Country Guide

French Polynesia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia


Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 140 00 W


Map references:
Oceania


Area:
total:4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)country comparison to the world: 175
land:3,827 sq km
water:340 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm


Climate:
tropical, but moderate


    Terrain:
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mont Orohena 2,241 m


Natural resources:
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:0.68%
permanent crops:6.28%
other:93.03% (2011)


Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)


Natural hazards:
occasional cyclonic storms in January


Environment - current issues:
NA


Geography - note:
includes five archipelagoes: four volcanic (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective:French Polynesian


Ethnic groups:
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%


Languages:
French (official) 61.1%, Polynesian (official) 31.4%, Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)


Religions:
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%


Population:
280,026 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 182


Age structure:
0-14 years:23.7% (male 34,182/female 32,276)
15-24 years:16.7% (male 24,219/female 22,559)
25-54 years:43.9% (male 63,034/female 59,859)
55-64 years:8.5% (male 12,305/female 11,599)
65 years and over:6.9% (male 9,713/female 10,280) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:42.5 %
youth dependency ratio:32 %
elderly dependency ratio:10.5 %
potential support ratio:9.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:30.6 years
male:30.5 years
female:30.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.97% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 122


Birth rate:
15.47 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 131


Death rate:
4.93 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 190


Net migration rate:
-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 147


Urbanization:
urban population:51.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
PAPEETE (capital) 137,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.95 male(s)/female
total population:1.05 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:4.78 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 180
male:5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.79 yearscountry comparison to the world: 73
male:74.54 years
female:79.15 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 132


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 97.1% of population
rural: 97.1% of population
total: 97.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.9% of population
rural: 2.9% of population
total: 2.9% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Literacy:
definition:age 14 and over can read and write
total population:98%
male:98%
female:98% (1977 est.)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:33.2%country comparison to the world: 24
male:29.3%
female:39.1% (2002)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form:French Polynesia
local long form:Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form:Polynesie Francaise
former:French Colony of Oceania


Dependency status:
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy


Government type:
parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity


Capital:
name:Papeete (located on Tahiti)
geographic coordinates:17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference:UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five second order administrative units named Iles Australes, Iles du Vent, Iles Marquises, Iles Sous le Vent, Iles Tuamotu et Gambier


Independence:
none (overseas lands of France)


National holiday:
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)


Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)


Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Lionel BEFFRE (since 16 September 2013)
head of government:President of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSS (since 17 May 2013); President of the Assembly of French Polynesia L. Edouard FRITCH (since 16 May 2013)
cabinet:Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
elections:French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the French Polynesia government and the president of the Assembly of French Polynesia elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)


Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesia francaise (57 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 21 April 2013 (first round) and 5 May 2013 (second round) (next to be held in 2018)
election results:percent of vote by party - Popular Rally 45.1%, Union for Democracy alliance 29.3%, A Tia Porinetia 25.6%, other 15.8%; seats by party - Popular Rally 38, Union for Democracy alliance 11, A Tia Porinetia 8
note:two seats were elected to the French Senate on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1, independent 1; three seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 3


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA)
note - appeals beyond the French Polynesia Court of Appeal are heard by the Court of Cassation (in Paris)
judge selection and term of office:NA
subordinate courts:Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif


Political parties and leaders:
A Tia Porinetia [Teva ROHFRITSCH]
Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours)
New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile Vernaudon]
Our Home alliance
People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]
Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]
Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU


Diplomatic representation in the US:
note:similar to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest of the islands in French Polynesia, which has no emblem in the white band; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbol(s):
outrigger canoe


National anthem:
name:'Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui' (Long Live Tahiti Nui)
lyrics/music:Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN
note:adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, 'La Marseillaise' is official (see France)


Government - note:
under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister

Economy

Economy - overview:
Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are handicrafts, public works projects, aquaculture, pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.65 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$5.674 billion (2005 est.)
$5.525 billion (2004 est.)


GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.65 billion (2006)


GDP - real growth rate:
-0.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 200
2.7% (2005)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$18,000 (2004 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3.1%
industry:20%
services:76.9% (2006)


Agriculture - products:
coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish


Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates


Industrial production growth rate:
NA%


Labor force:
116,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 181


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:13%
industry:19%
services:68% (2002)


    Unemployment rate:
11.7% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121
11.7% (2005)


Population below poverty line:
19.7% (2009)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%


Budget:
revenues:$865 million
expenditures:$644.1 million (1999)


Taxes and other revenues:
15.3% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 192

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
3.9% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 12


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 28
1.1% (2006 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Exports:
$200 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$211 million (2005 est.)


Exports - commodities:
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat


Imports:
$2.2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$1.706 billion (2005 est.)


Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment


Debt - external:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
90.01 (2010 est.)
87.59 (2007)

Energy

Electricity - production:
672 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157


Electricity - consumption:
625 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
186,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
74.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
25.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178


Refined petroleum products - imports:
7,190 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.22 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
55,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 162


Telephones - mobile cellular:
226,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 180


Telephone system:
domestic:combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts on 2 TV channels and 1 radio station; 1 government-owned TV station; a small number of privately owned radio stations (2008)


Internet country code:
.pf


Internet hosts:
37,949 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 103


Internet users:
120,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153

Transportation

Airports
54 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 88


Airports - with paved runways
total:45
over 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:5
914 to 1,523 m:33
under 914 m:5 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:9
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:
5 (2013)


    Heliports
1 (2013)


Roadways
total:2,590 kmcountry comparison to the world: 171
paved:1,735 km
unpaved:855 km (1999)


Merchant marine
registered in other countries:12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010)country comparison to the world: 105


Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Papeete

Military

Military branches
no regular military forces (2011)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:82,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:67,363
females age 16-49:66,053 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:2,498
female:2,390 (2010 est.)


Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook