Moving to French Polynesia: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

295,121

Population Growth Rate

1%

Urban Population

51.400000

Population in Major Urban Areas

PAPEETE (capital) 137,000

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Age Structure

22.900000

Median Age

30.200000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

16

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

4.85

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.97

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.91

Ethnic Groups

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

Nationality Noun

French Polynesian(s)

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Literacy - total population

98%

Literacy - male

98%

Literacy - female

98%

Literacy Definition

Age 14 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

0.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

76.590000

Infant Mortality Rate

4.830000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

4.830000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

100.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

97.100000

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Economic Overview

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 work force 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 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 level since 2008.

A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of 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.

Industries

Tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$26,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$5,490,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$26,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4%

GDP - official exchange rate

$7,150,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 55.6% Government
• consumption: 24.3% Investment in fixed
• capital: 21.2% Investment in
• inventories: 0.3% Exports of goods and
• services: 29.3% Imports of goods and
• services: -30.7%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

2.5%

GDP by Sector- Industry

13%

GDP by Sector- services

84.5%

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Inflation Rate

1.1%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency Name and Code

CFP Franc (XPF)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

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Labor Force

116,000

Unemployment Rate

11.7%

Major Industries

Tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Agriculture Products

Coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

13%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

19%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

68%

Annual Budget

$865,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

3.9%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

15.3%

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Full Country Name

Overseas Lands of French Polynesia

Country Name

French Polynesia

Local - Long

Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise

Local - Short

Polynesie Francaise

Former Name

Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania

Etymology- history of name

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

Independence

None (overseas land of France)

National Holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)

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Government Type

Parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

Constitution

• History: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
• Amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply

Legal System:

The laws of France, where applicable, apply

Executive Branch:

• Chief of State: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Eric Spitz (since 23 September 2022)
• Head of Government: President of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023)
• Cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president
• Elections/Appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits)

Legislative Branch:

• Description: Unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblée de la Polynésie française (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a closed-list proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms; French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate via an electoral college by absolute majority vote for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for 5-year terms Eelections: Assembly of French Polynesia - last held on 16 and 30 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028) French
• Senate - last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2026) French
• National Assembly - last held in 2 rounds on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
• Election Results: Assembly of French Polynesia - percent of vote by party - People's Servant Party 66.7%; List of the People 26.3%, I Love Polynesia 5.3%, Rally of Mahoi People 1.8%; seats by party - People's Servant People 38; List of the People 15, I Love Polynesia 3, Rally of the Mahoi People 1,
• composition - men 27, women 30, percent of women 52.6% French
• Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1;
• composition - NA French
• National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Servant Party 3;
• Composition: NA

Judicial Branch:

• office: Judges assigned from France normally for 3 years
• Subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

Regions or States:

5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• I Love Polynesia (A here la Porinetia) [Nicole SANQUER]
• List of the People (Tapura Huiraatira) [Edouard FRITCH]
• People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]
• Rally of the Maohi People (Amuitahiraʻa o te Nunaʻa Maohi) [Gaston FLOSSE] (formerly known as Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira))

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

See France

Capital Name

Papeete (located on Tahiti)

Capital - geographic coordinate

17 32 S, 149 34 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WMO

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: None (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• None (overseas lands of France)

Dependency Status

• Overseas country of France
• note - overseas territory of France from 1946-2003
• overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy

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Geographic Location

Oceania

Geographic Coordinates

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Total Area

1,609 Square Miles 4,167 Square Kilometers

Land Area

1,478 Square Miles 3,827 Square Kilometers

Water Area

131 Square Miles 340 Square Kilometers

Coastline

1,569 Miles 2,525 Kilometers

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Terrain

Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Highest Point

2,241 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Lowest Point Location

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Irrigated Land

4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Tropical, but moderate

Terrain

Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Location

Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel Des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

Total Area

1,609 Square Miles 4,167 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

NA

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Exports

$211,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,706,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

Major Imports

Fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Top Export Partners

France 37.9%, Japan 35.7%, US 17.9%

Top Import Partners

France 57.6%, Australia 11.9%, New Zealand 6.8%, US 6.5%

Export Partners

France 37.9%, Japan 35.7%, US 17.9%

Import Partners

France 57.6%, Australia 11.9%, New Zealand 6.8%, US 6.5%

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Airports - total

54

Airports with Paved Runways

45

Heliports

1

Roadways- total

1,609 Miles 2,590 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

1,078 Miles 1,735 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa

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Telephones

54,300

Cell Phones

174,800

Internet Users

75,000

Internet Country Code

.pf

Internet Hosts

36,056

Broadcast Media

• The publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts on 2 TV channels and 1 radio station
• 1 government-owned TV station
• a small number of privately owned radio stations

Telephone System

• Domestic: Combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 100 per 100 persons
• International: Country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

604,500,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

650,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

8,000

Anthem History

These islands are territories of France