Australia-Oceania :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • Introduction :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • 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.

  • Geography :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • 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
    15 00 S, 140 00 W
    Oceania
    total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited)
    land: 3,827 sq km
    water: 340 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 175
    slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
    0 km
    2,525 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    tropical, but moderate
    mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
    mean elevation: NA
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
    timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
    agricultural land: 12.5%
    arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 6.3%; permanent pasture 5.5%
    forest: 43.7%
    other: 43.8% (2011 est.)
    10 sq km (2012)
    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
    occasional cyclonic storms in January
    sea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity
    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

  • People and Society :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • 287,881 (July 2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    noun: French Polynesian(s)
    adjective: French Polynesian
    Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
    French (official) 70%, Polynesian (official) 28.2%, other 1.8% (2012 est.)
    Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
    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.)
    total dependency ratio: 45.3
    youth dependency ratio: 34.8
    elderly dependency ratio: 10.5
    potential support ratio: 9.5 (2015 est.)
    total: 31.9 years
    male: 31.7 years
    female: 32.1 years (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0.88% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    14.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    -0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    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
    urban population: 55.7% of total population (2017)
    rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)
    at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    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
    total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    total population: 77.4 years
    male: 75.1 years
    female: 79.8 years (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 71
    1.88 children born/woman (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 140
    3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
    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 (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 98.5% of population
    rural: 98.5% of population
    total: 98.5% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 1.5% of population
    rural: 1.5% of population
    total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    total: 56.7%
    male: 54.5%
    female: 59.7% (2012 est.)

  • Government :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • 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
    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
    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
    parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France
    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)
    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)
    none (overseas lands of France)
    Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)
    4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
    the laws of France, where applicable, apply
    see France
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Rene BIDALL (since 30 May 2016)
    head of government: President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014)
    cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president
    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)
    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)
    elections: last held on 21 April 2013 and 5 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
    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
    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
    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
    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]
    ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO
    none (overseas lands of France)
    none (overseas lands of France)
    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: 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
    outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: red, white
    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 (the compositional group created both the lyrics and music)
    note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
    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

  • Economy :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • 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.
    $5.49 billion (2015 est.)
    $5.383 billion (2014 est.)
    $6.963 billion (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    $4.795 billion (2012 est.)
    2% (2015 est.)
    -2.7% (2014 est.)
    -2.5% (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    $17,000 (2015 est.)
    $20,100 (2014 est.)
    $22,700 (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    household consumption: 66.9%
    government consumption: 33.6%
    investment in fixed capital: 19.4%
    investment in inventories: 0.1%
    exports of goods and services: 17.5%
    imports of goods and services: -37.5%
    agriculture: 2.5%
    industry: 13%
    services: 84.5% (2009)
    coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish
    tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
    NA%
    126,300 (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 180
    agriculture: 13%
    industry: 19%
    services: 68% (2013 est.)
    21.8% (2012)
    11.7% (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    19.7% (2009 est.)
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $1.891 billion
    expenditures: $1.833 billion (2011)
    39.4% of GDP (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    1.2% of GDP (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 21
    calendar year
    0% (2015 est.)
    0.3% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    $3.81 billion (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    $NA
    $207.7 million (2014 est.)
    $158.8 million (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    $1.245 billion (2014 est.)
    $1.168 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat
    Japan 22.2%, Hong Kong 21.7%, Kyrgyzstan 16.8%, France 13.3%, US 12.6% (2016)
    $2.235 billion (2014 est.)
    $2.271 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
    France 28.5%, South Korea 10.7%, US 9%, NZ 7.8%, China 7.2%, Singapore 5.9% (2016)
    $NA
    $905 million (2015 est.)
    $822.3 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    $349.3 million (2015)
    $310.8 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    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.)

  • Energy :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • population without electricity: 116,981
    electrification - total population: 59%
    electrification - urban areas: 72%
    electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
    626 million kWh (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 161
    582.2 million kWh (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    249,000 kW (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 160
    71.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    18.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    10.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 68
    0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    7,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    6,636 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 183
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 127
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    1.1 million Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164

  • Communications :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • total subscriptions: 94,957
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    total: 220,819
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 180
    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)
    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)
    .pf
    total: 195,275
    percent of population: 68.4% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 163

  • Transportation :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • number of registered air carriers: 2 (registered in France)
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 (registered in France) (2015)
    F-OH (2016)
    54 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    total: 45
    over 3,047 m: 2
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
    914 to 1,523 m: 33
    under 914 m: 5 (2017)
    total: 9
    914 to 1,523 m: 4
    under 914 m: 5 (2013)
    1 (2013)
    total: 2,590 km
    paved: 1,735 km
    unpaved: 855 km (1999)
    country comparison to the world: 171
    registered in other countries: 12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    major seaport(s): Papeete

  • Military and Security :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • no regular military forces (2011)
    defense is the responsibility of France

  • Transnational Issues :: FRENCH POLYNESIA

  • none