Volcanic in origin, the Fiji archipelago is situated in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1 800 km north of New Zealand. Of Fiji's more than 800 islands and islets, a little more than 100 are permanently inhabited. The biggest island is Viti Levu, followed by Vanua Levu. Both islands are mountainous, the highest peak (Mount Tomanivi, in Viti Levu) rising to 1 324 m above the sea level.

Fiji has a tropical climate. Average monthly temperatures vary between 22 and 26 °C -—
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—-. A hot, rainy season lasts from December to April. The dryer and cooler season lasts from June to October, although the southeastern slopes of the main islands remain relatively humid year‐round. The southeastern parts of Viti Levu get up to 2 900 mm of rain per year, while in the northwestern corner of the same island the figure is around 2 000 mm. The average temperatures are also a bit higher in the northwest. Fiji can be affected by tropical cyclones, usually between November and mid‐May.

The economy of Fiji is based primarily on tourism and agriculture, and it is one of the most developed among the Pacific island economies. Sugar production has traditionally been an important economic activity, while the garment industry has also grown in importance over the years. The main trading partners are the United States of America, Australia and Japan. Around two thirds of Fiji's GDP is generated by services, while industry accounts for almost one fifth. -—
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—- According to the items attribute is mandatory, service sector jobs account for half of total employment in Fiji, while one third is employed in agriculture. The majority of Fiji's international trade in services consists of tourism‐related transport and travel services. From 2016 to 2019, tourist arrivals to Fiji have been close to one million per year, and their expenditure equalled to 24 per cent over GDP in 2019 -—
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—-. Fiji is quite rich in natural resources, with exports consisting of minerals such as copper and gold, oil, fish and wood.

Features of traditional Fijian culture are still part of important ceremonies and festivities in the country today. Traditional handicrafts, music and dancing also contribute to tourism.

Root vegetables and coconut are important ingredients in Fijian cuisine and daily nutrition. Fiji is also famous for its seafood. However, Indian curries and Chinese dishes are also very popular in Fiji. The national beverage is yaqona, more widely known as kava or grog ‐ described as a mildy narcotic drink.

Fijian sport activities include canoeing, wrestling and a local form of shuffleboard. Nowadays, rugby is also very popular, and many Fijian players play in the top leagues around the world. Fiji won the men's rugby sevens Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Summer Games. It was the first ever Olympic medal for Fiji, who has participated in the Olympic Summer Games since 1956. This special occasion was celebrated by announcing a public holiday. Fiji has participated in several Olympic Winter Games as well.

Kiribati (pronounced kee‐ree‐bas) consists of 33 coral islands with a total land area of 810 km². Only 21 of the islands are inhabited. The islands are scattered over 3.5 million km² in the Central Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most remote and geographically dispersed countries in the world.

It is composed of three island groups: the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. All of the islands are atolls or ring‐shaped with central lagoons, except for the island of Banaba, which is a raised limestone island. It is the only country situated in four hemispheres of the world. It is also the furthest ahead of Greenwich meantime at UTC +14, making it the first country in the world to see in the New Year. Caroline island was the first island to ring in the Third Millennium in 2000 and, to celebrate the occasion, it was renamed Millennium Island.

Most of the atolls are low‐lying, making them vulnerable to tidal surges and rising sea levels as a result of global warming. Two small uninhabited islets, Tebua Tarawa and Abanuea, which ironically means 'the beach which is long‐lasting', disappeared below the sea in 1999. In 2014, to escape climate change, Kiribati acquired 20 km² of land in Fiji for the purpose of food security and as a possible refuge.

Kiribati experiences a hot and humid equatorial maritime climate, moderated by the trade winds. The temperature in Kiribati is closely related to the temperatures of seas surrounding the islands. There is almost no variation in temperature, with average monthly temperatures falling between 27 and 28 °C through the year. Annual rainfalls vary greatly throughout the year and between islands. Average annual rainfall is generally below 1 200 mm in Kiribati but varies between 1 000 and 3 000 mm across the country: the northern parts of the Gilbert and Line groups receive more rain than the Phoenix group. -—
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The Phoenix islands are also home to the second largest marine protected area in the world, called the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. In 2010, it was inscribed to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Kiribati is among the least developed Pacific island nations with a GDP per capita of US$1 657 in 2019. Foreign aid and personal remittances provide important sources of funding at 10 per cent of GDP each -—
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—-. Fish constitute the bulk of goods exports, with over 80 per cent share. According to the items attribute is mandatory, Kiribati's large exclusive economic zone in the Pacific accounts for one quarter of the global total of tuna species. The ADB estimates that revenue from fishing licenses equals two thirds of GDP in Kiribati. Together agriculture, forestry and, especially fishing, account for almost one fourth of GDP, while services constitute the largest economic sector -—
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—-. Kiribati was the destination of 12 thousand tourist arrivals in 2019 and 9 thousand in 2018. Inbound tourism expenditure was below 2 per cent over GDP in 2018 -—
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—-. EVI of Kiribati is the highest among the SIDS and in the world -—
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The name Kiribati is the Gilbertese pronunciation of Gilberts, ‐ KI‐ruh‐bas, ‐ the main archipelago of the country. The letter 's' doesn't exist in the 13‐letter Gilbertese alphabet and is written as 'ti'. This explains why Kiribati isn't pronounced the way it is spelled.

The native islanders of Kiribati are known as I‐Kiribati. They are Micronesian, the largest ethnic group accounting for around 96 per cent of the country's population. The most widely practiced religion in Kiribati is Christianity. The most important institutional symbol in Kiribati is the maneaba ni Maungatabu, social and community hall, where people meet to discuss matters of importance, under the leadership of elected elders, Unimwane and Christian leaders.

The traditional dances of Kiribati, or 'te Mwaie ni Kiribati', are unique bird‐like dances, imitating the movements of the frigate bird while walking and flying.

Oreano is a traditional team sport and the national sport in Kiribati ‐ two opposing teams throw a heavy woven ball of somewhere between 2 to 5 kg, which should be caught without being dropped or injuring the players. Other popular sports are canoe racing and football.

The national dish of Kiribati is Palusami. It consists of coconut cream with onions and curry powder wrapped in taro leaves. It is eaten with roast pork or chicken. Another popular dish is boiled pandanus fruit, or screw pine.

The Marshall Islands are situated approximately between the Philippines and Hawaii. More than 1 200 islands and islets in two parallel chains of coral atolls constitute the country: the Ralik, to the west and the Ratak to the east. The chains lie about 200 km apart and extend some 1 287 km northwest to southeast. Most of the atolls consists of irregular, oval‐shaped coral reefs surrounding a lagoon; the islets lie along the coral reef. The islands and islets of the Ratak chain tend to be more heavily wooded than those of the Ralik. The main vegetation consists of coconut and pandanus palms and breadfruit trees. Soils are generally sandy and of poor quality. Several of the northern atolls are uninhabited owing to insufficient rainfall.

The climate is tropical. The average temperature is very stable, with a monthly average of 28 °C through the year. Average annual rainfall in the Marshall Islands is below 2 800 mm and varies from 500 to 800 mm in the north, to 4 000 mm in the southern atolls. September, October and November tend to be the most humid months with a rainfall of more than 280 mm per month, while a drier season occurs between December and April. -—
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—- Many pacific typhoons begin as tropical storms in the Marshall Islands region and grow stronger as they move west toward the Mariana Islands and the Philippines.

Main activities in the islands include agriculture, fishing, shipping, tourism and farming. The Marshall Islands is among the three leading countries in foreign ship registrations after Panama and Liberia, making ship registration, along with fishing license fees, an important source of revenues. Pig and poultry farming are important agricultural activities, as are the major food crops: coconut, pandanus, breadfruit and taro. Copra is the chief source of income for the outer islands. Key export destinations include Poland, Denmark, Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Cyprus. The country is dependent on imported food, machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods and fuels; primarily from the United States of America, Japan and Australia. Remittances are important, accounting for almost 15 per cent of GDP -—
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—-. In 2018, inbound tourism expenditure reached almost 10 per cent over GDP. EVI of the Marshall Islands is the second highest among the SIDS and in the world -—
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Extended families and clan systems are common on the islands. Marshallese society is matrilineal where land is passed down from generation to generation through the mother.

Local food specialties include breadfruit, coconut, bananas, papaya, seafood, pandanus and bwiro. Food preservation has been a historic part of Marshallese culture and continues to be practiced today.

Throughout the years of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, United Nations day was an important holiday, but that has now been replaced by Marshall Islands Independence Day. Other important celebrations commemorate the end of suffering during World War II and Kurijmoj (Christmas), a ritual event of up to four months in duration, celebrated by all (not only church members).

The most popular sports in the Marshall Islands are softball and baseball. Both sports are growing at a fast pace. The Marshall Islands achieved a silver medal in men's 200 m and two bronze medals in women's 100 m and 200 m in the Micronesian Games in 2014.

The Federated States of Micronesia consist of four states ‐ Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap ‐ and comprises of more than 600 islands. The islands are in the Micronesian sub‐region of the western Pacific Ocean and together with the islands of Palau are also called Caroline Islands. Some of the islands have high mountains while others are low coral atolls. Mount Nanlaud is the highest point (782 m) of the Federated States and is situated on Pohnpei island.

The climate is hot, humid and rainy throughout the year. Average annual rainfall in Micronesia is approximately 3 800 mm. The wet season takes place between April and September, and the rainfall is relatively high, above 300 mm per month, also from October to December. The rainiest Island is Palikir, which receives almost 4 800 mm of rain annually. The driest islands are the flat atolls, where annual rainfall may stay below 3 000 mm. Average temperatures are very stable, ranging from lows of 22‐25 °C to highs of between 30‐32 °C. The sea in Micronesia is pleasantly warm all year round, at about 29 °C. The area can be affected by tropical cyclones, storm waves, droughts and flooding. -—
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Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities in Micronesia contributing almost 30 per cent to GDP. Fish represents about 90 per cent of its total exports of goods. The islands also export nuts and vegetable products. Important export destinations include Thailand, China, Japan and Guam. Fishing licenses are also an important source of revenue. Services constitute over 65 per cent of GDP, but tourism is held back by poor infrastructure. -—
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Culture and traditions vary between the four states, but some common cultural features exist. Traditional dances include stick dancing in Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap, standing dances in Chuuk and sitting dances in Yap. A famous 'Moonlight Dance' is performed in Chuuk during a full moon and only with the permission of the village chief and is one of the very few dances allowing men and women dance together.

Local gastronomic specialties include breadfruit and thinly sliced raw fish with peppery sauce. Chuuk island does not allow the consumption of alcohol. The island of Yap is known for its stone money, called 'Rai' ‐ the most valuable calcite disks are up to four metres in diameter. The most popular sport in Micronesia is baseball. The Federated States of Micronesia have participated in the Olympic Summer Games since 2000.

Nauru is a small island country in Micronesia, in the South‐West Pacific, surrounded by coral reef. It is the third smallest country in the world and the smallest outside of Europe. It is also recognized as the smallest republic of the world. The highest point of the island (Command Ridge) rises 71 m above the sea level. Only the coastal areas of Nauru are fertile. Nauru is the only country in the world without an official capital. The parliament meets in Yaren.

The climate of Nauru is hot and humid throughout the year, with constant rains and no dry season. Annual average rainfall is about 2 400 mm. On average, there are no months with rainfall below 150 mm, with this figure rising from December to January to 250 mm or more. The monthly average temperature is very stable at 28 °C with daily lows around 24‐25 °C and highs around 30‐31 °C. Nauru is outside of the path of tropical cyclones. -—
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The economy of Nauru is based on phosphate mining and the processing of coconut products. Nauru is also known as a center of offshore banking. In addition, the government gets revenue from the sale of fishing rights. Nauru's GDP is heavily dependent on industry, which accounts for 38 per cent, of which, mining is the dominant activity. Services account for about 60 per cent of GDP with trade, restaurants and hotels contributing over 20 per cent to GDP. Nauru's principal export destinations are Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand. -—
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—- Nauru's GDP per capita is the second highest among the Pacific SIDS with more than US$12 000 in 2019, current prices.

Music and dance are the most popular traditional art forms in Nauru. Handicrafts and clothing, made of coconut trees, are typical. Nauruan cuisine has a strong Chinese influence. Traditional Christmas cakes are made of banana and coconut.

The majority of the population speak English, which is commonly used as the language of administration, even though English is not an official language of Nauru.

The most popular sport in Nauru is Australian football. A traditional sport, specific to Nauru, is catching birds by lassoing them when they return from the sea to the island in the evening.

Nauru is the smallest member nation of the International Olympic Committee and has competed at the Olympic Summer Games since 1996. Weightlifting is the traditional Olympic sport of Nauru.

Palau is situated in the western Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines, and consists of some 340 coral and volcanic islands. All but six of Palau's islands sit inside an expansive lagoon enclosed by a huge barrier reef. Palau stretches across 700 km of ocean and its forest coverage is one of the highest in the world. The topography of the islands varies from the mountainous main island, Babelthuap, to many low‐lying coral islands.

Palau has a tropical climate. Annual average temperature is around 28 °C and remains the same throughout the year, with daily highs around 31 °C and lows around 24 °C. The difference between the hottest and coldest months is about 0.8 °C. Heavy rains occur all year, with the least rainfall occurring between February and April. Annual average rainfall is about 3 100 mm. -—
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—- Palau does not lie directly in the path of tropical cyclones but is nevertheless sometimes affected. One of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan, hit Palau in January 2014.

Tourism, fishing and agriculture are the main economic activities of Palau. Tourism infrastructure is well developed ‐ tourist activities focus on water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling. Helicopter rides are also popular. The service sector accounts for most of the country's GDP with 88 per cent, including retail trade, restaurants and hotels contributing about 30 per cent to GDP. Palau exports fish, especially yellowfin tuna. The main export partners are Japan, Greece and the United States of America. Among the Pacific SIDS, Palau had the highest GDP per capita in 2019 at US$16 000, current prices. -—
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Women play an important role in Palauan society as it is organized around matrilineal clans. Senior women have strong decision making powers with regard to property.

Poetry and dancing are important arts in Palau. Traditional line dances are performed by both men and women. Men's dances often include war‐related elements.

The Palauan cuisine is centered around root vegetables, seafood dishes and the versatile use of coconut. It takes influences from the cuisines of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and the United States, but adds a unique Palauan twist.

Baseball is the most popular sport played in Palau. Palau first joined the Olympic Games in the 2000 Sydney Summer Games but has not yet participated in the Winter Games.

Papua New Guinea is the world's 3rd largest island country, located north of Australia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and the offshore islands in Melanesia. The largest towns are located in the eastern part of New Guinea, including Lae and the capital city, Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea includes other major islands and up to 600 smaller islets and atolls.

A series of mountains, the New Guinea Highlands, runs along the island of New Guinea. They form highlands that are mostly covered with tropical rainforest. Papua New Guinea hosts a range of ecosystems, such as mountain glaciers, humid tropical rainforests, swampy wetlands, and coral reefs. Because of dense rainforests and the large wetlands, some areas are only accessible by foot or by air. There are several active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea with frequent eruptions. Earthquakes are relatively common, sometimes accompanied by tsunamis.

Papua New Guinea has a monsoonal climate with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. Two monsoonal seasons occur from December to March and from May to October. Rainfall exceeds 2 500mm in many areas of the country, with the heaviest rainfall in the highlands. Average monthly temperatures range from 24 to 26 °C. Papua New Guinea one of the few regions close to the equator that experience snowfall, which occurs in the most elevated parts of the mainland. -—
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Papua New Guinea is prone to natural disasters and climate variability, and climactic changes are set to accelerate the occurrence of landslides, soil erosion, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity, as well as increase occurrence of recurrent floods and droughts. It is the world's 10^th most at‐risk country for natural hazards, according to the United Nations University -—
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—- World Risk Index.

Agriculture, fishing, community forestry, and artisanal and small-scale mining are the primary livelihood activities in rural areas -—
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—-. Almost 60 per cent of all employed people worked in the agricultural sector in 2019 -—
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—-, even though the share of arable land is less than 1 per cent of total land area in Papua New Guinea -—
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—-. Palm oil, coffee, cocoa and coconut oil are among the main export products. The rich natural resources are an important source of export income, which include gold, oil, and copper. The top-3 destinations for exports are Australia, China and Japan -—
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Services employed a bit more than a third of people in the country in 2019 -—
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—-, which is less than in SIDS on average. Tourist arrivals have been close to 200 000 per year recently until 2019. Tourism expenditure remained of relatively small importance to the economy, at 0.02 per cent of GDP in 2018 -—
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—-. Papua New Guinea is classified as a lower middle income country -—
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—- and reached US$2 845 per capita in 2019 -—
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Papua New Guinea is a culturally diverse country. The share of urban population is low, reaching only 13 per cent in 2020 -—
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—-. The country includes a few thousand different cultural groups, many with their own languages. Wood carving is a popular handicraft skill in the country, often portraying imaginative plants or animals.

Traditional celebrations, which include song, dance, feasting and gift-giving, are called singsings. Vibrant and colorful costumes adorn the dancers, while a leader and a chorus sing a staggered approach to the same song, producing a fugue-like effect. Sport is important in Papua New Guinea, especially rugby league – one of the most popular sports in the country.

Papuan cuisine includes many starchy vegetables, such as wild sago, sweet potatoes, yams, rice and breadfruit, often served with bananas and coconuts. Meat comes from domesticated livestock and hunting of game like pork, cassowaries, marsupials and birds. On the coast, seafood, such as shellfish, is a key part of nutrition.

Samoa lies south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, and consists of two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu, and eight smaller islands. All islands have volcanic origins. Samoa's highest peak, Mount Silisili (1 853 m), is located in Savai'i and is the only remaining active volcano. Besides the mountainous interior areas of Sava'i and Upolu, Samoa consists mainly of coastal plains.

The tropical climate of Samoa is humid and rainy with warm temperatures year‐round. Monthly average temperatures vary only between 27 and 28 °C, while night‐time temperatures remain above 20 °C. From November to April, Samoa has a rainy and warm season, while a dry and cooler season takes place from May to October. The average annual rainfall is just below 3 100 mm, and in the capital area at 2 800 mm, but can reach up to five meters in the region of Mount Silisili. The Samoa Islands can be exposed to severe tropical cyclones from December to February, especially. -—
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Samoa has a relatively small economy that is dependent on trade. Agriculture employs two‐thirds of the labour force -—
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—-. The main agricultural products are coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee and cocoa. Other industries mainly include the processing of agricultural products, petroleum and tourism. Remittances are important for the economy, contributing 17 per cent to GDP -—
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—-. The tourism sector has been expanding rapidly in recent decades. Samoa received 181 thousand tourist arrivals in 2019 with an inbound tourism expenditure almost reaching 25 per cent over GDP -—
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—-. The service sector makes up three fourths of the country's GDP. The most common destination for exports are American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. -—
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—- More than half of Samoa's electricity comes from renewable sources and the country aspires towards total renewable energy by 2021.

Fa'a Samoa, or the Samoan Way, describes the communal way of life of Samoans. Faith, family and music are the basic pillars of Samoan culture. Most activities are done together and sometimes the extended family lives together in the oval or circular shaped traditional house (fale) with wooden posts holding up a domed roof. Traditional buildings also do not have walls. Family elders are greatly respected, and they hold the highest status.

The Ava Ceremony is an important ritual performed on different occasions. It includes speeches and the formal drinking of 'Ava, a beverage made of pepper root. ?Ava is considered non‐alcoholic but has a relaxing, euphoric effect.

Dancing has a special place in Samoan culture. Traditional Samoan dance has managed to avoid western impact.

The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union and rugby league, and it has done well in the rugby world cup. Samoa has participated in the Summer Olympic Games since 1984 and won silver medal in women's weightlifting at the 2008 Games.