The following events happened in Oceania in the year 2020.
Sovereign states Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1901 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952)CIA Factbook: United Kingdom retrieved 16 February 2020 Governor-General – David Hurley (since July 1, 2019) Prime Minister – Scott Morrison (since August 24, 2018)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Ashmore and Cartier Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, is an uninhabited territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.
Christmas Island Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean, is a non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia: David Hurley (since July 1, 2019)CIA Factbook: Christmas Island retrieved Feb 23, 2010 Administrator: Natasha Griggs (since October 5, 2018)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, is a non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. Governor General: David Hurley (since July 1, 2019) Administrator: Natasha Griggs (since October 5, 2018)
Coral Sea Islands The Coral Sea Islands is a territory of Australia administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts, and Sport.
Norfolk Island Norfolk Island is a self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts, and Sport. Administrator: Eric Hutchinson (since April 1, 2017)Administrator of Norfolk Island Territories of Australia, retrieved 25 Feb 2020
East Timor / Timor-Leste The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste became independent from Portugal in 1975 and from Indonesia in 2002.CIA Factbook: Timor-Leste retrieved 23 Feb 2020 President of East Timor: Francisco Guterres (since 2017) Prime Minister: Taur Matan Ruak (since 2018)
Fiji
The Republic of Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1970 and became a republic in 1987.CIA Factbook: Fiji retrieved Feb 23, 2020 Head of State: Queen Elizabeth (1970-1987) George Konrote (since November 12, 2015) Head of Government: Frank Bainimarama (since January 5, 2007) Speaker: Epeli Nailatikau (since February 11, 2019)
Kiribati The Republic of Kiribati is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations that became independent in 1979.CIA Factbook: Kiribati retrieved 23 Feb 2020 Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952) President: Taneti Mamau (since March 11, 2016)
Marshall Islands The Republic of the Marshall Islands is an associated state of the United States. President Hilda Heine (January 28, 2016 – January 13, 2020) Heine was the first woman president of a Pacific island nation.CIA Factbook: Marshall Islands (2018) retrieved 25 Feb 2020 David Kabua (since January 13, 2020)New president for Marshall Islands RNZ, 6 Jan 2020 Speaker: Kenneth Kedi (since January 4, 2016)
Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia is an independent republic and an associated state of the United States. President of the Federated States of Micronesia: David W. Panuelo (since 11 May 2019)Panuelo sworn in as new FSM president The Guam Daily Post, 30 July 2019 Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia: Yosiwo George (since May 11, 2015)
Nauru The Republic of Nauru gained its independence in 1969 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952) President of Nauru: Lionel Aingimea (since August 27, 2019) Speaker: Marcus Stephen (since August 27, 2019)
Palau
The Republic of Palau was established in 1979 and it became an associated state of the United States in 1994.CIA Factbook: Palau retrieved 3 Apr 2020 President of Palau: Thomas Remengesau Jr. (since January 17, 2013) Vice President of Palau: Raynold Oilouch (since January 19, 2017)
Papua New Guinea The Independent State of Papua New Guinea declared its independence from Australia in 1975 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Monarch: Elizabeth II Governor-General of Papua New Guinea: Bob Dadae (since February 28, 2017) Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea: James Marape (since May 30, 2019)
Realm of New Zealand
The Realm of New Zealand consists of the sovereign state of New Zealand, the associated states of the Cook Islands and Niue, and the dependent territory of Tokelau. It also includes the Antarctica territorial claim of the Ross Dependency. Monarchy of New Zealand: Elizabeth II Governor-General of New Zealand: Patsy Reddy
New Zealand
New Zealand signed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives: Trevor Mallard Prime Minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand: Winston Peters (until 6 November) Grant Robertson (starting 6 November)
Cook Islands The Cook Islands is a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand. Queen's Representative: Tom Marsters (since July 27, 1973) Prime Minister of the Cook Islands: Henry Puna (until 1 October) Mark Brown (starting 1 October) Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament: Niki Rattle (since May 22, 2012)
Niue Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. Premier of Niue: Toke Talagi (until 11 June) Dalton Tagelagi (starting 11 June)
Tokelau Tokelau is a self-administering dependent territory of New Zealand. Administrator of Tokelau: Ross Ardern (since May 2018) Head of Government of Tokelau: Kerisiano Kalolo (until 9 March) Fofo Tuisano (starting 9 March)
Samoa The Independent State of Samoa became independent from New Zealand in 1962. Head of state: O le Ao o le Malo: Va'aletoa Sualauvi II (since July 21, 2017) Head of government: Prime Minister of Samoa: Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi (since November 23, 1998)
Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands became independent from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Governor-General: David Vunagi (since July 8, 2019)CIA Factbook: Solomon Islands retrieved 26 Feb 2020 Prime Minister: Rick Hou (since April 24, 2019)
Tonga The Kingdom of Tonga became independent from British protection in 1970 and became a constitutional monarchy in 2010. Head of state: Monarch: King Tupou VI (since March 18, 2012; coronation July 4, 2015) Head of government: Prime Minister: Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (since October 8, 2019) Deputy Prime Minister: vacant
Tuvalu Tuvalu became independent from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General of Tuvalu: Teniku Talesi (since August 22, 2019) Prime Minister of Tuvalu: Kausea Natano (since September 19, 2019)
Vanuatu The Republic of Vanuatu became independent from France and the United Kingdom in 1980 and is a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.
Head of state: President of Vanuatu: Tallis Obed Moses (since July 6, 2017) Head of government: Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai (February 11, 2016 – April 20, 2020) Bob Loughman (since April 20, 2020)
Dependencies
British Overseas Territories The British Overseas Territories are territories that have not been granted independence. Most are self-governing and are lightly populated. Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952)
Pitcairn Islands The Pitcairn Islands are the only British Overseas Territory located in the Pacific Ocean. Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands: Laura Clarke (since January 25, 2018)CIA Factbook: Pitcairn Islands retrieved 26 Feb 2020 Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council: Charlene Warren-Peu (since January 1, 2020)
Chile
Chile declared its independence from Spain on September 18, 1810.CIA Factbook: Chile retrieved February 23, 2020 President of Chile: Sebastián Piñera (since March 11, 2018)
Insular Chile
Intendant of Valparaíso Region: Jorge Martínez Durán Commune of the Juan Fernández Islands Mayor: Felipe Paredes Vergara Province of Easter Island Governor: Laura Alarcón Rapu (since March 16, 2018)
France
French colonization of Oceania began in 1834 when Catholic missionaries arrived in Tahiti. President of France: Emmanuel Macron (since May 14, 2017)CIA Factbook: France retrieved 25 Feb 2020 Prime Minister of France Édouard Philippe (until 9 July) Jean Castex (starting 9 July)
French Polynesia French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due the to its degree of autonomy. President of French Polynesia: Édouard Fritch (since September 12, 2014)CIA Factbook: French Polynesia retrieved 25 Feb 2020 High Commissioner of the Republic: Dominique Sorain (since July 10, 2019)
New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France since 1998. High Commissioner: Laurent Prevost (since August 5, 2019)CIA Factbook: New Caledonia retrieved 25 Feb 2020 President of the Government: Thierry Santa (since July 9, 2019) Temporary Vice President: Gilbert Tyuienon (since July 9, 2019)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna is an overseas collectivity of France since 2003. High Administrator: Thierry Queffelec (until 25 November)CIA Factbook: Wallis and Futana retrieved 7 March 2020 President of the Territorial Assembly Atoloto Kolokilagi (until 26 November) Nivaleta Iloai (starting 26 November) There are three traditional kings with limited powers.
United States
The United States expansion into the Pacific beginning with Baker Island and Howland Island in 1857. President of the United States: Donald Trump (since January 20, 2017)CIA Factbook: United States retrieved 16 February 2020 Vice President of the United States: Mike Pence (since January 20, 2017)
American Samoa American Samoa is an unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S.CIA Factbook: Dependency status retrieved February 23, 2020 Governor: Lolo Matalasi Moliga (January 3, 2013 – present)National Governors' Association: American Samoa retrieved 7 March 2020 Lieutenant Governor: Lemanu Peleti Mauga (January 3, 2013 – present)
Guam Guam is an unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. Governor: Lou Leon Guerrero (January 7, 2019 – present)National Governors Association: Guam retrieved 7 March 2020 Lieutenant Governor: Josh Tenorio (January 7, 2019 – present)
Hawaii Hawaii became a state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It consists of eight major islands and 129 smaller islands. Governor of Hawaii: David Ige (since December 1, 2014) Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii: Josh Green (since December 3, 2018)
Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the United States.CIA Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands retrieved 7 March 2020 Governor: Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (December 19, 2015 – present)[National Governors' Association: Northern Mariana Islands] retrieved 7 March 2020 Lieutenant Governor: Arnold Palacios (January 14, 2019 - present)
United States Minor Outlying Islands The United States Minor Outlying Islands are small, isolated islands or atolls in the Pacific Ocean. Most are uninhabited, although they may be administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as National Wildlife Refuges. They are unincorporated territories of the U.S.
Events January January 1 New Year's Day 2020 New Year Honours in the Commonwealth The death toll from the current bushfire season in the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia, rises to seven. January 2 Takai Commission Holiday, Niue