Oceania was first populated approximately 50,000 years ago by migrants from Asia to the Torres Strait Islands and Australia. Oceania is made up of four cultural areas: Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Migrants arrived from Asia to Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia at a later time. 

Oceania was first explored by Europeans in the 16th century. The British, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, American and Japanese all colonized Oceania between the 18th and 20th centuries.

English is the most common language spoken in Oceania.  French, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese are other colonial languages used. It is also home to over 5,000 indigenous languages. It is one of the most linguistically diverse areas of the world.