Statistical information French Polynesia 1996

French Polynesia in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 3,941 km²
Land: 3,660 km²
Comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Tropical, but moderate
Terrain: Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Orohena 2,241 m
ElevationNatural resources:
Timber
Fish
Cobalt
Land useArable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 19%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 31%
Other: 44%
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
224,911 (July 1996 est.)
219,999 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:2.19% (1996 est.)
2.23% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: French Polynesian(s)
Adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian 78%
Chinese 12%
Local French 6%
Metropolitan French 4%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
Religions:
Protestant 54%
Roman Catholic 30%
Other 16%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years:35% (male 40,450; female 39,038) (July 1996 est.)
36% (male 39,744; female 38,361) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:61% (male 70,506; female 65,620) (July 1996 est.)
60% (male 69,024; female 64,034) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:4% (male 4,636; female 4,661) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 4,399; female 4,437) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
2.19% (1996 est.)
2.23% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
27.15 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
27.56 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
5.27 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
5.27 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Includes five archipelagoes; 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
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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 male(s)/female
All ages:1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:14.4 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
14.6 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.94 years 91,996 est.), 70.75 years (1995 est.)
Male: 68.49 years 91,996 est.), 68.32 years (1995 est.)
Female: 73.5 years (1996 est.), 73.29 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
3.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 14 and over that can read and write but definition of literary not available (1977)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
Conventional short form: French Polynesia
Local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
Local short form: Polynesie Francaise
Government type: Overseas territory of France since 1946
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions: None (overseas territory of France); there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
Note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Dependent areasIndependence: None (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: Based on French system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994) who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior
Head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
Legislative branch: Unicameral Territorial Assembly:Elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(41 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4 French Senate:Elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(1 total) party NA French National Assembly:Elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Court of Administrative Law
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representationFlag description
: Two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the flag of France is used for official occasions
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The territory will continue to benefit from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA
Real gdp per capita:
purchasing power parity_ $8,000 (1995 est.)
$7,000 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: Coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy products
Industries:
Tourism
Pearls
Agricultural processing
Handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA; accounts for 15% of GDP
Labor force76630 employed 1988 by occupation:
Agriculture 13%
Industry 19%
Services 68% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1990 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $686 million (1989), $614 million (1988)
Expenditures: $884 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989), $957 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1988)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: Calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports:
total value. $230 million (f.o.b., 1994)
$88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities:Cultivated pearls 41.6%
Coconut products
Mother-of-pearl
Vanilla
Shark meat
Partners:France 34%
U.S. 10% (1992)
ImportsTotal value:$912 million (c.i.f., 1994)
$765 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodities:Fuels
Foodstuffs
Equipment
Partners:EU 64% (France 45.4%)
U.S. 13.6%
Australia 6.9%
NZ 5.8%
Japan 5%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1_91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990; note_linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 75,000 kW
Production: 275 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 33,200 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 41
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
With paved runways under 914 m: 15
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT
Ships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Note: A subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than permissable under the main French register
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs