2017 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

4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited) 3,827 sq km 340 sq km

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

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

Mont Orohena 2,241 m

mean elevation

NA

Environment - current issues

sea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity

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 the Tuamotu archipelago is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

includes five archipelagoes

four volcanic (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); Makatea in the Tuamotu archipelago 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 (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

12.5% arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 6.3%; permanent pasture 5.5% 43.7% 43.8% (2011 est.)

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

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

Population - distribution

the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Age structure

22.52% (male 33,340/female 31,481) 15.73% (male 23,533/female 21,745) 44.36% (male 65,464/female 62,254) 9.42% (male 13,947/female 13,178) 7.97% (male 11,090/female 11,849) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

22.52% (male 33,340/female 31,481)

15-24 years

15.73% (male 23,533/female 21,745)

25-54 years

44.36% (male 65,464/female 62,254)

55-64 years

9.42% (male 13,947/female 13,178)

65 years and over

7.97% (male 11,090/female 11,849) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

14.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

45.3 34.8 10.5 9.5 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.5

potential support ratio

9.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.3

youth dependency ratio

34.8

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.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

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

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French (official) 70%, Polynesian (official) 28.2%, other 1.8% (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

77.4 years 75.1 years 79.8 years (2017 est.)

female

79.8 years (2017 est.)

male

75.1 years

total population

77.4 years

Major urban areas - population

PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)

Median age

31.9 years 31.7 years 32.1 years (2017 est.)

female

32.1 years (2017 est.)

male

31.7 years

total

31.9 years

Nationality

French Polynesian(s) French Polynesian

adjective

French Polynesian

noun

French Polynesian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Physicians density

3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

287,881 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population

Population growth rate

0.88% (2017 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.)

rural

1.5% of population

total

1.5% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1.5% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

56.7% 54.5% 59.7% (2012 est.)

female

59.7% (2012 est.)

male

54.5%

total

56.7%

Urbanization

55.7% of total population (2017) 0.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

55.7% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)

5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative)

Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)

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)

Citizenship

see France

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 the term "Polynesia" is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, "poly" (many) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean

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 more than 1,000 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

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Rene BIDALL (since 30 May 2016) President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014) Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president 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)

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Rene BIDALL (since 30 May 2016)

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 identical to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest and most populous of the islands in French Polynesia, but which has no emblem in the white band; the flag of France is used for official occasions

note

identical to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest and most populous of the islands in French Polynesia, but 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, 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 democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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) judges assigned from France normally for 3 years Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

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

judges assigned from France normally for 3 years

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

unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesie Francaise (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms) last held on 21 April 2013 and 5 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018) 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 2 seats were elected to the French Senate for a 6-year term; last election on 20 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2022); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; 3 seats were elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term; last election on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Tapura Huiractura 2, Tavini Huiraatura 1

description

unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesie Francaise (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members 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

2 seats were elected to the French Senate for a 6-year term; last election on 20 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2022); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; 3 seats were elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term; last election on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Tapura Huiractura 2, Tavini Huiraatura 1

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 (the compositional group created both the lyrics and music) 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 (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 (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: red, white

outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors

red, white

Political parties and leaders

A Tia Porinetia [Teva ROHFRITSCH] Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes The New Star [Philip SCHYLE], This Country is Yours [Nicole BOUTEAU]) 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] Tapura Huiraatira [Edouard FRITICH] Tavini Huiraatira [James CHANCELOR] 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

$1.891 billion $1.833 billion (2011)

expenditures

$1.833 billion (2011)

revenues

$1.891 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.2% of GDP (2012)

Current account balance

$207.7 million (2014 est.) $158.8 million (2013 est.)

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, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015. French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; however, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons – the lowest level since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of total economy in 2012 - including agriculture and fishing. France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners.

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.2 (2016 est.) 107.6 (2015 est.) 89.85 (2013 est.) 90.56 (2012 est.) 85.74 (2011 est.)

Exports

$1.245 billion (2014 est.) $1.168 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 22.2%, Hong Kong 21.7%, Kyrgyzstan 16.8%, France 13.3%, US 12.6% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

66.9% 33.6% 19.4% 0.1% 17.5% -37.5%

exports of goods and services

17.5%

government consumption

33.6%

household consumption

66.9%

imports of goods and services

-37.5%

investment in fixed capital

19.4%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

2.5% 13% 84.5% (2009)

agriculture

2.5%

industry

13%

services

84.5% (2009)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,000 (2015 est.) $20,100 (2014 est.) $22,700 (2010)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2015 est.) -2.7% (2014 est.) -2.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.795 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.49 billion (2015 est.) $5.383 billion (2014 est.) $6.963 billion (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.235 billion (2014 est.) $2.271 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners

France 28.5%, South Korea 10.7%, US 9%, NZ 7.8%, China 7.2%, Singapore 5.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0% (2015 est.) 0.3% (2014 est.)

Labor force

126,300 (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

13% 19% 68% (2013 est.)

agriculture

13%

industry

19%

services

68% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.81 billion (2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$349.3 million (2015) $310.8 million (2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$905 million (2015 est.) $822.3 million (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

39.4% of GDP (2012)

Unemployment rate

21.8% (2012) 11.7% (2010)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.1 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

582.2 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

71.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

18.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

10.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

249,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

626 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

116,981 59% 72% 45% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

45% (2012)

electrification - total population

59%

electrification - urban areas

72%

population without electricity

116,981

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 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,636 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 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

195,275 68.4% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

68.4% (July 2016 est.)

total

195,275

Telephone system

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular density is roughly 110 per 100 persons country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular density is roughly 110 per 100 persons

international

country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

94,957 33 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

94,957

Telephones - mobile cellular

220,819 77 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

77 (July 2016 est.)

total

220,819

Airports

54 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

33

over 3,047 m

2

total

45

under 914 m

5 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

9

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

F-OH (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010)

registered in other countries

12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010)

National air transport system

2 (registered in France) 21 (registered in France) (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

21 (registered in France) (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2 (registered in France)

Ports and terminals

Papeete

major seaport(s)

Papeete

Roadways

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

paved

1,735 km

total

2,590 km

unpaved

855 km (1999)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces (2011)

Disputes - international

none