French Polynesia

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

French Polynesia as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 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

1992

Every edition of French Polynesia

Populationas each edition published it

205,620 people July 1992 · 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

3.3 children per woman 1992 · 3.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

15 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields

Total area

3,941km2

Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Coastline

2,525km

land boundaries: noneExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial 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

205,620

(July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

28Death

5Net 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

Religions

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

Government

Overseas territory of France since 1946

18 fields

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 by France from 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

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT (since November 1987)
Head of Government:: President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991); Vice President of the Council of Ministers Joel BUILLARD (since 12 September 1991)

Political parties and leaders

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

Elections

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

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
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

Diplomatic representation

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

Economy

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

2.9%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

14.9%

(1988 est.)

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.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion, per capita $6,000; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)

Exports

$88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities:: coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat
partners:: France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

Imports

$765 million (c.i.f., 1989)

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 - 97.81 (January 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987);
note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Merchant marine, 3 ships by typeone square, one ship

passenger-cargo 2refrigerated cargo; note - a captive subset of the French register 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,128 GRT/6,710 DWT

Airports, 43 total, 41 usable

permanent-surface runways

23runways | over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

2runways 1,220-2,439 m

33,200 telephones;
84,000 radio receivers;
26,400 TV sets;
broadcast stations - 5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

French forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie

3 fields

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