Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to French Polynesia.
Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning French Polynesia. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03
Explore French Polynesia
French Polynesia with its capital Papeete is located in Oceania (Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu). It covers some 4,168 square kilometers (slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut) with a population of 287,881. French and Tahitian are the languages spoken by people in French Polynesia. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.
French Polynesia is a set of islands that is an overseas country attached to France. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, it is halfway between California and Australia. Summer is from November through April, with a warmer and more humid climate and winter is from May through October, when the climate is slightly cooler and drier. When you step out of the airplane, you'll immediately notice that the air is warm and humid. Be aware that everything is very expensive in French Polynesia. Even budget accommodation is tough on the budget, as is food, even groceries. So if you visit, take lots of money, you will need it.
Popular Destinations in French Polynesia
Administrative regions of French Polynesia
About the country
The topography is mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs. The average density of population is about 69 per km². The climate in French Polynesia can be described as tropical, but moderate. Potential natural disasters are occasional cyclonic storms in January.
To reach someone French Polynesia dial +689 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".pf". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local . The sign for the locally used currency Franc is XPF.
Two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors.
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Geography
Area | ||
---|---|---|
Total (World Rank: 175) | 4,167 | sq km |
Land (World Rank: 175) | 3,827 | sq km |
Water (World Rank: 126) | 340 | sq km |
Forest (World Rank: 154) | 5.50 | % |
Comparative | slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut | |
Coastline | ||
2525 | ||
Elevation | ||
Highest point (World Rank: 115) | 2,241 | m |
Agricultural land | ||
Total (World Rank: 183) | 12.50 | % |
Arable (World Rank: 205) | 0.70 | % |
Permanent crops (World Rank: 51) | 6.30 | % |
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 154) | 5.50 | % |
Irrigated land (World Rank: 173) | 10 | sq km |
Map reference | ||
Oceania | ||
Environment | ||
Issues |
| |
Hazzards | occasional cyclonic storms in January | |
Location | ||
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 | ||
Climate | ||
tropical, but moderate | ||
Terrain | ||
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs |
People
Population | ||
---|---|---|
Total (World Rank: 180) | 287,881 | |
Deathrate (World Rank: 185) | 0.52 | % |
Birthrate (World Rank: 130) | 1.48 | % |
Growthrate (World Rank: 122) | 0.88 | % |
Migration rate (World Rank: 99) | -0.08 | % |
Fertility rate (World Rank: 137) | 1.88 | % |
Median age | ||
Male (World Rank: 94) | 31.70 | |
Female (World Rank: 102) | 32.10 | |
Age structure | ||
0 14 male (World Rank: 180) | 33,340 | |
0 14 female (World Rank: 180) | 31,481 | |
15 24 male (World Rank: 179) | 23,533 | |
15 24 female (World Rank: 181) | 21,745 | |
25 54 male (World Rank: 179) | 65,464 | |
25 54 female (World Rank: 180) | 62,254 | |
55 64 male (World Rank: 177) | 13,947 | |
55 64 female (World Rank: 178) | 13,178 | |
65 x male (World Rank: 175) | 11,090 | |
65 x female (World Rank: 177) | 11,849 | |
Health | ||
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 176) | 0.46 | % |
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 70) | 77 | years |
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 80) | 80 | years |
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 66) | 75 | years |
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 36) | 3.17 | |
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 40) | 98.50 | % |
Drinking water access (World Rank: 8) | 100.00 | % |
Energy
Electricity | ||
---|---|---|
Production (World Rank: 158) | 626,000,000 | kWh |
Consumption (World Rank: 168) | 582,200,000 | kWh |
Source fossil (World Rank: 103) | 71.10 | % |
Source nuclear (World Rank: 88) | 18.90 | % |
Source renew (World Rank: 66) | 10.80 | % |
Refined products | ||
Consumption (World Rank: 164) | 7,000 | bbl / day |
Import (World Rank: 152) | 6,636 | bbl / day |
Carbon footprint | ||
1100000 |
Economy
Gdp | ||
---|---|---|
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 172) | 5,490,000,000 | USD |
Real growth rate (World Rank: 135) | 2.00 | % |
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 98) | 17,000 | USD |
Source agriculture (World Rank: 160) | 2.50 | % |
Source industry (World Rank: 191) | 13.00 | % |
Source service (World Rank: 19) | 84.50 | % |
Labourforce | ||
Total (World Rank: 178) | 126,300 | |
In poverty (World Rank: 107) | 19.70 | % |
Products | ||
Industries |
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Agriculture |
| |
Exports |
| |
Imports |
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Nation
Budget | ||
---|---|---|
Surplus (World Rank: 21) | 1 | % of GDP |
National symbol | ||
Tahitian gardenia flower | ||
National colours | ||
white | ||
Adjective | ||
French Polynesian | ||
Noun | ||
French Polynesian(s) | ||
Background | ||
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded. | ||
Flag description | ||
two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors |
Communication
Phone | ||
---|---|---|
Landline total (World Rank: 141) | 94,957 | |
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 58) | 33.00 | |
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 168) | 77.00 | |
Internet | ||
Users (World Rank: 169) | 195,275 | |
Population (World Rank: 80) | 68.40 | % |
Transport
Air | ||
---|---|---|
Airports paved (World Rank: 45) | 45.00 | |
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 138) | 9.00 | |
Heliports (World Rank: 113) | 1.00 | |
Road | ||
Total length (World Rank: 171) | 2,590 | |
Paved length (World Rank: 129) | 1,735 | |
Unpaved length (World Rank: 123) | 855 |