French Polynesia

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)

Internet country code

.pf

Internet users

total: 161,100 | percent of population: 57.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular density is roughly 100 per 100 persons | international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 55,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 239,700 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.891 billion | expenditures: $1.833 billion (2011)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.8% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 32

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. After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, GDP stagnated in 2008 and fell by 4.2% in 2009, marking French Polynesia’s entry into recession. GDP growth was positive in 2010-12. Following steady employment level increases between 2002 and 2007 that averaged 2.4% yearly, the number of workers fell by an annual average of 2.2% between 2008 and 2013, due in part to decreased tourism (down an average of 4% per year) in that time period. French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2009, employing 80% of the workforce. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes products from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 3% of total economy - including agriculture, pearl farming, and fishing.

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - | 89.85 (2013 est.) | 90.56 2012 est.) | 85.74 (2011 est.) | 90.01 (2010 est.)

Exports

$230 million (2013 est.) | $211 million (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 35%, US 24%, Hong Kong 17%, France 9.1%, China 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.15 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.15 billion (2012 est.) | $6.982 billion (2011 est.) | $6.963 billion (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.5% | industry: 13% | services: 84.5% (2009)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$26,100 (2012 est.) | $26,000 (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2012 est.) | 0.3% (2011 est.) | 2.2% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.72 billion (2013 est.) | $1.706 billion (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners

France 24%, South Korea 10%, China 9.6%, USA 9.3%, New Zealand 8.5%, Singapore 8.2%, Australia 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2013 est.) | 1.5% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Labor force

114,300 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 13% | industry: 19% | services: 68% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.4% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 108

Unemployment rate

21.8% (2012) | 11.7% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 170

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.071 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - consumption

652.9 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity - from fossil fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

21% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - installed generating capacity

224,000 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - production

702 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,994 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Area

total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited) | land: 3,827 sq km | water: 340 sq km | country comparison to the world: 175

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 (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); 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

agricultural land: 12.5% | arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 6.3%; permanent pasture 5.5% | forest: 43.7% | other: 43.8% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway 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 5 second order administrative units named Iles Australes, Iles du Vent, Iles Marquises, Iles Sous le Vent, Iles Tuamotu et Gambier

Capital

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

Citizenship

see France

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 | etymology: the term Polynesia is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, "poly" (many) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to the hundreds of islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean

Dependency status

overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy

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 Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Lionel BEFFRE (since 16 September 2013) | head of government: President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014) | cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president | elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second 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)

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: 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

parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA); note - appeals beyond the French Polynesia Court of Appeal are heard by the Court of Cassation (in Paris) | judge selection and term of office: NA | subordinate courts: 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

description: unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesie Francaise (57 seats; elections held in two rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes get an additional 19 seats; to serve 5-year terms) | note: two seats were elected to the French Senate for a 6-year term on 20 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2022); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2; note - the UMP is France's ruling pary, the Union for a Popular Movement | elections: last held on 21 April 2013 and 5 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018) | 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

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 (the compositional group created both the lyrics and music) | note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

A Tia Porinetia [Teva ROHFRITSCH] | Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours) | New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON] | Our Home alliance | People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU] | Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE] | Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]

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 halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 82,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 67,363 | females age 16-49: 66,053 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,498 | female: 2,390 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.31% (male 33,894/female 32,005) | 15-24 years: 16.36% (male 23,980/female 22,270) | 25-54 years: 44.1% (male 63,931/female 60,749) | 55-64 years: 8.83% (male 12,847/female 12,120) | 65 years and over: 7.4% (male 10,142/female 10,765) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.22 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 42.2% | youth dependency ratio: 31.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 10.7% | potential support ratio: 9.3% (2015 est.)

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.)

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: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.98 years | male: 74.72 years | female: 79.36 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Major urban areas - population

PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 31 years | male: 30.9 years | female: 31.2 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: French Polynesian(s) | adjective: French Polynesian

Net migration rate

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Population

282,703 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Population growth rate

0.94% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Religions

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

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.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female | total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 34.2% | male: 31.4% | female: 38.5% (2007 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 55.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

54 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 87

Airports - with paved runways

total: 45 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 | 914 to 1,523 m: 33 | under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 9 | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 | 5 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 107

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Papeete

Roadways

total: 2,590 km | paved: 1,735 km | unpaved: 855 km (1999) | country comparison to the world: 172