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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.pf

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

37,949 (2012) country comparison to the world: 103

Internet users [time series]

120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: combined fixed 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 (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

55,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 162

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

226,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 180

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $865 million expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

3.9% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 12

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 handicrafts, public works projects, aquaculture, 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 90.01 (2010 est.) 87.59 (2007)

Exports [time series]

$200 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $211 million (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$5.65 billion (2006)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$5.65 billion (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $5.674 billion (2005 est.) $5.525 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 20% services: 76.9% (2006)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$22,000 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $18,000 (2004 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-0.4% (2006) country comparison to the world: 200 2.7% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $1.706 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 28 1.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

116,000 (2007) country comparison to the world: 181

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

19.7% (2009)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

15.3% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 192

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.7% (2010) country comparison to the world: 121 11.7% (2005)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

1.22 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - consumption [time series]

625 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

74.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

25.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

186,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - production [time series]

672 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

8,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

7,190 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Climate [time series]

tropical, but moderate

Coastline [time series]

2,525 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.68% permanent crops: 6.28% other: 93.03% (2011)

Location [time series]

Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Natural resources [time series]

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five second order administrative units named Iles Australes, Iles du Vent, Iles Marquises, Iles Sous le Vent, Iles Tuamotu et Gambier

Capital [time series]

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)

Constitution [time series]

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas lands of France)

Executive branch [time series]

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 Gaston FLOSS (since 17 May 2013); President of the Assembly of French Polynesia L. Edouard FRITCH (since 16 May 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the 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 French Polynesia government and the president of the Assembly of French Polynesia elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity

Independence [time series]

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblee de la Polynesia francaise (57 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 21 April 2013 (first round) and 5 May 2013 (second round) (next to be held in 2018) election results: percent of vote by party - Popular Rally 45.1%, Union for Democracy alliance 29.3%, A Tia Porinetia 25.6%, other 15.8%; seats by party - Popular Rally 38, Union for Democracy alliance 11, A Tia Porinetia 8 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; three seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

outrigger canoe

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

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

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of France

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces (2011)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.7% (male 34,182/female 32,276) 15-24 years: 16.7% (male 24,219/female 22,559) 25-54 years: 43.9% (male 63,034/female 59,859) 55-64 years: 8.5% (male 12,305/female 11,599) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 9,713/female 10,280) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.47 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Death rate [time series]

4.93 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 42.5 % youth dependency ratio: 32 % elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 % potential support ratio: 9.6 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 180 male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.79 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 74.54 years female: 79.15 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population [time series]

PAPEETE (capital) 137,000 (2011)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.6 years male: 30.5 years female: 30.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Population [time series]

280,026 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Population growth rate [time series]

0.97% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 97.1% of population rural: 97.1% of population total: 97.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population rural: 2.9% of population total: 2.9% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.95 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 33.2% country comparison to the world: 24 male: 29.3% female: 39.1% (2002)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 51.4% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

54 (2013) country comparison to the world: 88

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 12 (Cambodia 1, France 11) (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Papeete

Roadways [time series]

total: 2,590 km country comparison to the world: 171 paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)