Country Profile: French Polynesia

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, comprising five archipelagos in the South Pacific Ocean. The territory has a population of around 305,507, with the majority living in the Society Islands, particularly on the island of Tahiti. The economy is largely tourism-driven, supported by significant French financial assistance, while the governance structure is a parliamentary democracy with a blend of local and French authority. The region faces environmental challenges, including climate change and natural disasters, while remaining culturally rich with strong Polynesian influences.

Geography

French Polynesia is located in Oceania, consisting of five archipelagoes distributed across the South Pacific Ocean. It has a total area of 4,167 sq km, with 3,827 sq km of land and 340 sq km of water. Characterized by rugged high islands and low coral islands, its coastline stretches 2,525 km. The climate is tropical but moderate, with natural hazards such as cyclonic storms occurring from time to time.

5 archipelagos: Austral Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, Society Islands, and Tuamotu Archipelago.
70% of the population resides in the Society Islands.
12 nm territorial sea and 200 nm exclusive economic zone.
43.1% of land covered by forest (2023).
Home to the largest group of atolls in the world.

People and Society

The population of French Polynesia is estimated at 305,507, with a median age of 35.8 years. The majority of residents identify as Polynesian (78%), with other significant ethnic groups including Chinese (12%) and local French (6%). The territory is bilingual, with 73.5% of the population speaking French and 20.1% speaking Tahitian. The society is predominantly Protestant (54%) and Roman Catholic (30%).

62.3% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
12.7 births per 1,000 population (2025).
4.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2025).
78.9 years life expectancy at birth (2024).
66.8% of women aged 15-49 are currently married (2017).

Economy

French Polynesia has a small, tourism-based economy supported by significant financial aid from France. The economy showed resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a projected GDP of $6.007 billion in 2024. The territory is highly dependent on imports and is characterized by a high unemployment rate of 11.8% (2024).

75.9% of the GDP is derived from the services sector (2020).
2.2% of GDP from agriculture (2020).
36.9% youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24, 2024).
$23,300 per capita GDP (2024).
9.1% of GDP from remittances (2023).

Government

French Polynesia is governed as a parliamentary democracy and is an overseas collectivity of France. The territory has its own Assembly and President, with significant autonomy in local affairs while still reliant on France for defense and foreign affairs. The current head of government is President Moetai Brotherson, elected in May 2023.

57 representatives elected to the Assembly of French Polynesia.
18 years is the voting age.
49.1% of Assembly members are women.
National holiday celebrated on 14 July.
The legal system is based on French law.

Military and Security

French Polynesia does not maintain regular military forces as defense is the responsibility of France. The French military garrison, known as Forces Armées en Polynésie Française, is stationed in the territory to ensure security.

French military presence oversees defense.

Energy

French Polynesia has achieved 100% electrification as of 2022. The territory relies on a mix of energy sources, with 66% of electricity generation coming from fossil fuels.

345,000 kW total installed electricity generation capacity (2023).
669.5 million kWh of electricity consumption (2023).
42.663 million kWh transmission and distribution losses (2023).

Environment

Environmental issues in French Polynesia include sea-level rise, cyclones, and freshwater scarcity. The territory has reported a total of 1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2023, primarily from petroleum and other liquids.

8.7% of the land is used for agriculture (2023).
Urban population growth at 0.65% per year (2020-2025).
147,000 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.).

Transportation

French Polynesia has a total of 54 airports, facilitating both domestic and international travel. Its transportation infrastructure also includes a merchant marine fleet of 24 vessels.

Major ports include Papeete and Atuona.
The country code for civil aircraft registration is F-OH.

Communications

The telecommunications sector in French Polynesia is relatively developed, with 334,000 mobile subscriptions and a sizable fixed-line network.

73% internet penetration rate (2017).
66,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	305,507	2025 estimate
Area	4,167 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$6.007 billion	2024 estimate
Energy Consumption	669.5 million kWh	2023 estimate
Birth Rate	12.7 births/1,000	2025 estimate
Unemployment Rate	11.8%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	78.9 years	2024 estimate
Urban Population	62.3%	Of total population (2023)
Median Age	35.8 years	2025 estimate
CO2 Emissions	1.01 million metric tonnes	2023 estimate