The setting for Nineteen Eighty-Four in in Oceania, a massive totalitarian state that is ruled by the possibly non-existent dictator "Big Brother". It includes Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, Polynesia, Southern Africa and the Americas. Near the end of the novel Oceania is noted as conquering the whole of Africa. There are two other countries listed in the book including:

• Eurasia: which includes continental Europe and northern Asia.
• Eastasia: which includes China, Japan, Korea and Northern India.

Most of the novel takes place in Oceania, where the protagonist Winston Smith lives. Winston owns a flat in London, on the island of Air Strip One (formerly Great Britain).