Origins & History
This category groups the indigenous peoples of Oceania, including Aboriginal Australians (whose ancestors arrived at least 65,000 years ago, making theirs the oldest continuous culture on Earth), Torres Strait Islanders, and Polynesian peoples such as Maori, Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongans, and Tahitians. Melanesian and Micronesian peoples are also part of this broad grouping.
Geographic Distribution
Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders number around 800,000 people in Australia. Maori people in New Zealand number around 900,000. Polynesian peoples across Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Hawaii, and the Cook Islands number several million more. Melanesian populations in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu add over 10 million more.
Diaspora & Migration
The Oceanic diaspora is modest but significant. Large Polynesian populations live in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States (particularly Hawaii and California). Aboriginal Australian populations are concentrated in Australia itself. Maori communities have grown notably in Australia over recent decades.
About This Map
This map shows perceptions of Aboriginal Australian and Polynesian populations. Because this category groups many distinct peoples across a vast geographic region, results may reflect broad familiarity with the Pacific rather than any single group.
The map above shows crowd opinion, not official demographic data. Vote on the main map to contribute your own perception of where Aboriginal Australians / Polynesians populations live.