Fun factual information on French Polynesia

General information on French Polynesia:

The French Polynesia is composed of various Polynesian islands annexed by the French during the 19th century.

In 1995, following international protests against nuclear tests on the Mururoa atoll France decided to suspend them the following year.

Geographical information on French Polynesia:

Geographical Position: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 15 degrees 00’ South, 140 degrees 00’ West

Total Land & Sea Area Total: 4,200 square kilometres Sea Area500 square kilometres land area: 3,700 square kilometres

Land boundaries: 0 kilometres Coastal Length: 2,500 kilometres

Climatological information on French Polynesia:

The French Polynesia is composed of various Polynesian islands annexed by the French during the 19th century.

In 1995, following international protests against nuclear tests on the Mururoa atoll France decided to suspend them the following year.

Geographical information on French Polynesia:

Geographical Position: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 15 degrees 00’ South, 140 degrees 00’ West

Total Land & Sea Area Total: 4,200 square kilometres Sea Area500 square kilometres land area: 3,700 square kilometres

Land boundaries: 0 kilometres Coastal Length: 2,500 kilometres

Climatological information on French Polynesia:

Tropical Country terrain: Bumpy high islands and low islands with reefs

Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Pacific Ocean at mean sea level highest point: Mont Orohena 2,240 meters

Natural resources: timber and lumber, angle, cobalt deposits, hydro electrical power Land use: arable land area: 1.6 percent permanent crops: 6. percent other: 92 percent (1998 estimate.)

Natural hazards: Some cyclonic storms.

Geopolitical information on French Polynesia:

Five archipelagos Population: 262,000 (2003 estimate.) Age structure: Under 15: 28 percent From 15 to 65: 66 percent Over 65: 6 percent Median age: Total: 26.5 years male: 27. years female: 26 years (2002) Population growth rate: 1.6 percent (2003 estimate.) Birth rate: 18 births per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Death rate: 4.5 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Net migration rate: 3 migrant per thousand population (2003 estimate.)

Infant mortality rate: Total: 8.5 deaths per thousand live births female: 7. deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate.) male: 10 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75 years male: 73 years female: 77 years (2003 estimate.) Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2003 estimate.)

Nationality: French Polynesian

Ethnicities: Polynesian 80 percent, Chinese 10 percent, local French 5 percent, metropolitan French 5 percent

Religious informationo on French Polynesia: Protestant 55 percent, Roman Catholic 35 percent, other 5 percent, no religion 5 percent Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official) Literacy: definition: age 14 and more can read and write total population: 99 percent male: 99 percent female: 99 percent Government French Polynesia Territory of French Polynesia French Polynesia Capital city: Papeete

National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 Legal system: Based on French system

Suffrage: All citizens eligible to vote from the age of 18 years

Executive branch: Head of State: French President represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia; cabinet: Council of Ministers;

Legislative branch: Unicameral Territorial Assembly

Economy information on French Polynesia:

Economy - overview: In 1962, France deicided to settle the region with military personnel, which has dramatically influenced the economy of the country since from a subsistence agricultural economy the military sector became the major source of incomes until the end of the nuclear tests in 1996.

Since then, Tourism became the main activity as it represents one-fourth of GDP - Gross Domestic Product but the country is now trying to develop the industrial sector with the help of France.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product: - $USD1.5 billion (2001 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - growth rate: 5 percent (2001 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD5,500 (2001 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 5 percent industry: 20 percent services: 75 percent (1997) Inflation rate: 2 percent Labor force: 75,000 (1996) Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture 15 percent, industry 20 percent, services 65 percent rate of unemployment: 12 percent (1994)

Budget information on French Polynesia: incomes: $USD1,5 billion spending: $USD950 million, Industries: Tourism, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates deposits. Industrial production growth rate:

Agriculture - products:

Vanilla, vegetables, fruits; meat, dairy products, coffee Exports: $USD250 million (2000)

Exports - commodities: Pearls and pearl products 60 percent, coconut, , vanilla, shark meat (1997) Exports - partners: France 37 percent, Japan 35 percent, US 17 percent (2002) Imports: $USD1 billion (2000)

Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, plant Imports - partners: France 60 percent, Australia 12 percent, New Zealand 7 percent, US 6percent (2002)

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); Currency code: XPF

Communications information on French Polynesia:

Telephones: 50,000 (1997)

Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 2, Frequency Modulation 14, SW 2 (1998) Television stations: 8 Internet country code: .pf

Travel to French Polynesia :

Railroad networks: None Roading System: Total: 2,500 kilometres

Airports: 45 (2002)

Military information on French Polynesia:

Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie

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More information on French Polynesia, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of French Polynesia | Map of Equatorial-guinea | Learn French in Equatorial-guinea |

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