The Polynesian people are a collection of various ethnic groups that speak Polynesian languages, a branch of the Oceanic languages within the Austronesian languages, and inhabit Polynesia. They number over 1,500,000 people. The Polynesian peoples include (populations of the larger groups are shown):
- Aniwa
- Anuta
- Austral
- Futunan
- Hawaiian - 140,000 (including mixed: 400,000)
- Kapingamarangi
- Mangareva
- New Zealand Māori - 790,000 (including mixed)
- Cook Islands Māori - 60,000
- Marquesan
- Moriori
- Niuafoʻou
- Niuean - ~20,000-25,000 (vast majority live in New Zealand)
- Nuguria
- Nukumanu
- Nukuoro
- Ontong Java
- Pileni
- Pukapuka
- Rapan
- Rapanui - ~5,000 (including mixtures and those living in Chile)
- Renbelian
- Samoan - 249,000 (from all countries: 400,000+)
- Sikaiana
- Tahitian - 120,000 (including mixed: 250,000+)
- Takuu
- Tikopia
- Tokelauan
- Tongan - 104,000 (from all countries: 150,000+)
- Tongareva
- Tuamotu
- Tuvaluan - 10,000
- Uvean
- Wallisian
Rotuma, Fitilevu, and other parts of Fiji have significant Polynesian populations due to lineal and historical connections. Fijians have always been considered by most people of the Pacific, especially Polynesians, as bloodline relatives. Modern science recently verified this connection with DNA sampling. The historical significance of who settled the Fiji Islands first is not as important, at least to Polynesians, as the Fijians' lineal connections to other Pacific Islanders.
- Total Population: 1.4 million to 2.2 million
population estimates are based on estimates in articles of cooresponding ethnic groups, which are referenced
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- *Niue's population is separately estimated based on its corresponding article's population listing for Niue and the referenced point in the article that claims 90-95% of Niueans live in New Zealand
- **The "Samoans" population figure come from the combined figures from the article on Samoa and American Samoa, which are referenced therein