellice Islands ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [15] 1979 Flag of Kiribati.svg Kiribati [15]
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg
Marshall Islands
Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies ( Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spain) [16] 1885 Flag of German New Guinea.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1919 Flag of the South Pacific Mandate.svg South Pacific Mandate ( Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan)1947 Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)1986 Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg Marshall Islands
Flag of Micronesia.svg
Micronesia
Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies ( Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spain) [16] 1899 Reichskolonialflagge.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1919 Flag of the South Pacific Mandate.svg South Pacific Mandate ( Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan)1947 Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)1986 Flag of Micronesia.svg Micronesia [17]
Flag of Nauru.svg
Nauru
Nauruans 1888 Flag of German New Guinea.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1923 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mandate of Nauru ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia, Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand, Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1947 Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Trust Territory of Nauru ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia) [notes 2] [18] 1968 Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru [19]
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Realm of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
Maori 1840 Flag of New Zealand.svg Colony of New Zealand ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Empire)1907 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand [20]
Flag of Tokelau.svg
Tokelau
Tokelauan Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1877 Union Islands ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1916 Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg GEIC ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1926 Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau ( Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand)
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
Cook Islands
Cook Islands Maori 1858 Flag of Rarotonga 1858-1888.svg Kingdom of Rarotonga 1888 Flag of Rarotonga 1888-1893.svg Kingdom of Rarotonga ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1893 Flag of the Cook Islands Federation.svg Cook Islands Federation ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1901 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands ( Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand) [21] 1965 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands [notes 3]
Flag of Niue.svg
Niue
Polynesians 1901 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Savage Island ( Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand)1974 Flag of Niue.svg Niue [notes 4]
Flag of Palau.svg
Palau
Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies ( Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spain) [16] 1899 Reichskolonialflagge.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1919 Flag of the South Pacific Mandate.svg South Pacific Mandate ( Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan)1947 Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)1994 Flag of Palau.svg Palau [18]
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
Papua New Guinea
Papuans 1884 German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1919 Flag of the Territory of New Guinea.svg Territory of New Guinea ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia)1949 Flag of Papua New Guinea 1970.svg Territory of Papua and New Guinea ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia)1975 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea [18]
1884 Flag of the Territory of Papua.svg Territory of Papua ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1902 Flag of the Territory of Papua.svg Territory of Papua ( Flag of Australia.svg Australia)
Flag of Samoa.svg
Samoa
Pre-colonial Samoa 1900 Reichskolonialflagge.svg German Samoa ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1920 Flag of the Samoa Trust Territory.svg Western Samoa Trust Territory ( Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand) [18] 1962 Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Melanesians 1885 German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1900 Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956-1966).svg British Solomon Islands ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1978 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands
Flag of Tonga.svg
Tonga
Royal Standard of Tonga.svg Tu'i Tonga Empire 1865 Flag of Tonga.svg Kingdom of Tonga 1900 Flag of Tonga.svg Kingdom of Tonga ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK [notes 5] )1970 Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Flag of Tuvalu.svg
Tuvalu
Polynesian 1892 Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert and Ellice Islands ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [15] 1978 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu [22]
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of American Samoa.svg
American Samoa
Pre-colonial Samoa 1900 Flag of American Samoa.svg American Samoa ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)
Flag of Guam.svg
Guam
Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies ( Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spain) [16] 1898 Flag of Guam.svg Guam ( Flag of the United States.svg USA) [23]
Flag of Hawaii.svg
Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii 1810 Flag of Hawaii (1816).svg Kingdom of Hawaii [24] 1894 Flag of Hawaii (1896).svg Republic of Hawaii Flag of Hawaii.svg 1898 Territory of Hawaii ( Flag of the United States.svg USA) [25] 1959 Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii ( Flag of the United States.svg USA) [25]
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
Northern Mariana Islands
Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies ( Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spanish Empire) [16] 1899 Reichskolonialflagge.svg German New Guinea ( Flag of the German Empire.svg Germany)1919 Flag of the South Pacific Mandate.svg South Pacific Mandate ( Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan)1947 Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ( Flag of the United States.svg USA) Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg 1986 Northern Mariana Islands ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)
Flag of Wake Island.svg
Wake Island
1899 Flag of Wake Island.svg Wake Island ( Flag of the United States.svg USA)
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu
Melanesian 1887 Flag of Franceville.svg Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission ( Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg France/ Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK)1906 Flag of New Hebrides.svg New Hebrides ( Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg France/ Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK) [26] 1980 Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu
Current Sovereign States  / Decadesbefore1750176017701780179018001810182018301840185018601870188018901900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020102020
Empires/Colonialists/Trustees
Flag of Australia.svg Australia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Empire/United Kingdom
Flag of France.svg French Colonial Empire/France
Flag of Germany.svg German Empire/Germany
Flag of Japan.svg Empire of Japan/Japan
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch Empire/Netherlands
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Empire/Spain
Flag of the United States.svg United States of America

Notes

  1. The Kingdom of Tahiti became a French protectorate during this period, with France formally annexing French Polynesia in 1880.
  2. Officially, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were co-trustees, but in practice Australia administered the territory.
  3. The Cook Islands became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in 1965. New Zealand is responsible for defense and most of the Cook Islands' foreign relations, and both countries share a Head of State.
  4. Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in 1974. New Zealand is responsible for defense and most of Niue's foreign relations, and both countries share a Head of State.
  5. The Kingdom of Tonga was a British protectorate during this period, and never relinquished independence. Thus, the Kingdom formed in 1865 is the same as today, with no breaks.

See also

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References

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