ARCHIVE // PF // 2015

French Polynesia

2015 Edition — territory

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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 [time series]
total: 161,100 | percent of population: 57.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 [time series]
total subscriptions: 55,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 239,700 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.891 billion | expenditures: $1.833 billion (2011)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
0.8% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 32
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. 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 [time series]
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 [time series]
$230 million (2013 est.) | $211 million (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Exports - commodities [time series]
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat
Exports - partners [time series]
Japan 35%, US 24%, Hong Kong 17%, France 9.1%, China 4.2% (2014)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$7.15 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$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 [time series]
agriculture: 2.5% | industry: 13% | services: 84.5% (2009)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$26,100 (2012 est.) | $26,000 (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
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 [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$1.72 billion (2013 est.) | $1.706 billion (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Imports - commodities [time series]
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners [time series]
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 [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.1% (2013 est.) | 1.5% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66
Labor force [time series]
114,300 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 13% | industry: 19% | services: 68% (2013 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
19.7% (2009 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
26.4% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 108
Unemployment rate [time series]
21.8% (2012) | 11.7% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 170
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
1.071 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - consumption [time series]
652.9 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
79% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
21% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
224,000 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - production [time series]
702 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
6,994 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184
Geography
Area [time series]
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 [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]
NA
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]
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 [time series]
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 [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 5 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)
Citizenship [time series]
see France
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 | 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 [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 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 (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, WMO
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]
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(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 (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 [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; national colors: red, white
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]
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: 23.31% (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 [time series]
15.22 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Death rate [time series]
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Dependency ratios [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
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 [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: 76.98 years | male: 74.72 years | female: 79.36 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 31 years | male: 30.9 years | female: 31.2 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: French Polynesian(s) | adjective: French Polynesian
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Population [time series]
282,703 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Population growth rate [time series]
0.94% (2015 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]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
1.92 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 34.2% | male: 31.4% | female: 38.5% (2007 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 55.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.85% 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: 87
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 | 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: 107
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Papeete
Roadways [time series]
total: 2,590 km | paved: 1,735 km | unpaved: 855 km (1999) | country comparison to the world: 172