French Polynesia

overseas territory of France since 1946Independence none (overseas territory of France)

French Polynesia as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 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

1991

Every edition of French Polynesia

Populationas each edition published it

195,046 people July 1991 · 190,181 in 1990

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 1991 · 3.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

22 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 23 in 1990

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

10 fields

Total area

3,941km2

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

Coastline

2,525 km Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Land use

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

Environment

occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes

Note

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

14 fields

Population

195,046

(July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

31Death

6Net migration

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

76,630employed

(1988)

Literacy

98%

(male 98%, female 98%) age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)

Nationality

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

Religion

mainly Christian; Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%

Government

Overseas territory of France since 1946

15 fields

Territorial Assembly, 41 seats, elected 17 March 1991one dot, one seat

People's Rally (Gaullist) 18Polynesian Union Party 14New Fatherland Party 5other 4

Administrative divisions

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 from French Polynesia and may have become a dependency of French Polynesia

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 Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers NA People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE;
Polynesian Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF;
New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON;
Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU;
other small parties

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Territorial Assembly--last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4;
French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party NA;
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) People's Rally (Gaullist) 1, New Fatherland Party 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

$1.2billion

per capita $6,300; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1989 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1986 est.)

Exports $75 million (f.o.b., 1988)commodities, where a share is given

coconut products

79%mother-of-pearl

14%

also vanilla, shark meat; partners--France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

Budget

Revenues

$614 millionExpenditures

$957 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

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.

Imports

$806 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment;
partners--France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%

External debt

$NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture

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

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $3.95 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--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (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