Countries Bordering the Pacific Ocean: The Ring of Fire Nations

50+ Nations on the World's Largest Ocean

The Pacific Ocean touches more countries than any other basin. Here they are, organized by region (sovereign states only; territories noted):

Americas (East Pacific)

• North: Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama.
• South: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile.

Oceania (West & Central Pacific)

• Continental: Australia, Papua New Guinea.
• Melanesia: Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France).
• Micronesia: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau.
• Polynesia: New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands (NZ), Niue (NZ), Tokelau (NZ), French Polynesia (France), Wallis & Futuna (France), Pitcairn (UK).

Asia (West Pacific)

• Russia (Far East), Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste.

Antarctica

• No sovereign territory. Claimants (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, UK) have Pacific-facing sectors.

Territories with Pacific Coast (Not Sovereign)

• USA: Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Kingman Reef.
• France: Clipperton, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis & Futuna.
• UK: Pitcairn.
• Chile: Easter Island, Juan Fernández.
• Ecuador: Galápagos.
• Costa Rica: Cocos Island.
• Mexico: Revillagigedo.
• Colombia: Malpelo.

By the Numbers

• ~30 sovereign states with mainland Pacific coast.
• ~20 sovereign island nations entirely in Pacific.
• ~15 territories with Pacific coast.
• Total exclusive economic zones (EEZs) cover most of the ocean.

Why It Matters

Pacific Rim = 60% world GDP, 50% trade, Ring of Fire (90% earthquakes, 75% volcanoes), climate driver (ENSO), fisheries (50% catch), emerging deep-sea mining, geopolitical flashpoint.