French Polynesia

overseas territory of FranceIndependence none (overseas territory of France)

French Polynesia as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPapeete

Area3,941 km2

1990

Every edition of French Polynesia

Populationas each edition published it

190,181 people July 1990 · 305,507 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.26% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 70.33 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.9 children per woman 1990 · 1.78 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

23 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 4.2 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.5% in 2001

Geography

12 fields

Land useshare of 3,941 km2

arable land 1%permanent crops 19%meadows and pastures 5%forest and woodland 31%other 44%

Total area

3,941km2

land area: 3,660 km2Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Coastline

2,525km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Environment

occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes

Note

Makatea is one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific (others are Banaba or Ocean Island in Kiribati and Nauru)

People

14 fields

Population

190,181

(July 1990), growth rate 2.5% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

31Death

6Net migration

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

57,863employed

(1983)

Nationality

noun--French Polynesian(s); adjective--French Polynesian

Religion

mainly Christian; 55% Protestant, 32% Roman Catholic

Government

Overseas territory of France

15 fields

Territorial Assembly, 41 seats, elected 16 March 1986one dot, one seat

Tahoeraa Huiraatira 24Amuitahiraa Mo Porinesia 6Pupu Here Ai'a 4Ia Mana 3Front de Liberation 2other 2

Executive branch

French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT (since NA November 1987);
Head of Government--President of the Council of Ministers Alexandre LEONTIEFF (since 9 December 1987);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers Georges KELLY (since 9 December 1987)

Political parties and leaders

Tahoeraa Huiraatira (Gaullist), Gaston Flosse;
Pupu Here Ai'a, Jean Juventin;
Front de Liberation, Oscar Temaru;
Ai'a Api, Emile Vernaudon;
Ia Mana Te Nunaa, Jacques Drollet;
Pupu Taina, Michel Law;
Toatiraa Polynesia, Arthur Chung;
Te E'a Api, Francis Sanford

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Territorial Assembly--last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held March 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(41 total) Tahoeraa Huiraatira 24, Amuitahiraa Mo Porinesia 6, Pupu Here Ai'a 4, Ia Mana 3, Front de Liberation 2, other 2;
French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) Democrats for Progress 1;
French National Assembly last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) Rally for the Republic 1, Ai'a Api 1

Diplomatic representation

as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

Economy

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$2.24billion

per capita $6,400; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1987)

Unemployment rate

(1986 est.)

Exports $75 million (f.o.b., 1987)commodities, where a share is given

coconut products

79%mother-of-pearl

14%

also vanilla, shark meat; partners--France 44%, US 21%

Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.

Budget

revenues $431; expenditures $418, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

Imports

$767 million (c.i.f., 1986);
commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment;
partners--France 50%, US 16%, New Zealand 6%

External debt

$NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,350 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture

coconut and vanilla plantations;
vegetables and fruit;
poultry, beef, dairy products

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion

Currency

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985);
note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc