Five countries from Oceania have announced participation in GREEN×EXPO 2027 (the 2027 International Horticultural Expo) as of 9 September 2026. The count comes from the lists published by the GREEN×EXPO Association (formally the 2027 International Horticultural Expo Association, a public interest incorporated association) and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From Asia, India, Thailand and the Philippines each have their own article on this site, but none of the Oceania countries had one when this article was published.
Contract status
At the time of writing, no signing of an official participation contract with the GREEN×EXPO Association has been announced for any Oceania country, and no exhibit details have been made public yet. All five remain at the participation-announcement stage.
Country-by-country status (5 countries in Oceania)
Area, population, language and industry details for each country come from the basic data pages published by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands covers 28,900 square kilometres, about twice the size of Japan’s Iwate Prefecture. The capital is Honiara and the population is 819,198 (2024, Asian Development Bank). English is the official language, and Pijin is also used as a common language. The country became independent from the United Kingdom on 7 July 1978 and is a constitutional monarchy. Its main industries are agriculture (copra and timber) and fishing, and its leading export destinations are China, Italy and Australia.
Republic of Nauru
Nauru newly joined the list of participating countries in the Association’s update dated 9 September 2026. It covers just 21.1 square kilometres, about the size of Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward, which makes it one of the smallest countries in the world. The capital is Yaren and the population is 11,947 (2024, World Bank). English is the official language, and Nauruan is also used. Nauru once prospered from phosphate exports, but those reserves are now largely exhausted and no major industry has replaced them. In January 2024 it switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
Republic of Palau
Palau covers 488 square kilometres, about the size of Japan’s Yakushima island. The capital is Melekeok, the population is 17,695 (2024, World Bank), and the languages are Palauan and English. Palau became independent in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States and is a presidential republic. Tourism is the main industry: visitor numbers peaked at 164,000 in 2015, fell sharply during the pandemic, and have been recovering since 2022. In March 2024 the United States approved a further 20-year extension of its financial support under the Compact.
Republic of Fiji
Fiji covers 18,270 square kilometres, roughly the size of Japan’s Shikoku region. The capital is Suva and the population is 933,154 (2025, World Bank). English is the official language, and Fijian and Hindi are also used. The main industries are tourism, sugar and clothing. Suva hosts the headquarters of the Pacific Islands Forum and the University of the South Pacific, among other regional bodies, and Fiji is at the centre of regional cooperation.
Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesia is a federation of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It covers 700 square kilometres, about the size of Japan’s Amami Ōshima island. The capital is Palikir, the population is 113,160 (2024, World Bank), and the languages are English plus eight local languages. The main industries are fishing, tourism and agriculture. Like Palau, it has a Compact of Free Association with the United States, and in March 2024 the United States approved a further 20-year extension of its financial support.
Our take
All five are island nations with populations under a million. Two of them, Palau and Micronesia, have a Compact of Free Association with the United States, and that stood out to us.
How they will exhibit at the Expo is still unknown. Displays on the nature and cultures of the Pacific islands would not surprise us.
The full list of participating countries is also available on our feature page, “Participating Countries Guide”.