Introduction

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.`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`15 00 S, 140 00 W`
Map references: |  |
`Oceania`
Area: |  |
`total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) country comparison to the world: 174 land: 3,827 sq km water: 340 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`2,525 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical, but moderate`
Terrain: |  |
`mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`10 sq km (2003)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`occasional cyclonic storms in January`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`294,935 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179`
Age structure: |  |
`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.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 29.9 years male: 30.2 years female: 29.6 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.331% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 89`
Birth rate: |  |
`15.53 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131`
Death rate: |  |
`4.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Net migration rate: |  |
`2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 31`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 51% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 7.27 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 164 male: 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 77.1 years country comparison to the world: 65 male: 74.62 years female: 79.7 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.87 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%`
Religions: |  |
`Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%`
Languages: |  |
`French (official) 61.1%, Polynesian (official) 31.4%, Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`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`
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`
Government type: |  |
`NA`
Capital: |  |
`name: Papeete geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent`
Independence: |  |
`none (overseas lands of France)`
National holiday: |  |
`Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)`
Constitution: |  |
`4 October 1958 (French Constitution)`
Legal system: |  |
`the laws of France, where applicable, apply`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Richard DIDIER (since 24 January 2011)
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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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)
`

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

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`
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`
International organization participation: |  |
`ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (overseas lands of France)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`none (overseas lands of France)`
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
`

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

Economy

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$4.718 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $4.58 billion (2003 est.)`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$6.1 billion (2004)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`2.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 132 5.1% (2002)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$18,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $17,500 (2003 est.)`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 3.5% industry: 20.4% services: 76.1% (2005)`
Labor force: |  |
`116,000 (2007) country comparison to the world: 180`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2002)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`11.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 124`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $865 million expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`1.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 25 1.1% (2006 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`650 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`604.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167`
Oil - imports: |  |
`6,701 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137`
Exports: |  |
`$211 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 181`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat`
Imports: |  |
`$1.706 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 156`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA`
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)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`54,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 159`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`208,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 171`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: NA domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)`
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) country comparison to the world: 95`
Internet users: |  |
`120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`53 (2010) country comparison to the world: 89`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 7 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 2,590 km country comparison to the world: 169 paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`registered in other countries: 13 (Cambodia 1, France 12) (2010) country comparison to the world: 109`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Papeete`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`no regular military forces (2011)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 82,722 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 67,363 females age 16-49: 66,053 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 2,498 female: 2,390 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of France`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011