French Polynesia

Broadcast media

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

.pf

Internet hosts

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

Internet users

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

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

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

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.65 billion (2006)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

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

GDP - real growth rate

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2009)

Taxes and other revenues

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

Unemployment rate

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

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.22 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

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

Crude oil - imports

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

Crude oil - production

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

Crude oil - proved reserves

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

Electricity - consumption

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

Electricity - exports

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels

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

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

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

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

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

Electricity - from other renewable sources

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

Electricity - imports

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

Electricity - installed generating capacity

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

Electricity - production

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

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

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

Natural gas - imports

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

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption

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

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

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

Refined petroleum products - production

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

Area

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

slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Climate

tropical, but moderate

Coastline

2,525 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Geography - note

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

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Natural resources

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Administrative divisions

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

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

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

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

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

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas lands of France)

Executive branch

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 description

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

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

parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity

Independence

none (overseas lands of France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch

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

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

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

National symbol(s)

outrigger canoe

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces (2011)

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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

Drinking water source

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

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

PAPEETE (capital) 137,000 (2011)

Median age

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

Nationality

noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian

Net migration rate

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

Population

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

Population growth rate

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

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

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

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

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

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

Airports

54 (2013) country comparison to the world: 88

Airports - with paved runways

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

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

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

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

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Papeete

Roadways

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