Statistics French Polynesia 
French Polynesia in the World
French Polynesia - Introduction 2017
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 halted in January 1996. In recent years French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Area
Total: 4,167 km²
Land: 3,827 km²
Water: 340 km²
Rank: 175
Comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Land use
Agricultural land: 12.5%
arable land: 0.7%
permanent crops: 6.3%
permanent pasture: 5.5%
permanent crops: 6.3%
permanent pasture: 5.5%
Forest: 43.7%
Other: 43.8%
Geography
Note: 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
French Polynesia - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: 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: 287,881 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 181
Growth rate: 0.88% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 123
Below poverty line: 19.7% (2009 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.52%
15-24 years: 15.73%
25-54 years: 44.36%
55-64 years: 9.42%
65 years and over: 7.97% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 45.3
Youth dependency ratio: 34.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.5
Potential support ratio: 9.5
Population distribution: 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
Urbanization
Urban population: 55.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change
Environment
Current issues: sea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones storms and tsunamis producing floods landslides erosion and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male/female
55-64 years: 1.06 male/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male/female
Total population: 1.05 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.6 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 5.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.1 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 178
Drinking water source:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 98.5% of population
rural: 98.5% of population
total: 98.5% of population
urban: 1.5% of population
rural: 1.5% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 98.5% of population
total: 98.5% of population
urban: 1.5% of population
rural: 1.5% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
French Polynesia - Government 2017
top of pageCountry 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
Etymology: the term 'Polynesia' is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words 'poly' and 'nesoi' (islands) and refers to the more than 1000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France
Administrative divisions: 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)
National holiday: Fete de la Federation 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day 29 June (1880)
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Rene BIDALL (since 30 May 2016)
Head of government: President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH
Cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president
Electionsappointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year 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)
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesie Francaise
Elections: last held on 21 April 2013 and 5 May 2013
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 ; 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
Judicial branch
Highest court: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel ; 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
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas lands of France)
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: 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
National symbols: outrigger canoe Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: red white
National anthem
Name: 'Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui'
Lyrics and 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
French Polynesia - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy 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.
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.
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.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$5.49 billion (2015 est.)
$5.383 billion (2014 est.)
$6.963 billion (2010 est.)
$5.383 billion (2014 est.)
$6.963 billion (2010 est.)
Rank: 170
Gdp composition by end use
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%
Labor force: 126,300 (2016 est.)
Rank: 180
By occupation agriculture: 13%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 68%
Budget
Revenues: $1.891 billion
Expenditures: $1.833 billion
Surplus or deficit: 1.2% of GDP (2012)
Surplus or deficit rank: 21
Exports:
$1.245 billion (2014 est.)
$1.168 billion (2013 est.)
$1.168 billion (2013 est.)
Rank: 152
Commodities: cultured pearls coconut products mother-of-pearl vanilla shark meat
Partners: Japan 22.2% Hong Kong 21.7% Kyrgyzstan 16.8% France 13.3% US 12.6% (2016)
Imports:
$2.235 billion (2014 est.)
$2.271 billion (2013 est.)
$2.271 billion (2013 est.)
Rank: 154
Commodities: fuels foodstuffs machinery and equipment
Partners: France 28.5% South Korea 10.7% US 9% NZ 7.8% China 7.2% Singapore 5.9% (2016)
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$905 million (2015 est.)
$822.3 million (2014 est.)
$822.3 million (2014 est.)
Rank: 119
Exchange rates:
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.)
110.2 (2016 est.)
107.6 (2015 est.)
89.85 (2013 est.)
90.56 (2012 est.)
85.74 (2011 est.)
French Polynesia - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 116,981
Access electrification total population: 59%
Access electrification urban areas: 72%
Access electrification rural areas: 45%
Production: 626 million kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 161
Consumption: 582.2 million kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 169
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 138
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 152
Installed generating capacity: 249,000 kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 160
Generation sources fossil fuels: 71.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 102
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 93
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 93
Generation sources other renewable sources: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 68
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 139
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 126
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 130
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 138
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 146
Products consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 166
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 158
Products imports: 6,636 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 154
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 138
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 183
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 106
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 127
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 142
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.1 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 164
French Polynesia - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 94,957
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33
Fixed lines rank: 159
Mobile cellular total: 220,819
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77
Mobile cellular rank: 180
Telephone system
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular density is roughly 110 per 100 persons
International: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2016)
Broadcast media: 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)
French Polynesia - Military 2017
top of pageFrench Polynesia - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 (2015)
Airports: 54 (2013)
Rank: 87
With paved runways total: 45
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 33
With paved runways under 914 m: 5
With unpaved runways total: 9
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
French Polynesia - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes international
Rank: li>a href='../rankorder/rankorderguide.html'>Guide to Country Comparisons: none
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