Determining the European country most similar to the South Pacific region requires considering various social, cultural, economic, and political factors. One way to answer this complex question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries, using a variety of statistics from five broad categories: demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography.
According to the Index, Cyprus is the most similar European country to the South Pacific region. On the other end of the spectrum, Belarus has the least amount of traits in common with the South Pacific.
(South Pacific countries defined as East Timor, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu)
Cyprus was a British colony from 1878 until 1960 when it gained independence. During this period, British colonial rule left a lasting impact on the island’s institutions, legal system, language, and infrastructure. In addition, Cyprus is located on an island in the Mediterranean Sea, so it has some geographic similarities as well.
Government
Both Cyprus and some South Pacific nations were former colonies, with Cyprus having a history of British colonial rule. The colonial legacy can impact government structures, legal systems, and administrative practices. Former British colonies typically adopt or inherit the common law legal system. Both Cyprus and many countries in the South Pacific now are democracies, but they tend to have little rule of law.
Infrastructure
Both Cyprus and many South Pacific nations are located on islands. Therefore they tend to have a lot of boats and shipping infrastructure. The development of infrastructure such as airports, hotels, and recreational facilities is often influenced by the needs of the tourism industry in these countries. Furthermore, like Cyprus, most countries in the South Pacific drive on the left side of the road.
Geography
Cyprus is a mountainous island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. Similarly, many countries in the South Pacific are also island nations, forming archipelagos and scattered islands across the Pacific Ocean. Cyprus is one of the countries with the warmest climate in Europe, since it is located far to the South. As a result, its temperatures are more similar to the South Pacific than many other European countries.
The Most Similar South Pacific Country to Cyprus
The Country Similarity Index suggests that Fiji is the most similar country in the South Pacific to Cyprus. Both countries were once British colonies and still have English as one of their official languages. They have economies that, to some extent, rely on tourism. Furthermore, they have a lot of shipping infrastructure. Both nations have diverse populations as well.