French Polynesia (GPS: 15 00 S, 140 00 W) located in 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. The country’s area measurements are total: 4,167 sq km; land: 3,827 sq km, water: 340 sq km. This sovereign state is slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut. The total irrigated land is ten sq km (2012).
One of the essential features of French Polynesia: 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 globally – 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.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Papeete’s GPS coordinates are 17 32 S 149 34 W. Papeete’s local time is 5 hours behind Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC-10.
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In 1966, the French Government began testing nuclear weapons on the uninhabited Mururoa Atoll; Following mounting opposition, the tests were moved underground in 1975. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing after a three-year moratorium. The tests were halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia’s autonomy has been considerably expanded.
French Polynesia’s names 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, 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. The term “Polynesia” is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, “poly” (many) and “nesoi” (islands). It refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean.
French Polynesia’s terrain is typically a mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs. The country’s mean elevation: N/A, elevation extremes; lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m.
The general climate in the country; tropical but moderate.
The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. French Polynesia’s coastline is 2,525 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 12.5%; arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 6.3%; permanent pasture 5.5%; forest: 43.7%; other: 43.8% (2011 estimate).
The population in French Polynesia 290,373 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 55.9% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: PAPEETE (capital) 133,000 (2014), while French Polynesia has N/A. Their spoken languages are: French (official language) 61.1%, Polynesian (official language) 31.4%, Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census). The main religions in French Polynesia are Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%. The nation uses the laws of France, where applicable apply. It is a(n) parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France, National holiday(s) Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789).
Economic overview for the country: 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 workforce 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. After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased by 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015.
French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value-added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second-biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; However, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons, the lowest since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector – 8% of the total economy in 2012 – including agriculture and fishing. France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners.
Natural resources of French Polynesia: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower.
Main export partners for French Polynesia, Oceania are Japan 35%, US 24%, Hong Kong 17%, France 9.1%, China 4.2% (2014) for cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat, while the main import partners for the country are: France 24%, South Korea 10%, China 9.6%, USA 9.3%, New Zealand 8.5%, Singapore 8.2%, Australia 4% (2014) for fuels, foodstuffs, machinery, and equipment.
When you visit this country in Oceania, consider the natural hazards in French Polynesia: Occasional cyclonic storms in January, while infectious diseases are N/A. Also, note that French Polynesia faces the following environmental issues: Sea level rise, extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage), Drought, Freshwater scarcity.
You may also be interested in the countries next to French Polynesia around its 0 km border – No border countries.
