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.
Location
Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates
15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total
4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land
3,660 sq km
water
507 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 (4 volcanic, 1 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
Population
278,963 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
25.4% (male 36,223/female 34,677)
15-64 years
68.2% (male 98,784/female 91,585)
65 years and over
6.3% (male 8,933/female 8,761) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
28.3 years
male
28.6 years
female
28 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
1.461% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
16.41 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.045 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.079 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.02 male(s)/female
total population
1.066 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
7.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male
9.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
76.31 years
male
73.88 years
female
78.86 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.98 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
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 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), 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.)
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 1946-2004
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
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence
none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
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 Anne BOQUET (since September 2005)
head of government
President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG (since 14 December 2006); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet
Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
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 territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy 27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13 February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for the Republic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a New Democracy 3
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
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 [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
FZ, ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag 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
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)
$4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.8 billion (2002)
GDP - real growth rate
5.1% (2002)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
3.1%
industry
19%
services
76.9% (2005)
Labor force
65,930 (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
13%
industry
19%
services
68% (2002)
Unemployment rate
11.7% (2005)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.1% (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$865 million
expenditures
$644.1 million; including capital expenditures of $185 million (1999)
