2020 Edition

Background

French Polynesia consists of five archipelagos -- the Austral Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The Marquesas were first settled around 200 B.C. and the Society Islands around A.D. 300. Raiatea in the Society Islands became a center for religion and culture. Exploration of the other islands emanated from Raiatea, and by 1000, there were small permanent settlements in all the island groups. Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see the islands of French Polynesia in 1520. In 1767, British explorer Samuel WALLIS was the first European to visit Tahiti, followed by French navigator Louis Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1768 and British explorer James COOK in 1769. King POMARE I united Tahiti and surrounding islands into the Kingdom of Tahiti in 1788. Protestant missionaries arrived in 1797, and POMARE I’s successor converted in the 1810s, along with most Tahitians. In the 1830s, Queen POMARE IV refused to allow French Catholic missionaries to operate, leading France to declare a protectorate over Tahiti and fight the French-Tahitian War of the 1840s in an attempt to annex the islands.  In 1880, King POMARE V ceded Tahiti and its possessions to France, changing its status into a colony. France then claimed the Gambier Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago and by 1901 had incorporated all five island groups into its establishments in Oceania. A Tahitian nationalist movement formed in 1940, leading France to grant French citizenship to the islanders in 1946 and change it to an overseas territory. In 1957, the islands’ name was changed to French Polynesia, and the following year, 64% of voters chose to stay part of France when they approved a new constitution. Uninhabited Mururoa Atoll was established as a French nuclear test site in 1962, and tests were conducted between 1966 and 1992 (underground beginning in 1975). France also conducted tests at Fangataufa Atoll, including its last nuclear test in 1996. France granted French Polynesia partial internal autonomy in 1977 and expanded autonomy in 1984. French Polynesia was converted into an overseas collectivity in 2003 and renamed an overseas territory in 2004. Pro-independence politicians won a surprise majority in local elections that same year, but in subsequent elections, they have been relegated to a vocal minority. In 2013, French Polynesia was relisted on the UN List of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

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

highest point

Mont Orohena 2,241 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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); the Tuamotu Archipelago forms the largest group of atolls in the world -- 78 in total, 48 inhabited; 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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

8.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 7.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)

forest

43.1% (2023 est.)

other

48.3% (2023 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

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

0-14 years

20.3% (male 31,659/female 30,006)

15-64 years

68.7% (male 107,162/female 101,228)

65 years and over

11% (2024 est.) (male 16,317/female 17,168)

Birth rate

12.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.8% (2017 est.)

Death rate

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

6 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

46 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

29.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.87 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.3 years

male

76.6 years

total population

78.9 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

136,000 PAPEETE (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

35.6 years

male

35 years

total

35.8 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

French Polynesian

noun

French Polynesian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Physician density

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

149,423

male

156,084

total

305,507 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.63% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

62.3% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

etymology

the name derives from the Tahitian words pape (water) and ete (basket), referring to a place where people came to get water

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

amendment process

French constitution amendment procedures apply

history

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 more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean

former

Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania

local long form

Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynésie française

local short form

Polynésie Française

Dependency status

overseas country of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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 Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Alexander ROCHATTE (since 1 September 2025)

election/appointment process

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 Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023)

Flag

description: two horizontal red bands flank 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 stylized  red Polynesian canoe on the disk has a crew of five, represented by five stars meaning: the stars symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors

Government - note

French Polynesia has acquired autonomy from France in all areas except those relating to police, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are similar to those of the French prime minister

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

Independence

none (overseas land of France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA)

judge selection and term of office

judges assigned from France for 3 years

subordinate courts

Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

Legal system

the laws of France apply

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française)

most recent election date

4/30/2023

number of seats

57 (directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

People's Servant People (38); List of the People (15); I Love Polynesia (3); Rally of the Mahoi People (1)

percentage of women in chamber

49.1%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

official anthem, as a French territory

lyrics/music

Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle

title

"La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Taputapuātea (c); Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands (m)

total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 mixed); note - excerpted from the France entry

National holiday

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia flower (Gardenia taitensis)

Political parties

I Love Polynesia (A here la Porinetia)  List of the People (Tapura Huiraatira)  People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira)  Rally of the Maohi People (Amuitahiraʻa o te Nunaʻa Maohi) (formerly known as Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira))

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, fruits, cassava, sugarcane, pineapples, eggs, tropical fruits, watermelons, tomatoes, pork (2023)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2014

$264.32 million (2014 est.)

Current account balance 2015

$291.182 million (2015 est.)

Current account balance 2016

$411.963 million (2016 est.)

Economic overview

small, territorial-island tourism-based economy; large French financing; lower EU import duties; Pacific Islands Forum member; fairly resilient from COVID-19; oil-dependent infrastructure

Exchange rates

Currency

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

Exchange rates 2020

104.711 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

100.88 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

113.474 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

110.347 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

110.306 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$184 million (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$94.4 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$162 million (2021 est.)

Exports - commodities

pearls, fish, aircraft parts, gas turbines, vanilla (2023)

Exports - partners

Japan 44%, USA 15%, France 12%, Netherlands 9%, China 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

23.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

30.5% (2023 est.)

household consumption

70.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-45.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.2% (2020 est.)

industry

10.6% (2020 est.)

services

75.9% (2020 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.563 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2019

$2.24 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$1.75 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$1.66 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, poultry, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Imports - partners

France 26%, China 11%, USA 10%, NZ 7%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-0.1% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

0.5% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.4% (2022 est.)

Labor force

119,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.892 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.935 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$6.007 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.1% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$20,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$22,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$23,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

9.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

10% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

9.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

11.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

11.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

11.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

41.5% (2024 est.)

male

33.5% (2024 est.)

total

36.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

669.5 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

345,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

42.663 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

66% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

27% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2022 est.)

total

78,000 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

French public overseas broadcaster Réseau Outre-Mer provides 2 TV channels and 1 radio station; 1 government-owned TV station; a small number of privately owned radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.pf

Internet users

percent of population

73% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

66,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

334,000 (2023 est.)

Airports

54 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

F-OH

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 14

total

24 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Atuona, Baie Taiohae, Papeete, Port Rikitea, Uturoa, Vaitape

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

5

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France, and it maintains a military garrison in French Polynesia (Forces Armées en Polynésie Française, FAPF)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

sea-level rise; cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage; droughts; fresh water scarcity

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

147,000 tons (2024 est.)