2015 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 halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

Area

land

3,827 sq km

total

4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited)

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

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 (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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 6.3%; permanent pasture 5.5%

agricultural land

12.5%

forest

43.7%

other

43.8% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

0-14 years

23.31% (male 33,894/female 32,005)

15-24 years

16.36% (male 23,980/female 22,270)

25-54 years

44.1% (male 63,931/female 60,749)

55-64 years

8.83% (male 12,847/female 12,120)

65 years and over

7.4% (male 10,142/female 10,765) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.22 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.7%

potential support ratio

9.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

42.2%

youth dependency ratio

31.5%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

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

female

4.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

5.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.73 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

female

79.36 years (2015 est.)

male

74.72 years

total population

76.98 years

Major urban areas - population

PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)

Median age

female

31.2 years (2015 est.)

male

30.9 years

total

31 years

Nationality

adjective

French Polynesian

noun

French Polynesian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

282,703 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98.5% of population

rural: 98.5% of population

total: 98.5% of population

urban: 1.5% of population

rural: 1.5% of population

total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

38.5% (2007 est.)

male

31.4%

total

34.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.85% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

55.9% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 second order administrative units named Iles Australes, Iles du Vent, Iles Marquises, Iles Sous le Vent, Iles Tuamotu et Gambier

Capital

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)

Citizenship

see France

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

conventional long form

Overseas Lands of French Polynesia

conventional short form

French Polynesia

etymology

the term Polynesia is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, "poly" (many) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to the hundreds of islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean

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

cabinet

Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president

chief of state

President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Lionel BEFFRE (since 16 September 2013)

elections/appointments

French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits)

head of government

President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014)

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

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

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

parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO

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

Legal system

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesie Francaise (57 seats; elections held in two rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes get an additional 19 seats; to serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Popular Rally 45.1%, UPD 29.3%, A Tia Porinetia 25.6%; seats by party - Popular Rally 38, UPD 11, A Tia Porinetia 8

elections

last held on 21 April 2013 and 5 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

note

two seats were elected to the French Senate for a 6-year term on 20 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2022); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2; note - the UMP is France's ruling pary, the Union for a Popular Movement

National anthem

lyrics/music

Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI, and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN (the compositional group created both the lyrics and music)

name

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

note

adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe; national colors: red, white

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.833 billion (2011)

revenues

$1.891 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.8% of GDP (2012)

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. After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, GDP stagnated in 2008 and fell by 4.2% in 2009, marking French Polynesia’s entry into recession. GDP growth was positive in 2010-12. Following steady employment level increases between 2002 and 2007 that averaged 2.4% yearly, the number of workers fell by an annual average of 2.2% between 2008 and 2013, due in part to decreased tourism (down an average of 4% per year) in that time period. French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2009, employing 80% of the workforce. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes products from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 3% of total economy - including agriculture, pearl farming, and fishing.

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

89.85 (2013 est.)

90.56 2012 est.)

85.74 (2011 est.)

90.01 (2010 est.)

Exports

$230 million (2013 est.)

$211 million (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 35%, US 24%, Hong Kong 17%, France 9.1%, China 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.5%

industry

13%

services

84.5% (2009)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$26,100 (2012 est.)

$26,000 (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2012 est.)

0.3% (2011 est.)

2.2% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.15 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.15 billion (2012 est.)

$6.982 billion (2011 est.)

$6.963 billion (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.72 billion (2013 est.)

$1.706 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners

France 24%, South Korea 10%, China 9.6%, USA 9.3%, New Zealand 8.5%, Singapore 8.2%, Australia 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2013 est.)

1.5% (2011 est.)

Labor force

114,300 (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

13%

industry

19%

services

68% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.4% of GDP (2012)

Unemployment rate

21.8% (2012)

11.7% (2010)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.071 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

652.9 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

21% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

224,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

702 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,994 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

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 users

percent of population

57.5% (2014 est.)

total

161,100

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

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

international

country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

55,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

86 (2014 est.)

total

239,700

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Airports

54 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

33

over 3,047 m

2

total

45

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

9

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Papeete

Roadways

paved

1,735 km

total

2,590 km

unpaved

855 km (1999)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

82,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

66,053 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

67,363

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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