World Facts Index
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 of French Polynesia
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Location:
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Oceania, archipelago in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to
Australia |
|
Coordinates:
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15 00 S, 140 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 4,167 sq km
(118 islands and atolls)
water: 507 sq km
land: 3,660 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly less than
one-third the size of Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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2,525 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical, but moderate |
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Terrain:
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mixture of rugged high
islands and low islands with reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, fish, cobalt,
hydropower |
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Natural hazards:
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occasional cyclonic storms
in January |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population of French Polynesia
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Population:
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283,019 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.1% (male 36,541/female 34,999)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 96,769/female 89,593)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 8,428/female 8,248) |
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Median age:
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27.9 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.48% |
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Infant mortality:
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8.29 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.1 years
male: 73.69 years
female: 78.63 years |
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Fertility rate:
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2.01 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French
6%, metropolitan French 4% |
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Religions:
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Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other
10%, no religion 6% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Tahitian (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 14 and over can read
and write
total population: 98%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of
French Polynesia
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of France since 1946 |
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Capital:
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Papeete |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of France); there
are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are
5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des
Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia |
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National holiday:
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Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
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Constitution:
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28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
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Legal system:
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based on French system |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since
16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT
(since 7 July 2008)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG (since 15
April 2008); 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. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale
(57 seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009) |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of
the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or
Tribunal Administratif |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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]. |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$4.58 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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4% |
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GDP per capita:
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$17,500 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 6%
industry: 18%
services: 76% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.5% |
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Labor force:
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63,300 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% |
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Unemployment:
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11.8% |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of
$185 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 60.7%
hydro: 39.3%
other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Industries:
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tourism, pearls,
agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates |
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Agriculture:
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coconuts, vanilla,
vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee |
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Exports:
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cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl,
vanilla, shark meat |
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Export partners:
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nce 45.8%, Japan 20.6%, Niger 13.2%, US 12.4% |
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Imports:
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fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment |
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Import partners:
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France 51.9%, Singapore 14.7%, NZ 7.5%, US 6.5% |
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Currency:
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Comptoirs Francais du
Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003 |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |
