The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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

      Geographic coordinates:

      15 00 S, 140 00 W

      Map references:

      Oceania

      Area:

      total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km

      Area - comparative:

      slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

      Land boundaries:

      0 km

      Coastline:

      2,525 km

      Maritime claims:

      territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

      Climate:

      tropical, but moderate

      Terrain:

      mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

      Elevation extremes:

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

      Natural resources:

      timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

      Land use:

      arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)

      Irrigated land:

      10 sq km (2003)

      Natural hazards:

      occasional cyclonic storms in January

      Environment - current issues:

      NA

      Geography - note:

      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

      People

       French Polynesia

      Population:

      283,019 (July 2008 est.)

      Age structure:

      0–14 years: 24.8% (male 35,903/female 34,364) 15–64 years: 68.6% (male 100,700/female 93,492) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 9,374/female 9,186) (2008 est.)

      Median age:

      total: 28.7 years male: 29 years female: 28.4 years (2008 est.)

      Population growth rate:

      1.425% (2008 est.)

      Birth rate:

      16.16 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Death rate:

      4.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Net migration rate:

      2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Sex ratio:

      at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

      total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

      total population: 76.51 years male: 74.07 years female: 79.08 years (2008 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

      1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

      NA

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

      NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

      NA

      Nationality:

      noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian

      Ethnic groups:

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

      Religions:

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

      Languages:

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

      Literacy:

      definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)

      Education expenditures:

      ( )

      Government

       French Polynesia

      Country name:

      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

      Dependency status:

      overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946–2004

      Government type:

      NA

      Capital:

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

      Administrative divisions:

      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

      Independence:

      none (overseas lands of France)

      National holiday:

      Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

      Constitution:

      4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

      Legal system:

      the laws of France, where applicable, apply

      Suffrage:

      18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

      chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT (since 7 July 2008) head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG (since 15 April 2008); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)

      Legislative branch:

      unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular