ARCHIVE // PF // 2017

French Polynesia

2017 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2017 CSV Excel Print All Years
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: 195,275 | percent of population: 68.4% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular density is roughly 110 per 100 persons | international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 94,957 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 220,819 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2016 est.) | 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: $1.891 billion | expenditures: $1.833 billion (2011)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 21
Current account balance [time series]
$207.7 million (2014 est.) | $158.8 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49
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, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015. | French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; however, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons – the lowest level since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of total economy in 2012 - including agriculture and fishing. | France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners.
Exchange rates [time series]
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - | 110.2 (2016 est.) | 107.6 (2015 est.) | 89.85 (2013 est.) | 90.56 (2012 est.) | 85.74 (2011 est.)
Exports [time series]
$1.245 billion (2014 est.) | $1.168 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152
Exports - commodities [time series]
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat
Exports - partners [time series]
Japan 22.2%, Hong Kong 21.7%, Kyrgyzstan 16.8%, France 13.3%, US 12.6% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$4.795 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$5.49 billion (2015 est.) | $5.383 billion (2014 est.) | $6.963 billion (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 66.9% | government consumption: 33.6% | investment in fixed capital: 19.4% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 17.5% | imports of goods and services: -37.5%
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]
$17,000 (2015 est.) | $20,100 (2014 est.) | $22,700 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 98
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2% (2015 est.) | -2.7% (2014 est.) | -2.5% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$2.235 billion (2014 est.) | $2.271 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Imports - commodities [time series]
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners [time series]
France 28.5%, South Korea 10.7%, US 9%, NZ 7.8%, China 7.2%, Singapore 5.9% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0% (2015 est.) | 0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Labor force [time series]
126,300 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
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.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$3.81 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$349.3 million (2015) | $310.8 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$905 million (2015 est.) | $822.3 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
39.4% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 41
Unemployment rate [time series]
21.8% (2012) | 11.7% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 187
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
1.1 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption [time series]
582.2 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
71.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
18.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
10.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
249,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - production [time series]
626 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 116,981 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 72% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 142
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
7,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
6,636 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
sea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity
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 the Tuamotu archipelago 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 (2012)
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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Terrain [time series]
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)
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 more than 1,000 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 Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Rene BIDALL (since 30 May 2016) | 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: identical to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest and most populous of the islands in French Polynesia, but 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, 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 democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France
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: judges assigned from France normally for 3 years | 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 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms) | 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 | note: 2 seats were elected to the French Senate for a 6-year term; last election on 20 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2022); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; 3 seats were elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term; last election on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); election results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Tapura Huiractura 2, Tavini Huiraatura 1
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 (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)
National symbol(s) [time series]
outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; 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 New Star [Philip SCHYLE], This Country is Yours [Nicole BOUTEAU]) | 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] | Tapura Huiraatira [Edouard FRITICH] | Tavini Huiraatira [James CHANCELOR] | 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 and Security
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: 22.52% (male 33,340/female 31,481) | 15-24 years: 15.73% (male 23,533/female 21,745) | 25-54 years: 44.36% (male 65,464/female 62,254) | 55-64 years: 9.42% (male 13,947/female 13,178) | 65 years and over: 7.97% (male 11,090/female 11,849) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
14.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Death rate [time series]
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 45.3 | youth dependency ratio: 34.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 | potential support ratio: 9.5 (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: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Languages [time series]
French (official) 70%, Polynesian (official) 28.2%, other 1.8% (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 77.4 years | male: 75.1 years | female: 79.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 31.9 years | male: 31.7 years | female: 32.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
Nationality [time series]
noun: French Polynesian(s) | adjective: French Polynesian
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
287,881 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181
Population distribution [time series]
the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Population growth rate [time series]
0.88% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
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 (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.88 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 56.7% | male: 54.5% | female: 59.7% (2012 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 55.7% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 9 | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 | under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
F-OH (2016)
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
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 2 (registered in France) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 (registered in France) (2015)
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: 171