French Polynesia

parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

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) etymology: the name derives from the Tahitian words pape (water) and ete (basket), referring to a place where people came to get water

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Alexander ROCHATTE (since 1 September 2025) head of government: President of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president election/appointment process: 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)

legislature name: Assembly of French Polynesia (Assembl e de la Polyn sie fran aise) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 57 (directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/30/2023 parties elected and seats per party: People's Servant People (38); List of the People (15); I Love Polynesia (3); Rally of the Mahoi People (1) percentage of women in chamber: 49.1% expected date of next election: 2028 note 1: elections held in two rounds; in the second round, 38 members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a closed-list proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats note 2: French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly for 5-year terms

highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA) judge selection and term of office: judges assigned from France for 3 years subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premi re Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif note: appeals beyond the French Polynesia Court of Appeal are heard by the Court of Cassation (in Paris)

history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply

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

no regular military forces

defense is the responsibility of France, and it maintains a military garrison in French Polynesia (Forces Arm es en Polyn sie Fran aise, FAPF)

$6.007 billion (2024 est.) $5.935 billion (2023 est.) $5.892 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

$23,300 (2024 est.) $22,800 (2023 est.) $20,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

3% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) 2.1% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

6.4% (2022 est.) 0.5% (2021 est.) -0.1% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$162 million (2021 est.) $94.4 million (2020 est.) $184 million (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$1.66 billion (2021 est.) $1.75 billion (2020 est.) $2.24 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

11.8% (2024 est.) 11.8% (2023 est.) 11.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

coconuts, fruits, cassava, sugarcane, pineapples, eggs, tropical fruits, watermelons, tomatoes, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 305,507 (2025 est.) male: 156,084 female: 149,423

0.63% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 20.3% (male 31,659/female 30,006) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 107,162/female 101,228) 65 years and over: 11% (2024 est.) (male 16,317/female 17,168)

12.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.) male: 76.6 years female: 81.3 years

urban population: 62.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

54 (2025)

total: 24 (2023) by type: general cargo 14

total subscriptions: 334,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)

percent of population: 73% (2017 est.)