About French Polynesia

Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

Tropical, but moderate

Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one 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

conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania

name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

None (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent

Occasional cyclonic storms in January

NA

total population: 76.91 years
male: 74.44 years
female: 79.5 years (2010 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

The laws of France where applicable apply

general assessment: NA
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 90 per 100 persons
international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)

The publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts on 2 television channels and 1 radio station; a government-owned TV station is operating; a small number of privately-owned radio stations also broadcast (2008)

total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land: 3,827 sq km
water: 340 sq km

291,000 (July 2010 est.)

noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian

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

French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%

NA

Overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004

none (overseas lands of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

NA

18 years of age; universal

90,000 (2008)

36,056 (2010)

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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. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.

name: "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)
lyrics/music: Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN
note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)