SPC Member Countries

 

 

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) implements programmes that benefit 22 Pacific Island countries and territories. These are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

The twenty-seven (27) members of the Pacific Community include the above Island countries and territories plus the five remaining founding countries: Australia, France, New Zealand (NZ), the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA).

Island members

  • The US territory of American Samoa (Polynesia) joined SPC as a full member in 1983. Mid-year population estimate (MYPE) 1998: 60,700.

  • The Cook Islands (Polynesia), a self-governing State in free association with New Zealand, joined SPC as a full member in 1980. MYPE 1998: 16,500.

  • The Federated States of Micronesia (part of the group of Micronesian islands known as the Carolines, formerly part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands [1IPI] administered by the United States under a trusteeship agreement), now associated with the USA in a Compact of Free Association, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. YPE 1998: I 14, 100.

  • The independent Republic of Fiji (Melanesia) joined SPC as a full member in 1971. MYPE 1998: 797,700.

  • The French overseas territory of French Polynesia joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1996: 225,500.

  • Guam (Micronesia), an unincorporated territory of the United States, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1997: 132, I 00.

  • The independent Republic of Kiribati (Micronesia) a member of the British Commonwealth, formerly known as the Gilbert Islands in the British Colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 85, I 00.

  • The Marshall Islands (Micronesia), a Republic associated with the United States in a Compact of Free Association, formerly part of the TTPI, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 61, I 00.

  • The independent Republic of Nauru (Micronesia), an associate member of the British Commonwealth and former United Nations trust territory, joined SPC as a full member in 1969. MYPE 1998: 11,500.. The French overseas territory (TOM) of New Caledonia (Melanesia) joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 206,000.

  • Niue (Polynesia), a self-governing British Commonwealth country in free association with New Zealand, joined SPC as a full member in 1980. MYPE 1998: 2, I 00.

  • The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Micronesia) a self-governing Commonwealth in union with the United States, formerly part of the TTPI, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 68,700.

  • Palau (Micronesia) a Republic associated with the United States in a Compact of Free Association, part of the Western Caroline Islands and formerly part of the TTPI, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 68,700.

  • Papua New Guinea (Melanesia), an independent State and a member of the British Commonwealth, joined SPC as a full member in 1975. MYPE 1998: 4,412,400.

  • Pitcairn Islands (geographically part of Polynesia), a British Dependent Territory, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 38.

  • The independent state of Samoa (Polynesia), a member of the British Commonwealth, joined SPC as a full member in 1965 (first Island member). MYPE 1998: 174,800.

  • Solomon Islands (Melanesia), an independent state and member of the British Commonwealth, joined the Commission as a full member in 1978. MYPE 1998: 417,800.

  • Tokelau (Polynesia), a non-self-governing territory under New Zealand administration, formerly known as the Tokelau Islands, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 1,500.

  • The independent Kingdom of Tonga (Polynesia), a member of the British Commonwealth, joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 98,000.

  • The independent state of Tuvalu (Polynesia), an associate member of the British commonwealth, formerly known as the Ellice Islands in the British Colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, joined SPC as a full member in 1978. MYPE 1998: 11,000.

  • The independent Republic of Vanuatu (Melanesia), a member of the British Commonwealth, formerly known as the New Hebrides (a British/French condominium), joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 182,500.

  • The French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna (Polynesia), joined SPC as a full member in 1983. MYPE 1998: 14,200.