Oceania
- American Samoa (unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States)
- Governor -
- Hyrum Rex Lee, Governor of American Samoa (1977–1978)
- Peter Tali Coleman, Governor of American Samoa (1978–1985)
- Governor -
- Australia
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia (1952–present)
- Governor-General - Sir Zelman Cowen, Governor-General of Australia (1977–1982)
- Prime Minister - Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister of Australia (1975–1983)
- Christmas Island (external territory of Australia)
- Administrator - F.C. Boyle, Administrator of Christmas Island (1977–1980)
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands (external territory of Australia)
- Governor - John Cecil Clunies-Ross, Governor of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1947–1978)
- Administrator - Charles Ivens Buffett, Administrator of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1977–1981)
- Norfolk Island (self-governing territory of Australia)
- Administrator - Desmond Vincent O'Leary, Administrator of Norfolk Island (1976–1979)
- Head of Government - William Arthur Blucher, President of the Island Council of Norfolk Island (1976–1978)
- Fiji
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Fiji (1970–1987)
- Governor-General - Ratu Sir George Cakobau, Governor-General of Fiji (1973–1983)
- Prime Minister - Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Prime Minister of Fiji (1967–1987)
- French Polynesia (French overseas territory)
- High Commissioner - Paul Cousseran, High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (1977–1981)
- Gilbert Islands (British protectorate)
- Governor -
- John Hilary Smith, Governor of Gilbert Islands (1973–1978)
- Reginald James Wallace, Governor of Gilbert Islands (1978–1979)
- Chief Minister -
- Naboua Ratieta, Chief Minister of Gilbert Islands (1974–1978)
- Ieremia Tabai, Chief Minister of Gilbert Islands (1978–1979)
- Governor -
- Guam (Insular area of the United States)
- Governor - Ricardo Bordallo, Governor of Guam (1975–1979)
- Nauru
- President -
- Bernard Dowiyogo, President of Nauru (1976–1978)
- Lagumot Harris, President of Nauru (1978)
- Hammer DeRoburt, President of Nauru (1978–1986)
- President -
- New Caledonia (French overseas territory)
- High Commissioner -
- Gabriel Ériau, Governor of New Caledonia (1974–1978)
- Claude Charbonniaud, Governor of New Caledonia (1978–1981)
- High Commissioner -
- New Hebrides (British-French condominium)
- British Resident Commissioner -
- John Stuart Champion (1975–1978)
- Andrew Christopher Stuart (1978–1980)
- French Resident Commissioner -
- Robert Gauger (1974–1978)
- Bernard Pottier (1978)
- Jean-Jacques Robert (1978–1980)
- Chief Minister -
- George Kalsakau, Chief Minister of New Hebrides (1977–1978)
- Gérard Leymang, Chief Minister of New Hebrides (1978–1979)
- British Resident Commissioner -
- New Zealand
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand (1952–present)
- Governor-General - Sir Keith Holyoake, Governor-General of New Zealand (1977–1980)
- Prime Minister - Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1975–1984)
- Cook Islands (Associated state of New Zealand)
- Queen's Representative - Sir Gaven Donne, Queen's Representative of the Cook Islands (1975–1984)
- Prime Minister -
- Albert Henry, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (1965–1978)
- Tom Davis, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (1978–1983)
- Niue (associated state of New Zealand)
- Premier - Robert Rex, Premier of Niue (1974–1992)
- Tokelau (dependent territory of New Zealand)
- Administrator - Frank Corner, Administrator of Tokelau (1975–1984)
- Papua New Guinea
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Papua New Guinea (1975–present)
- Governor-General - Sir Tore Lokoloko, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea (1977–1983)
- Prime Minister - Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (1972–1980)
- Pitcairn Islands (British crown colony)
- Governor - Sir Harold Smedley, Governor of the Pitcairn Islands (1976–1980)
- Magistrate - Ivan Christian, Magistrate of the Pitcairn Islands (1975–1984)
- Solomon Islands -
- the British Solomon Islands Protectorate gained independence on 7 July 1978
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of the Solomon Islands (1978–present)
- Governor-General -
- Sir Colin Allan, Governor of the Solomon Islands (1976–1978)
- Baddeley Devesi, Governor-General of the Solomon Islands (1978–1988)
- Prime Minister - Peter Kenilorea, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands (1976–1981)
- Tonga
- Monarch - Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga (1965–2006)
- Prime Minister - Prince Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake, Prime Minister of Tonga (1965–1991)
- Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (UN Trust Territory administered by the United States)
- High Commissioner - Adrian P. Winkel, High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1977–1981)
- Northern Mariana Islands (autonomous territory)
- Governor - Carlos S. Camacho, Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1978–1982)
- Tuvalu
- the Ellice Islands gained independence on 1 October 1978
- Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Tuvalu (1978–present)
- Governor-General -
- Thomas H. Laying, Commissioner of Ellice Islands (1975–1978)
- Fiatau Penitala Teo, Governor-General of Tuvalu (1978–1986)
- Prime Minister - Toaripi Lauti, Prime Minister of Tuvalu (1975–1981)
- Wallis and Futuna (French overseas territory)
- Administrator-Superior - Henri Beaux, Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna (1976–1979)
- President of the Territorial Assembly -
- Pasilio Tui, President of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna (1977–1978)
- Manuele Lisiahi, President of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna (1978–1984)
- Western Samoa
- Head of State - Malietoa Tanumafili II, O le Ao o le Malo of Western Samoa (1962–2007)
- Prime Minister - Tufuga Efi, Prime Minister of Western Samoa (1976–1982)
Read more about this topic: List Of State Leaders In 1978