French Polynesia

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: 154

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

54,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 158

Telephones - mobile cellular

208,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 171

Agriculture - products

fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products

Debt - external

$NA

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.

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.)

Electricity - production

650 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

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) note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Exports

$211 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Exports - commodities

cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.1 billion (2004)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.718 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $4.58 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 20.4% services: 76.1% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $17,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 134 5.1% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.706 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 22 1.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force

116,000 (2007) country comparison to the world: 180

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Oil - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Oil - imports

6,701 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

11.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 125

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

Climate

tropical, but moderate

Coastline

2,525 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 140 00 W

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)

Location

Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Natural resources

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

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

Capital

name: Papeete geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas lands of France)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT (since 7 July 2008); note - will be replaced in 2011 by Richard DIDIER head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston Tong SANG (since 24 November 2009); President of the Territorial Assembly Oscar TEMARU (since 10 April 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial 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 territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)

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 stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the ship 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

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU

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

Legal system

the laws of France where applicable apply

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (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

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)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 81,794 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 66,451 females age 16-49: 65,306 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,592 female: 2,481 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.3% (male 35,631/female 34,097) 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 102,537/female 95,317) 65 years and over: 6.8% (male 9,821/female 9,629) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Death rate

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.41 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 165 male: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.91 years country comparison to the world: 64 male: 74.44 years female: 79.5 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)

Median age

total: 29.5 years male: 29.8 years female: 29.2 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian

Net migration rate

2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Population

291,000 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Population growth rate

1.355% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Religions

Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Urbanization

urban population: 52% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

53 (2010) country comparison to the world: 90

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)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 13 (Cambodia 1, France 12) (2010) country comparison to the world: 109

Ports and terminals

Papeete

Roadways

total: 2,590 km country comparison to the world: 169 paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)