French Polynesia is a French overseas territory located in the South Pacific Ocean. The territory consists of more than 100 islands, including Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea, and has a population of over 280,000 people. The capital city is Papeete.

The economy of French Polynesia is mainly based on tourism and agriculture, with vanilla, coconuts, and pearls being important exports. French Polynesia is known for its stunning natural beauty, with turquoise waters, coral reefs, and lush tropical forests. It is a popular destination for honeymooners, divers, and nature lovers.

French Polynesia has a unique cultural heritage, with traditional Polynesian customs and languages still preserved and celebrated. The Polynesian people have a rich history of seafaring, and their voyages across the Pacific Ocean are legendary.

French Polynesia has a semi-autonomous government, with a President and Assembly responsible for local affairs. However, the French government retains control over foreign affairs, defense, and currency.

The official language of French Polynesia is French, but Tahitian and other Polynesian languages are also widely spoken. The currency is the CFP franc, which is pegged to the euro.

French Polynesia is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the International Olympic Committee, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Telephone Code
689

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 15; Fire: 18; Police: 17

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Tropical, but moderate

Currency (Code)
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, E

Major Languages
French, Polynesian

Major Religions
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Bora Bora (includes Mount Otemanu); Rangiroa (includes Ile aux Recifs); Maupiti (includes Tereia Beach); Moorea (includes Magic Mountain); Tuamotu Islands

Major Sports
Soccer, va'a (outrigger canoe racing), surfing, rugby

Cultural Practices
Tahitians tend to dress up when dining out.

Tipping Guidelines
Many hotels and restaurants include a service charge. It is considerate to leave a little extra for outstanding service. At restaurants that do not add service charges, tip 10% of the bill. Taxi drivers customarily are tipped 10% of the fare.

Souvenirs
Black pearls, mother-of-pearl jewelry and decorative items, pareau cloth, wood and stone carvings, vanilla

Traditional Cuisine
Poisson cru — raw tuna marinated in lime juice and coconut milk and served with various vegetables; often, fresh coconut meat is wrapped in cloth, and the milky juice is then squeezed over the fish and vegetables

Geography
Area
total: 4,167 sq km
land: 3,827 sq km
water: 340 sq km

Climate
tropical, but moderate

Natural resources
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

People and Society
Population
301,488 (2023 est.)

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

Languages
French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.)

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

Population growth rate
0.7% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

Capital
name: Papeete (located on Tahiti)

Economy
Economic overview
small, territorial-island tourism-based economy; large French financing; lower EU import duties; Pacific Islands Forum member; fairly resilient from COVID-19; oil-dependent infrastructure

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.49 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$17,000 (2015 est.)

Agricultural products
coconuts, fruit, roots/tubers nes, pineapples, cassava, sugar cane, eggs, tropical fruit, tomatoes

Industries
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Exports
$1.245 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - partners
Japan 23.1%, Hong Kong 21.5%, Kyrgyzstan 15.9%, US 15.9%, France 12.4% (2017)

Exports - commodities
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

Imports
$2.235 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - partners
France 27.9%, South Korea 12.1%, US 10.1%, China 7.3%, NZ 6.7%, Singapore 4.2% (2017)

Imports - commodities
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment