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| 1980 |
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| The Condominium of New Hebrides became independent under a new name, Vanuatu. | 1 |
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| 1981 |
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| The Micronesian island of Palau became the self-governing Republic of Palau (Belau). | 2 |
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| 1985 |
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| The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (the Treaty of Rarotonga) was signed by nine forum countries. | 3 |
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| 1987, May 14 |
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| Col. Sitiveni Rabuka, in a military coup (the first in modern Pacific history) overthrew the democratically elected National Federation–Fiji Labour Party Coalition government in Fiji. In September he executed another coup, leading to Fiji's expulsion from the British Commonwealth and the creation of the Republic of Fiji. | 4 |
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| 1988, Aug. 20 |
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| The Matignon Accord was signed in Paris to defuse a political crisis in New Caledonia, put some power back into the hands of the Kanaks, and provide for a new referendum on independence to be held in 1998. In December, the Bougainville Republican Army, committed to Bougainville's separation from Papua New Guinea, began attacks on government officials and installations. | 5 |
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| 1992, May |
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| Fiji held its first postcoup election. Sitiveni Rabuka became prime minister with the support of the Fiji Labour Party, which he had ousted from power in 1987. | 6 |
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| 1997, May |
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| The South Pacific Commission changed its name to Pacific Islands Commission at a meeting in Noumea on May 19–23. | 7 |
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| July |
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| The Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa passed a constitutional amendment to change the country's name to Samoa. | 8 |
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