French Polynesia

LOCATION

Background: French Polynesia consists of five archipelagos -- the Austral Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The Marquesas were first settled around 200 B.C. and the Society Islands around A.D. 300. Raiatea in the Society Islands became a center for religion and culture. Exploration of the other islands emanated from Raiatea, and by 1000, there were small permanent settlements in all the island groups. Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see the islands of French Polynesia in 1520. In 1767, British explorer Samuel WALLIS was the first European to visit Tahiti, followed by French navigator Louis Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1768 and British explorer James COOK in 1769. King POMARE I united Tahiti and surrounding islands into the Kingdom of Tahiti in 1788. Protestant missionaries arrived in 1797, and POMARE I’s successor converted in the 1810s, along with most Tahitians. In the 1830s, Queen POMARE IV refused to allow French Catholic missionaries to operate, leading France to declare a protectorate over Tahiti and fight the French-Tahitian War of the 1840s in an attempt to annex the islands. In 1880, King POMARE V ceded Tahiti and its possessions to France, changing its status into a colony. France then claimed the Gambier Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago and by 1901 had incorporated all five island groups into its establishments in Oceania. A Tahitian nationalist movement formed in 1940, leading France to grant French citizenship to the islanders in 1946 and change it to an overseas territory. In 1957, the islands’ name was changed to French Polynesia, and the following year, 64% of voters chose to stay part of France when they approved a new constitution. Uninhabited Mururoa Atoll was established as a French nuclear test site in 1962, and tests were conducted between 1966 and 1992 (underground beginning in 1975). France also conducted tests at Fangataufa Atoll, including its last nuclear test in 1996.France granted French Polynesia partial internal autonomy in 1977 and expanded autonomy in 1984. French Polynesia was converted into an overseas collectivity in 2003 and renamed an overseas territory in 2004. Pro-independence politicians won a surprise majority in local elections that same year, but in subsequent elections, they have been relegated to a vocal minority. In 2013, French Polynesia was relisted on the UN List of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Location: Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between South America and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited)
land: 3,827 sq km
water: 340 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation: highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2023 est.)
other: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island, Tahiti, with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
Geography - note: includes five archipelagoes: four volcanic (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); the Tuamotu Archipelago forms the largest group of atolls in the world -- 78 in total, 48 inhabited; Makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean -- the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

Population: total: 305,507 (2025 est.)
male: 156,084
female: 149,423
Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Languages: Languages: French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.)
major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.3% (male 31,659/female 30,006)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 107,162/female 101,228)
65 years and over: 11% (2024 est.) (male 16,317/female 17,168)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 29.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 16.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 35.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 35 years
female: 35.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.63% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island, Tahiti, with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Urbanization: urban population: 62.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 136,000 PAPEETE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.6 years
female: 81.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.87 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.8% (2017 est.)

Environmental issues: sea-level rise; cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage; droughts; fresh water scarcity
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Land use: agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2023 est.)
other: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 62.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 147,000 tons (2024 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynésie française
local short form: Polynésie Française
former: Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania
etymology: the term "Polynesia" is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, poly (many) and nesoi (islands), and refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas country of France
Capital: name: Papeete (located on Tahiti)
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Tahitian words pape (water) and ete (basket), referring to a place where people came to get water
Administrative divisions: 5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier
Legal system: the laws of France apply
Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Alexander ROCHATTE (since 1 September 2025)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023)
cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president
election/appointment process: French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Legislative branch: legislature name: Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 57 (directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/30/2023
parties elected and seats per party: People's Servant People (38); List of the People (15); I Love Polynesia (3); Rally of the Mahoi People (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 49.1%
expected date of next election: 2028
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA)
judge selection and term of office: judges assigned from France for 3 years
subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties: I Love Polynesia (A here la Porinetia) List of the People (Tapura Huiraatira) People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) Rally of the Maohi People (Amuitahiraʻa o te Nunaʻa Maohi) (formerly known as Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira))
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas lands of France)
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WMO
Independence: none (overseas land of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: two horizontal red bands flank a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue-and-white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold-and-white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a stylized red Polynesian canoe on the disk has a crew of five, represented by five stars meaning: the stars symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors
National symbol(s): outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia flower (Gardenia taitensis)
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s): title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
history: official anthem, as a French territory
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 mixed); note - excerpted from the France entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: Taputapuātea (c); Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands (m)
Government - note: French Polynesia has acquired autonomy from France in all areas except those relating to police, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are similar to those of the French prime minister

Economic overview: small, territorial-island tourism-based economy; large French financing; lower EU import duties; Pacific Islands Forum member; fairly resilient from COVID-19; oil-dependent infrastructure
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $6.007 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.935 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.892 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $23,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $22,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $20,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.563 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.2% (2020 est.)
industry: 10.6% (2020 est.)
services: 75.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 70.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 30.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 23.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -45.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, fruits, cassava, sugarcane, pineapples, eggs, tropical fruits, watermelons, tomatoes, pork (2023)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Labor force: 119,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 11.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 36.9% (2024 est.)
male: 33.5% (2024 est.)
female: 41.5% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 9.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 10% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 9.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2016: $411.963 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2015: $291.182 million (2015 est.)
Current account balance 2014: $264.32 million (2014 est.)
Exports: Exports 2021: $162 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $94.4 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2019: $184 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: Japan 44%, USA 15%, France 12%, Netherlands 9%, China 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: pearls, fish, aircraft parts, gas turbines, vanilla (2023)
Imports: Imports 2021: $1.66 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $1.75 billion (2020 est.)
Imports 2019: $2.24 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: France 26%, China 11%, USA 10%, NZ 7%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, poultry, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Exchange rates: Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 110.306 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 110.347 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 113.474 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 100.88 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 104.711 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 345,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 669.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 42.663 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 66% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 27% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 66,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 334,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: French public overseas broadcaster Réseau Outre-Mer provides 2 TV channels and 1 radio station; 1 government-owned TV station; a small number of privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .pf
Internet users: percent of population: 73% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 78,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: F-OH
Airports: 54 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 24 (2023)
by type: general cargo 14
Ports: total ports: 6 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 5
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Atuona, Baie Taiohae, Papeete, Port Rikitea, Uturoa, Vaitape

Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France, and it maintains a military garrison in French Polynesia (Forces Armées en Polynésie Française, FAPF)