listed in Overview: CIA World Factbook for the year 2001
The following is reproduced from the CIA World Factbook (where additional information is available). It is compiled and published annually by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States government.
The text is unchanged, except that the "Map Reference" section is omitted. Otherwise, only the layout and order was adapted for this website.
This entry in the original Factbook for the year 2001 was based on information available at 1 January 2001.
Background: 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.
Economic Overview: 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 one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.
| Location: | Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 S, 140 00 W |
| Area: | Total:
4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | Slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 2,525 km |
| Maritime claims: | Exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: | Tropical, but moderate |
| Terrain: | Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs |
| Elevation extremes: | Lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m |
| Natural resources: | Timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower |
| Land use: | Arable land:
1%
permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 31% other: 57% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | NA sq km |
| Natural hazards: | Occasional cyclonic storms in January |
| Environment - current issues: | NA |
| Geography - note: | Includes five archipelagoes; 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 |
| Population: | 253,506 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years:
29.74% (male 38,473; female 36,925)
15-64 years: 65.17% (male 86,128; female 79,076) 65 years and over: 5.09% (male 6,481; female 6,423) (2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.72% (2001 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 18.6 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | 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: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | 9.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | Total population:
75.01 years
male: 72.67 years female: 77.46 years (2001 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.23 children born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA% |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | Noun:
French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian |
| Ethnic groups: | Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% |
| Religions: | Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16% |
| Languages: | French (official), Tahitian (official) |
| Literacy: | Definition:
Age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.) |
| Country name: | Conventional long form:
Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: French Colony of Oceania |
| Dependency status: | Overseas territory of France since 1946 |
| Government type: | NA |
| Capital: | Papeete |
| 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 |
| Independence: | None (overseas territory of France) |
| National holiday: | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
| Constitution: | 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
| Legal system: | Based on French system |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | Chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994)
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996) 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 seven-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 |
| Legislative branch: | Unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif |
| Political parties and leaders: | Centrist Union or UC [leader NA]; 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 (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | None (overseas territory of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | None (overseas territory of France) |
| Flag: |
|
| Flag description: | 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 |
| GDP: | Purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1997 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2.5% (1997 est.) |
| GDP - per capita: | Purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1997 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | Agriculture:
4%
industry: 18% services: 78% (1997) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | Lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1.5% (1994) |
| Labor force: | 70,000 (1996) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | Agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997) |
| Unemployment rate: | 15% (1992 est.) |
| Budget: | Revenues:
$1 billion
expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996) |
| Industries: | Tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 430 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production by source: | Fossil fuel:
51.16%
hydro: 48.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 399.9 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture - products: | Coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products |
| Exports: | $205 million (f.o.b., 1999) |
| Exports - commodities: | Cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997) |
| Exports - partners: | Japan 62%, US 21% (1999) |
| Imports: | $749 million (f.o.b., 1999) |
| Imports - commodities: | Fuels, foodstuffs, equipment |
| Imports - partners: | France 53%, US 13%, Australia 10% (1999) |
| Debt - external: | $NA |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $367 million (1997) |
| Currency: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF) |
| Currency code: | XPF |
| Exchange rates: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 127.11 (January 2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996); note - pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro |
| Fiscal year: | Calendar year |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 52,000 (1997) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 5,427 (1997) |
| Telephone system: | General assessment:
NA
domestic: NA international: Satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) |
| Radios: | 128,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) |
| Televisions: | 40,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .pf |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 5,000 (2000) |
| Railways: | 0 km |
| Highways: | Total:
792 km
paved: 264 km unpaved: 528 km (2000) |
| Waterways: | None |
| Ports and harbors: | Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa |
| Merchant marine: | Total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT
ships by type: Cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: | 45 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | Total:
32
over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | Total:
13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.) |
| Military branches: | French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie |
| Military - note: | Defense is the responsibility of France |
| Disputes - international: | None |
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