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  French Polynesia
(overseas lands of France)
 
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of French Polynesia
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    French Polynesia Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
   Geography    French Polynesia Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land: 3,660 sq km
water: 507 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
2,525 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical, but moderate
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.75%
permanent crops: 5.5%
other: 93.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); 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
   People    French Polynesia Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
278,963 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 36,223/female 34,677)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 98,784/female 91,585)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 8,933/female 8,761) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 28.3 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 28 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.461% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.41 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.045 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.079 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.066 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 76.31 years
male: 73.88 years
female: 78.86 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.98 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
   Government    French Polynesia Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Anne BOQUET (since September 2005)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 13 September 2007); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
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 territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy 27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13 February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for the Republic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a New Democracy 3
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
FZ, ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
Government - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    French Polynesia Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$3.8 billion (2002)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.1% (2002)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 19%
services: 76.9% (2005)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
65,930 (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.7% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1% (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $865 million
expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
462 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
429.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,800 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,678 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$579.8 million (2004)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    French Polynesia Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53,600 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
152,000 (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.pf
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,059 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
65,000 (2006)
   Transportation    French Polynesia Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
54 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,590 km
paved: 1,735 km
unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,684 GRT/17,291 DWT
by type: cargo 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Papeete
   Military    French Polynesia Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 69,679 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,747 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France
   Transnational Issues    French Polynesia Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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