French Polynesia

French Polynesia is an Overseas Collectivity (Collectivite D’Outre-Mer or C.O.M.) of France of which there are five in all. French Polynesia has some further autonomy as it has a President and Assembly of French Polynesia. The other C.O.M’s are in the Caribbean, Gulf of St Lawrence and Indian Ocean.

French Polynesia (FP), which stretches for 2,000 Kms, over a land area of 4,167 sq kms and incorporates 118 islands has 5 sub-divisions which are:

·       Marquesas

·       Leeward Isles

·       Windward Isles

·       Tuamotu – Gambier Isles

·       Austral Isles

In 2017 the population was 275,918, 69% of which lived in Tahiti and 89% of which were local born with 8% from France, itself. In 1996, the official language was mandated as French but ‘local languages can be used’. 54% is Protestant and 30% Catholic. 

Sports are important including soccer, surfing and other water sports. A big and important event is the Hawaiki Nui Va’a which is an outrigger canoe race from Tahiti to Huahine and Bora Bora.

The GDP of FP in 2014 was US$5.6 bn  with the per capita US$20,098. Main products are vegetables and fruit as well as vanilla and pearls. It is believed that large deposits of nickel, cobalt and manganese are under the ocean floor but these have not been exploited.

There are 53 airports in FP but Faa’a in Tahiti’s is the only international one.