2011 Edition

Background

The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

Area

4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) 3,827 sq km 340 sq km

total

4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)

water

340 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Climate

tropical, but moderate

Coastline

2,525 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mont Orohena 2,241 m

highest point

Mont Orohena 2,241 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Geography - note

includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one coral); 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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0.75% 5.5% 93.75% (2005)

arable land

0.75%

other

93.75% (2005)

permanent crops

5.5%

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Natural resources

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Age structure

23.5% (male 35,376/female 33,840) 69.3% (male 105,823/female 98,597) 7.2% (male 10,742/female 10,557) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

23.5% (male 35,376/female 33,840)

15-64 years

69.3% (male 105,823/female 98,597)

65 years and over

7.2% (male 10,742/female 10,557) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

15.53 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

4.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

7.27 deaths/1,000 live births 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births 6.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

6.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

7.27 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

77.1 years 74.62 years 79.7 years (2011 est.)

female

79.7 years (2011 est.)

total population

77.1 years

Literacy

age 14 and over can read and write 98% 98% 98% (1977 est.)

definition

age 14 and over can read and write

female

98% (1977 est.)

male

98%

total population

98%

Major cities - population

PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2009)

Median age

29.9 years 30.2 years 29.6 years (2011 est.)

female

29.6 years (2011 est.)

male

30.2 years

total

29.9 years

Nationality

French Polynesian(s) French Polynesian

adjective

French Polynesian

noun

French Polynesian(s)

Net migration rate

2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

294,935 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.331% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2008)

rural

3% of population

total

2% of population (2008)

urban

1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.07 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.02 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

33.2% 29.3% 39.1% (2002)

female

39.1% (2002)

total

33.2%

Urbanization

51% of total population (2010) 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

51% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Papeete (located on Tahiti) 17 32 S, 149 34 W UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

17 32 S, 149 34 W

name

Papeete (located on Tahiti)

time difference

UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

Overseas Lands of French Polynesia French Polynesia Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise Polynesie Francaise French Colony of Oceania

conventional long form

Overseas Lands of French Polynesia

conventional short form

French Polynesia

former

French Colony of Oceania

local long form

Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise

local short form

Polynesie Francaise

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas lands of France)

Executive branch

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Richard DIDIER (since 24 January 2011) President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 1 April 2011); President of the Assembly of French Polynesia Jacqui DROLLET (since 14 April 2011) Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers 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)

cabinet

Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers

chief of state

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Richard DIDIER (since 24 January 2011)

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)

head of government

President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 1 April 2011); President of the Assembly of French Polynesia Jacqui DROLLET (since 14 April 2011)

Flag description

two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors 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

two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1

2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

Legal system

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

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) last held on 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February 2008 (second round) (next to be held in 2013) percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance 45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27, Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10 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; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

election results

percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance 45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27, Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10

elections

last held on 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February 2008 (second round) (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

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

lyrics/music

Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN

name

"Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours); New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api); Our Home alliance; People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira); Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira); Union for Democracy alliance or UPD

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$865 million $644.1 million (1999)

expenditures

$644.1 million (1999)

revenues

$865 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.6% of GDP (1999)

Debt - external

$NA

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

623.1 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

670 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007) 94.97 (2006) 95.89 (2005) 96.04 (2004) 105.66 (2003)

Exports

$211 million (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

3.5% 20.4% 76.1% (2005)

agriculture

3.5%

industry

20.4%

services

76.1% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,000 (2004 est.) $17,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7% (2005) 5.1% (2002)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.1 billion (2004)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.718 billion (2004 est.) $4.58 billion (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.706 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2007) 1.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force

116,000 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

13% 19% 68% (2002)

agriculture

13%

industry

19%

services

68% (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

6,611 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

14.2% of GDP (1999)

Unemployment rate

11.7% (2005)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.pf

Internet hosts

36,056 (2010)

Internet users

120,000 (2009)

Telephone system

NA combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 90 per 100 persons country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)

domestic

combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 90 per 100 persons

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

54,900 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

215,900 (2010)

Airports

53 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

7 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

33

over 3,047 m

2

total

46

under 914 m

7 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

4 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

7

under 914 m

4 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

13 (Cambodia 1, France 12) (2010)

registered in other countries

13 (Cambodia 1, France 12) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Papeete

Roadways

2,590 km 1,735 km 855 km (1999)

total

2,590 km

unpaved

855 km (1999)

Manpower available for military service

82,722 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

82,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

67,363 66,053 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

66,053 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

67,363

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,498 2,390 (2010 est.)

female

2,390 (2010 est.)

male

2,498

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces (2011)

Disputes - international

none