French Polynesia

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.

• 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

0-14 years:

28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)

15-64 years:

66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)

65 years and over:

5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.09 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

1.02 male(s)/female

total population:

1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

noun:

French Polynesian(s)

adjective:

French Polynesian

conventional long form:

Territory of French Polynesia

conventional short form:

French Polynesia

local short form:

Polynesie Francaise

local long form:

Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise

former:

French Colony of Oceania

chief of state:

President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)

head of government:

• President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991);
• President of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers

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 Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

• Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
• Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
• Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

• 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];
• The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [leader NA]

• two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band;
• centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half;
• a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern;
• the French flag is used for official occasions

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

NA

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

2,590 km

paved:

1,735 km

unpaved:

855 km (1999)

total:

7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)