Background: The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 2,525 km

Maritime claims
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderate

Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt

Land use: 1% arable land; 19% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 31% forest and woodland; 44% other

Geography
Note: defense is responsibility of France

Population: 190,181 (July 1990), growth rate 2.5% (1990)

Nationality: noun--French Polynesian(s; adjective--French Polynesian

Ethnic groups: 78% Polynesian, 12% Chinese, 6% local French, 4% metropolitan French

Languages: French (official), Tahitian

Religions: mainly Christian; 55% Protestant, 32% Roman Catholic

Birth rate: 31 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: NA%

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia

Government type: overseas territory of France

Capital: Papeete

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: based on French system

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT (since NA November 1987; Head of Government--President of the Council of Ministers Alexandre LEONTIEFF (since 9 December 1987; Vice President of the Council of Ministers Georges KELLY (since 9 December 1987)

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Diplomatic representation
In the us: as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy 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.

Agriculture products: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy products

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 57,863 employed (1983)

Unemployment rate: 8% (1986 est.)

Budget: revenues $431; expenditures $418, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat
Partners: France 44%, US 21%

Imports: $767 million (c.i.f., 1986)
Commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
Partners: France 50%, US 16%, New Zealand 6%

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985; note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Electricity
Capacity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,350 kWh per capita (1989)

Airports: 43 total, 41 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,732 GRT/4,191 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo; note--a subset of the French register