What is the most populous country in Oceania?

Australia is the most populous country in Oceania. Its population is substantially larger than those of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, and the other sovereign island countries commonly grouped within the region.

Australia occupies most of the continent commonly called Australia and is also counted as a country of Oceania in geographic classifications. Its population is concentrated along the southeastern, eastern, and southwestern coasts, especially in metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Papua New Guinea is Oceania's second-most populous sovereign country, but its population is far smaller than Australia's. New Zealand is another frequent guess because of its global visibility, while Fiji is important culturally and regionally but has a much smaller population.

The exact boundaries of Oceania vary among geographic systems, especially regarding Indonesia and transcontinental territories. In standard country-by-country trivia classifications, however, Australia is the clear answer. It is also Oceania's largest country by land area and one of the world's most urbanized nations.