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Countries Closest to Australia

Try to name the 20 countries that are geographically closest to Australia.
Excludes offshore territories and uninhabited islands
Quiz by
Jerry928
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Last updated: February 22, 2017
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First submittedAugust 9, 2014
Times taken166,112
Average score80.0%
Rating4.99
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Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
km
country
miles
4
Papua New Guinea
2
123
Indonesia
76
461
East Timor
286
1303
New Zealand
810
1391
Solomon Islands
864
1744
Vanuatu
1084
1778
F. S. Micronesia
1105
1920
Philippines
1193
1995
Palau
1240
2250
Malaysia
1398
2402
Brunei
1493
2591
Fiji
1610
2798
Singapore
1738
2863
Nauru
1779
3086
Kiribati
1918
3199
Tuvalu
1988
3228
Tonga
2006
3266
Marshall Islands
2029
3391
Thailand
2107
3413
Vietnam
2121
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100 Recent Comments
plattitude
+21
Level 94
Oct 12, 2015
Was surprised Samoa didn't make the cut, it's right there with Tonga and Fiji right? Apparently my sense of distance over water is not accurate.
MisterS1
+7
Level 29
May 16, 2022
Samoa is definitely closer to Aus than Kiribati
Ollie2220
+1
Level 44
Sep 4, 2025
I thought so too but the map shows otherwise
ander217
+4
Level 74
Oct 30, 2015
I only missed one (Brunei) yet only received three points. Tough competition, but enjoyed the quiz.
catlover2496
+1
Level 43
May 28, 2017
I know, that happens to me too. Weird.
ander217
+1
Level 74
Jan 26, 2018
Missed the same one again, but got five points today. Must have something to do with global warming. :)
OmarVP
+10
Level 55
Oct 30, 2015
what about Samoa?
epicdjyoshi
+1
Level 55
Nov 3, 2015
Maldives?
Jerry928
+1
Level 76
Nov 3, 2015
No, it's well further away.
Jeremy
+5
Level 79
Nov 22, 2015
I think I only got 100% because I want to move to Australia
Jeremy
+7
Level 79
Sep 1, 2020
...why
ElliotArundella
+3
Level 32
Feb 1, 2024
...why not??
Jerry928
+7
Level 76
Feb 2, 2024
I think the main why is why Jeremy (no relation) replied to himself with a why 5 years after his first post
Weyo
+1
Level 54
Sep 6, 2025
lmao
hellodrew
+8
Level 66
Feb 22, 2016
It won't be long before you'll have to add China to this list if they keep making islands in the South China Sea! ;)
Evenultrapawn
+1
Level 65
Apr 25, 2025
It says uninhabited islands don't count
Findlay
+1
Level 80
Jun 1, 2016
I think you got the distance to Indonesia wrong. Boigu Island in Queensland is only about 120 km from the PNG-Indonesia border.
Jerry928
+1
Level 76
Jun 1, 2016
You're right. Quiz being updated.
SHB2000
+1
Level 52
Jan 26, 2024
It's even shorter: the distance from Warul Kawa/Deliverance Island is only 74 km (46 mi).
Jerry928
+2
Level 76
Jan 26, 2024
True, but our policy is to just work with inhabited islands. In several of our Countries Closest quizzes, when we included tiny empty islands like these to calculate inter-country distances, some island countries would be apparently way nearer each other than a look at a world map would suggest. You can argue this one either way (as we have!) but we're comfortable with the approach we're taking.
geographyisthebestsubject
+2
Level 66
Jun 1, 2016
Missed Micronesia and Kiribati!
Devvik2
+2
Level 74
Jun 4, 2016
What about Samoa?!?! It has to be there if Kiribati is there!
Jerry928
+1
Level 76
Jun 4, 2016
Samoa is 3499 km / 2174 mi away
flowerpot101
+1
Level 65
May 16, 2022
And Kiribati?
Weyo
+1
Level 54
Sep 6, 2025
there is an island right next to nauru, belonging to kiribati
amaiolla
+1
Level 24
Sep 7, 2016
I am so disappointed I forgot Singapore and Vietnam...
CardinalV
+1
Level 65
Feb 16, 2017
Got them all with 28 seconds to spare. East Timor took about a minute and a half of hard thinking to come up with.
Malbaby
+2
Level 70
Feb 21, 2017
Good quiz, try my 'Australia Quiz' for an all round challenge.
fitheach
+3
Level 58
Mar 23, 2017
I think there's scope for a "195 countries closest to Australia" quiz...
catlover2496
+2
Level 43
May 28, 2017
If anybody ever creates that quiz, they would have to use the yellow box.
Evenultrapawn
+1
Level 65
Apr 25, 2025
Or not, if they are one of the many people who recognises more than 196 countries, or they just conform to JetPunk standards and recognise 197, meaning it's just basically a countries of the world quiz except Australia and the furthest country from it (Barbados) are not included.
100Greats
+1
Level 56
May 28, 2017
Good old geography quiz... 5/5 on first try. Pondered also Samoa..
catlover2496
+1
Level 43
May 28, 2017
5/5? But there's 20 answers...
ReyFer
+1
Level 67
Jan 26, 2018
points
DonStar
+1
Level 40
Jul 5, 2017
I neary forgot Micronesia but got them all in the end with a minute plus to spare
jonty
+2
Level 30
Jul 6, 2017
I think France should be considered as New Caledonia is very close, which is a region of France
ander217
+2
Level 74
Jan 26, 2018
I read the Wikipedia article and I'm still confused as to what it is, but New Caledonia is not a region of France. Apparently it is a special collectivity called a territory "sui generis" meaning in a class by itself. It seems to be heading toward independence even though some do not want it. It even has two national flags representing the two factions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledonia
fromabove
+3
Level 60
Jul 27, 2017
You've forgotten Samoa.
Jerry928
+3
Level 76
Jul 27, 2017
See my answer to alisonchen, above.
flowerpot101
+2
Level 65
May 16, 2022
Kiribati is 6,592 km and Samoa is 5,773km away according to Google.
Weyo
+1
Level 54
Sep 6, 2025
inconistent start and end points then, you can measure it yourself on google maps
Wulfy
+2
Level 50
Aug 26, 2017
this whole thing is wrong. you didnt factor in christmas island and the Cocos/Keelings islands
Jerry928
+7
Level 76
Aug 27, 2017
No it's not - please see the instructions. Norfolk Island isn't included either.
Evenultrapawn
+1
Level 65
Apr 25, 2025
Uninhabited islands and overseas territories are not included
tobithefox
+1
Level 59
Nov 6, 2017
Someday I'm going to go live on Rotuma...
starfast
+1
Level 57
Jan 26, 2018
How did I miss Fiji?! I could have sworn that I guessed that D:
ReyFer
+2
Level 67
Jan 26, 2018
Nearest misses: Cambodia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Laos
ChipOtley
+1
Level 73
Jan 26, 2018
Burmyanmar must be close to those too?
joshxgarrett
+1
Level 61
Jan 26, 2018
I can't believe I for Brunei! Dang!
kenpo17
+1
Level 65
Jan 26, 2018
Like many geography quizzes on this site, you have to get a perfect score to get 5 points. I forgut Brunei the first time around, but after finding out what I missed I was able to get a perfect on the second try.
defmite
+2
Level 80
Jan 28, 2018
Forgive me asking but are you sure about Kiribati? Looks almost as far away from Samoa as Samoa is from Australia.
defmite
+2
Level 80
Jan 28, 2018
Mackay looks to be about the closest point to both and Google tells me Apia, Samoa is 4,208 km away and Poland Kiribati is 6,327 km, a difference of over 2000km's.
dogmeat
+3
Level 69
Mar 19, 2019
Kiribati covers an enormous area of ocean. It is made up of three main groups The Gilbert group is a permanently inhabited atoll near the equator. As such it is much closer than Samoa - even though if you look at a map of the Pacific it looks like Samoa is equidistant to the main part of Kiribati
Kahikatea
+1
Level 74
Apr 3, 2018
how did you get such a short distance for New Zealand if you were missing out uninhabited islands or overseas territories?

surely the shortest distance in that case is from Southeastern Tasmania to Fiordland, which is over 1500?

Jerry928
+3
Level 76
Apr 4, 2018
The nearest point of Australia to NZ is Lord Howe Island, which is a part of New South Wales.
Craig87
+1
Level 22
Jan 30, 2019
I only missed Kiribati, damn :D
Velaris
+1
Level 98
Mar 18, 2019
Can't believe that I got less than half right. As an Australian, I'm ashamed.
TheSaxyMan
+1
Level 55
Mar 18, 2019
100% on my first try
bananacake
+1
Level 40
May 23, 2019
Can you make one that includes offshore territories of both Australia & Other countries?

e.g including Australia's Heard & McDonalds Islands

FarmerJoe
+1
Level 52
Aug 14, 2019
As an australian this was a cinch
gkmaster
+2
Level 39
Dec 17, 2020
You forgot France, as New Caledonia is close to Australia
Pharley
+5
Level 75
Jan 26, 2021
You forgot to read the instructions.....

Which countries are closest to Australia?

Excludes offshore territories and uninhabited islands

Upended
+3
Level 69
Jan 26, 2021
Happy Australia Day! Great quiz to feature
Wouter28
+1
Level 25
Jan 26, 2021
cool
3Timi3
+1
Level 28
Jan 30, 2021
how could I forget about Malaysia and the Philippines? :(
FaroPor
+1
Level 60
Mar 16, 2021
Got Brunei with 3 seconds left
Shadow24
+1
Level 20
Apr 25, 2021
I like this quiz
StabakMallick
+2
Level 21
Jun 26, 2021
Samoa?
Jerry928
+2
Level 76
Jun 26, 2021
3762 km
StabakMallick
+2
Level 21
Jun 26, 2021
Myanmar is close
Jerry928
+2
Level 76
Jun 26, 2021
3922 km
AxolotlSucksGeo
+2
Level 44
Nov 26, 2021
Hey, Do you forget France (New Caledonia)? Its close to Australia
Jerry928
+3
Level 76
Nov 26, 2021
Please note the instructions.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 79
Jan 3, 2022
1:55 remaining
selful
+1
Level 69
Jan 4, 2022
lol,i'm a Portuguese nationalist so I just call it "Timor-Leste"
AlexThirkell
+2
Level 74
Jan 30, 2022
Isn't Portugal already a nation?
Madmo
+5
Level 39
Feb 8, 2023
im sorry but that's not what nationalism is, its a political ideology
moonshot
+3
Level 58
May 16, 2022
How about Samoa?
JCheroko
+3
Level 36
May 16, 2022
Samoa?
Thewasher
+1
Level 35
Jun 23, 2022
Was going to comment this, where is Samoa?
jackson33miller
+1
Level 70
May 16, 2022
personal apology to the Phillipines, who i continue to forget in countless quizzes
Kalamazoo
+1
Level 55
May 17, 2022
Sometimes, when you live in Australia, it feels like everywhere is a long way away.
johnnyrdnck
+3
Level 48
Aug 1, 2022
i think overseas territories should count
Eduuuu13
+1
Level 55
Sep 8, 2025
Me too
SomeoneRandom42
+1
Level 64
Nov 17, 2022
Can't believe I missed Papua New Guinea- 16/20
Iggy1
+1
Level 52
Dec 14, 2022
We have “Countries closest to x”, so now we need “Countries Farthest From x”.
jonty5
+1
Level 33
Jan 2, 2023
SAMOA?
axed
+1
Level 44
Sep 1, 2023
i was wondering what the one country i was missing was until time ran out and it was new zealand...
Aoto327
+1
Level 87
Nov 24, 2023
19/20, I forgot Singapore…
Holela
+1
Level 59
Jan 26, 2024
tady jsou zas všichni chytří, kreténi
nerdingo
+1
Level 22
Jan 27, 2024
omgg can't believe that missed phillipines
Cody38482
+2
Level 38
May 27, 2024
You forgot France (New Caledonia)
Jerry928
+1
Level 76
May 27, 2024
Please note the instructions.
MACADAM1A
+2
Level 25
Jun 23, 2025
How is Samoa not close enough because its really close to Fiji which is on the list?
JPDan
+1
Level 44
Sep 5, 2025
Compare Samoa to Tonga, instead. Tonga closer but still pretty far away from Australia. Most of Oceania countries plus Malaysia, Singapore, etc. are closer than Samoa. I typed Samoa but it rejected it. (Good question, Max).
Weyo
+1
Level 54
Sep 6, 2025
"really close" is crazy
RoboquizM86
+1
Level 61
Sep 4, 2025
Wow I got top scores. I improved my score since last time 5/5 last time I got 3/5
Eduuuu13
+1
Level 55
Sep 8, 2025
My dumbass was stuck for more than a minute trying to answer Australia
gulob32
+1
Level 34
Nov 6, 2025
where is Samoa
Jerry928
+2
Level 76
Nov 9, 2025
Well further east
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