Oceania is not a clearly defined region, but is often thought of as including the continent of Australia along with the various island nations surrounding it in the South Pacific. With a population quadruple the size of any of its neighbors, Australia is by far the largest country in this region. It is also home to most of the major cities of Oceania, including Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and the country’s capital of Canberra.

Going down the list of most populous nations in Oceania, next are Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Fiji. These are all relatively small nations, but are also very popular travel destinations because of their stunning scenic beauty and leisurely lifestyle. Volunteers who want to live on an island nation for a while should consider all these countries as premier destinations to volunteer in Oceania.

The rest of the countries in Oceania are all quite small, with populations of just a few hundred thousand citizens. Nevertheless, nations such as the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Micronesia can all be very rewarding places to volunteer abroad. These countries have very small economies and are largely dependent on agriculture and fishing for sustenance, so by volunteering abroad, you can help offset the lack of resources and opportunity.