View source for French Polynesia

{{Short description|French overseas collectivity in the Pacific}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox dependency
| name                          = French Polynesia
| native_name                   = {{native name|fr|Polynésie française}}<br />{{native name|ty|Pōrīnetia farāni}}
| settlement_type               = [[#Governance|Overseas country]] and [[overseas collectivity|collectivity]] of [[France]]
| image_flag                    = Flag of French Polynesia.svg
| flag_size                     = 120
| flag_link                     = 
| image_seal                    = Coat of arms of French Polynesia.svg
| seal_size                     = 80
| seal_type                     = Coat of arms
| seal_link                     = 
| motto                         = {{native phrase|fr|"[[Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité]]"|italics=off}}<br />({{langx|en|"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"}})<div style="padding-top: 0.2em; line-height: 1.2em">'''Territorial motto''': {{native phrase|ty|"Tahiti Nui Māre'are'a"|italics=off}}<br />({{langx|en|"Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze"}})</div>
| anthem                        = {{lang|fr|"[[La Marseillaise]]"|i=no}}<br/>{{center|[[File:La Marseillaise.ogg]]}}
| song_type                     = '''Regional anthem'''
| song                          = {{lang|ty|[[Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui]]}}<br/>({{langx|en|"Long Live Tahiti Nui"}})<br/>
| image_map                     = French Polynesia in France (zoomed).svg
| map_alt                       = Location of French Polynesia
| map_caption                   = Location of French Polynesia (circled in red)
| mapsize                       = 290px
| image_map2                    = {{maplink|text = Interactive map|frame=yes|frame-height=300|frame-width=320|frame-align=right|zoom=4
|type=shape| id = Q30971 | osm=oui|stroke-width=1 |frame-lat= -17.539  |frame-long= -145.0 | fill= #008000 |fill-opacity=0.1}}
| subdivision_type              = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name              = {{Flag|France}}
| established_title             = Protectorate proclaimed
| established_date              = 9 September 1842
| established_title2            = Territorial status
| established_date2             = 27 October 1946
| established_title3            = Collectivity status
| established_date3             = 28 March 2003
| established_title4            = Country status
(nominal title)
| established_date4             = 27 February 2004
| official_languages            = {{hlist|[[French language|French]]|[[Tahitian language|Tahitian]]}}
| regional_languages            = {{hlist|[[Austral language|Austral]]|Raivavae|[[Rapa language|Rapa]]|[[Mangareva language|Mangareva]]|[[Tuamotuan language|Tuamotuan]]|[[Marquesan language|Marquesan]]}}
| capital                       = [[Papeete]]
| coordinates                   = {{Coord|17|34|S|149|36|W|type:city}}
| largest_city                  = [[Faʼaʼā]]
| demonym                       = French Polynesian
| ethnic_groups                 = 66.5% unmixed [[Polynesians]]<br />7.1% mixed Polynesians{{efn|Polynesians with light European or East Asian mixing.}}<br />9.3% Demis{{efn|Mixed European and Polynesian descent.}}<br />11.9% [[ethnic groups in Europe|Europeans]]{{efn|Mostly [[French people|French]].}}<br />4.7% [[East Asian people|East Asians]]{{efn|Mostly [[Chinese people|Chinese]].}}
| ethnic_groups_year            = 1988<ref name="ethnicities">Most recent ethnic census, in 1988. {{cite web |url=http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/2042/14394/1/HERMES_2002_32-33_367.pdf |title=Frontières ethniques et redéfinition du cadre politique à Tahiti |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-date=26 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326032004/http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/2042/14394/1/HERMES_2002_32-33_367.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| government_type               = [[Devolution|Devolved]] parliamentary [[dependent territory|dependency]]
| leader_title1                 = [[President of France|President of the French Republic]]
| leader_name1                  = [[Emmanuel Macron]]
| leader_title2                 = [[List of colonial and departmental heads of French Polynesia|High Commissioner of the Republic]]
| leader_name2                  = [[Alexandre Rochatte]]
| leader_title3                 = [[President of French Polynesia]]
| leader_name3                  = [[Moetai Brotherson]]
| leader_title4                 = [[Vice-President of French Polynesia]]
| leader_name4                  = [[Chantal Galenon]]
| legislature                   = [[Assembly of French Polynesia]]
| national_representation       = [[French Parliament]]
| national_representation_type1 = [[Senate (France)|Senate]]
| national_representation1      = [[List of senators of French Polynesia|2 senators]] (of 348)
| national_representation_type2 = [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]
| national_representation2      = [[List of constituencies of the National Assembly of France#French Polynesia (987) – 3 seats|3 seats]] (of 577)
| area_km2                      = 4,167
| area_rank                     = 
| area_land_km2                 = 3,521.2<ref name=land_area>{{cite web |url=http://www.ispf.pf/docs/default-source/rp1996/r1.xls |title=R1- Population sans doubles comptes, des subdivisions, communes et communes associées de Polynésie française, de 1971 à 1996 |publisher=Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF) |access-date=4 March 2022 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331154130/https://www.ispf.pf/docs/default-source/rp1996/r1.xls |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| percent_water                 = 12
| elevation_max_m               = 
| elevation_max_ft              = 
| population_census             = 278,786<ref name=pop>{{cite web |url=https://www.ispf.pf/content//uploads/RP_2022_Conference_de_presse_sur_la_presentation_des_nouveaux_chiffres_de_population_legale_22_novembre_2022_65eba56a35.pdf |title=Recensement de la population 2022 – La population légale en Polynésie française au 18 août 2022 |publisher=ISPF |access-date=12 December 2022 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125080626/https://www.ispf.pf/content//uploads/RP_2022_Conference_de_presse_sur_la_presentation_des_nouveaux_chiffres_de_population_legale_22_novembre_2022_65eba56a35.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_census_rank        = 175th
| population_census_year        = Aug. 2022
| population_density_km2        = 79
| population_density_sq_mi      = 205 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank       = 130th
| GDP_PPP                       =$6.007 billion (2024 est.)
$5.935 billion (2023 est.)
$5.892 billion (2022 est.) 
| GDP_PPP_rank                  = 
| GDP_PPP_year                  = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita            =$23,300 (2024 est.)
$22,800 (2023 est.)
$20,700 (2022 est.) 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal                   = USD 6.02 billion<ref name="GDP">{{cite web |url=https://www.ispf.pf/themes/pib |title=Les comptes économiques rapides de la Polynésie française |publisher=Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française (ISPF) |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=21 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321101001/https://www.ispf.pf/themes/pib |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_rank              = 
| GDP_nominal_year              = 2019
| GDP_nominal_per_capita        = USD 21,673<ref name="GDP" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank   = 
| HDI_year                      = 
| HDI_change                    = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                           = <!--number only-->
| currency                      = [[CFP franc]] (₣)
| currency_code                 = XPF
| timezone                      = 
| utc_offset_list               = {{hlist|[[UTC−10:00]]|[[UTC−09:30]] ([[Marquesas Islands]])|[[UTC−09:00]] ([[Gambier Islands]])}}
| date_format                   = dd/mm/yyyy
| electricity                   = {{hlist|110 V–60 Hz|220 V–60 Hz}}
| drives_on                     = right
| calling_code                  = [[Telephone numbers in French Polynesia|+689]]
| postal_code_type              = [[INSEE code]]
| postal_code                   = 987
| iso_code                      = {{hlist|[[ISO 3166-2:PF|PF]]|[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-PF]]|[[ISO 3166-1 alpha-3|PYF]]}}
| cctld                         = [[.pf]]
}}

'''French Polynesia''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-French Polynesia.ogg|ˌ|p|ɒ|l|ᵻ|ˈ|n|iː|ʒ|ə}} {{respell|POL|ih|NEE|zhə}}; {{langx|fr|Polynésie française}} {{IPA|fr|pɔlinezi fʁɑ̃sɛːz||LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-Polynésie française.wav}}; {{langx|ty|Pōrīnetia farāni}}) is an [[overseas collectivity]] of [[France]] and its sole [[#Governance|overseas country]]. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and [[atoll]]s<ref name=islands>{{cite web |title=French Polynesia at a glance 2020 |url=https://www.ispf.pf/docs/default-source/publi-pr/polybref-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=6 |page=91 |publisher=Institut de la statistique de la polynésie française (ISPF) |access-date=4 March 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229013324/https://www.ispf.pf/docs/default-source/publi-pr/polybref-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=6 |url-status=dead}}</ref> stretching over more than {{convert|2000|km|mi}} in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific Ocean]]. French Polynesia is associated with the [[European Union]] as an [[Overseas Countries and Territories|overseas country and territory (OCT)]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Union and French Polynesia {{!}} EEAS |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/european-union-and-french-polynesia_en |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=www.eeas.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> The total land area of French Polynesia is {{convert|3521|km2|sqmi}},<ref name=land_area /> with a population of 282,596 as of September 2025<ref>{{Cite web |title=French Polynesia Population (2025) |url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/french-polynesia-population/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Worldometer |language=en}}</ref> of which at least 205,000 live in the [[Society Islands]] and the remaining population lives in the rest of the archipelago.

French Polynesia is divided into five island groups: the [[Austral Islands]]; the [[Gambier Islands]]; the [[Marquesas Islands]]; the [[Society Islands]] (comprising the [[Leeward Islands (Society Islands)|Leeward]] and [[Windward Islands (Society Islands)|Windward Islands]]); and the [[Tuamotus]]. Among its 121 islands and atolls, 75 were inhabited at the 2017 census.<ref name="islands" /> [[Tahiti]], which is in the Society Islands group, is the most populous island, being home to nearly 69% of the population of French Polynesia {{As of|2017|lc=y}}. [[Papeete]], located on Tahiti, is the capital of French Polynesia. Although not an integral part of its territory, [[Clipperton Island]] was administered from French Polynesia until 2007.

Hundreds of years after the [[Polynesia#History of the Polynesian people|Great Polynesian Migration]], European explorers began traveling through the region, visiting the islands of French Polynesia on several occasions. Traders and whaling ships also visited. In 1842, the French took over the islands and established a French [[protectorate]] that they called ''{{lang|fr|Établissements français d'Océanie}}'' (EFO) (French Establishments/Settlements of Oceania).

In 1946, the EFO became an [[Overseas territory (France)|overseas territory]] under the constitution of the [[French Fourth Republic]], and [[Polynesians]] were granted the right to vote through citizenship. In 1957, the territory was renamed French Polynesia. In 1983, it became a member of the [[Pacific Community]], a regional development organization. Since 28 March 2003, French Polynesia has been an overseas collectivity of the French Republic under the constitutional revision of article 74, and later gained, with law 2004-192 of 27 February 2004, an administrative autonomy, two symbolic manifestations of which are the title of the [[President of French Polynesia]] and its additional designation as an [[Overseas country of France|overseas country]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectivites-locales.gouv.fr/statuts-nouvelle-caledonie-et-polynesie#statut_pol_fcse |title=Les statuts de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et de la Polynésie |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508152258/https://www.collectivites-locales.gouv.fr/statuts-nouvelle-caledonie-et-polynesie#statut_pol_fcse |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
Anthropologists and historians believe the Great Polynesian Migration commenced around 1500 BC as [[Austronesian peoples]] went on a journey using [[celestial navigation]] to find islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The first islands of French Polynesia to be settled were the Marquesas Islands in about 200 BC. The [[Polynesians]] later ventured southwest and discovered the Society Islands around AD 300.<ref name=KMLA1797>{{cite web |url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolynpre1797.html |title=History of Polynesia, before 1797 |first=Alexander |last=Ganse |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230062227/http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolynpre1797.html |archive-date=30 December 2007}}</ref>

European encounters began in 1521 when Portuguese explorer [[Ferdinand Magellan]], sailing at the service of the [[Monarchy of Spain|Spanish Crown]], sighted [[Puka-Puka]] in the [[Îles Tuamotu-Gambier|Tuāmotu-Gambier Archipelago]]. In 1606 another Spanish expedition under [[Pedro Fernandes de Queirós]] sailed through Polynesia sighting an inhabited island on 10 February<ref>James Burney (1803) ''A Chronological History of the Voyages or Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean'', Vol. 5, London, p. 222</ref> which they called Sagitaria (or Sagittaria), probably the island of [[Rekareka]] to the southeast of Tahiti.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Geo. Collingridge |author-link=George Collingridge |url=http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_12_1903/Volume_12,_No.3,_September_1903/Who_discovered_Tahiti%3F_by_Geo._Collingridge,_p184-186 |journal=Journal of the Polynesian Society |title=Who Discovered Tahiti? |pages=184–186 |volume=12 |year=1903 |issue=3 |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228100912/http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_12_1903/Volume_12%2C_No.3%2C_September_1903/Who_discovered_Tahiti?_by_Geo._Collingridge%2C_p184-186 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1722, Dutchman [[Jakob Roggeveen]] while on an expedition sponsored by the Dutch West India Company, charted the location of six islands in the Tuamotu Archipelago and two islands in the Society Islands, one of which was [[Bora Bora]].

British explorer [[Samuel Wallis]] became the first European navigator to visit Tahiti in 1767. French explorer [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]] also visited Tahiti in 1768, while British explorer [[James Cook]] arrived in 1769,<ref name="KMLA1797"/> and [[1769 transit of Venus observed from Tahiti|observed the transit of Venus]]. He would stop in Tahiti again in 1773 during his second voyage to the Pacific, and once more in 1777 during his third and last voyage before being killed in Hawaii.

In 1772, the Spanish [[Viceroyalty of Peru|Viceroy of Peru]] Don [[Manuel de Amat y Junient|Manuel de Amat]] ordered a number of expeditions to Tahiti under the command of [[Domingo de Bonechea]] who was the first European to explore all of the main islands beyond Tahiti.<ref name="Paradise Past book (page 43: The De Boenechea Expedition)">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=klglH_7KkxsC&q=manuel+de+amat+tahiti&pg=PA43 |title=Paradise Past: The Transformation of the South Pacific, 1520–1920 |first=Robert K. |last=Kirk |access-date=5 May 2013 |isbn=9780786492985 |date=8 November 2012 |publisher=McFarland |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402155910/https://books.google.com/books?id=klglH_7KkxsC&q=manuel+de+amat+tahiti&pg=PA43 |url-status=live}}</ref> A short-lived Spanish settlement was created in 1774,<ref name=KMLA1797/> and for a time some maps bore the name ''Isla de Amat'' after Viceroy Amat.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Manso Porto |first=Carmen |year=1997 |title=Cartografía histórica de América: catálogo de manuscritos |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3q5d62Q4sAC&pg=PA10 |location=Madrid |publisher=Real Academia de la Historia |language=es |page=10 |isbn=9788489512023 |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402155910/https://books.google.com/books?id=t3q5d62Q4sAC&pg=PA10 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Christian mission]]s began with Spanish priests who stayed in Tahiti for a year. Protestants from the [[London Missionary Society]] settled permanently in Polynesia in 1797.

[[File:Society kingdoms.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|left|Society Island kingdoms]]
King [[Pomare II|Pōmare II]] of Tahiti was forced to flee to [[Moorea|Mo'orea]] in 1803;{{why|date=May 2021}} he and his subjects were converted to Protestantism in 1812. French Catholic missionaries arrived on Tahiti in 1834; their expulsion in 1836 caused France to send a gunboat in 1838. In 1842, Tahiti and [[Tahuata]] were declared a [[protectorate|French protectorate]], to allow Catholic missionaries to work undisturbed. The capital of [[Papeete|Papeetē]] was founded in 1843. In 1880, France annexed Tahiti, changing the status from that of a protectorate to that of a [[French colonial empires|colony]]. The island groups were not officially united until the establishment of the French protectorate in 1889.<ref name=KMLA1889>{{cite web |url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn17971889.html |title=History of French Polynesia, 1797 to 1889 |first=Alexander |last=Ganse |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230062212/http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn17971889.html |archive-date=30 December 2007}}</ref>

After France declared a protectorate over Tahiti in 1842 and [[Franco-Tahitian War|fought a war with Tahiti (1844–1847)]], the British and French signed the [[Jarnac Convention]] in 1847, declaring that the kingdoms of [[Raiatea]], [[Huahine]] and [[Bora Bora]] were to remain independent from both powers and that no single chief was to be allowed to reign over the entire archipelago. France eventually broke the agreement, and the islands were annexed and became a colony in 1888 (eight years after the Windward Islands) after many native resistances and conflicts called the [[Leewards War]], lasting until 1897.<ref name="Craig">{{cite book |author=Robert D. Craig |volume=39 |edition=2 |title=Historical Dictionary of Polynesia |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2002 |page=107 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=01U5DrqoMJgC |isbn=0-8108-4237-8 |access-date=2 November 2017 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402155911/https://books.google.com/books?id=01U5DrqoMJgC |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Matsuda">{{cite book |author=Matt K. Matsuda |chapter=Society Islands: Tahitian Archives |title=Empire of Love: Histories of France and the Pacific |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2005 |pages=91–112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_BBr0sZM5kC |isbn=0-19-516294-3 |access-date=2 November 2017 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402155916/https://books.google.com/books?id=2_BBr0sZM5kC |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1880s, France claimed the [[Tuamotu Archipelago]], which formerly belonged to the [[Pomare Dynasty|Pōmare Dynasty]], without formally annexing it. Having declared a protectorate over Tahuata in 1842, the French regarded the entire Marquesas Islands as French. In 1885, France appointed a governor and established a general council, thus giving it the proper administration for a colony. The islands of [[Rimatara]] and [[Rurutu|Rūrutu]] unsuccessfully lobbied for British protection in 1888, so in 1889 they were annexed by France. Postage stamps were first issued in the colony in 1892. The first official name for the colony was {{lang|fr|Établissements de l'Océanie}} (Establishments in Oceania); in 1903 the general council was changed to an advisory council, and the colony's name was changed to {{interlanguage link|Établissements français de l'Océanie|fr}} (French Establishments in Oceania).<ref name=KMLA1918>{{cite web |url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn18891918.html |title=History of French Polynesia, 1889 to 1918 |first=Alexander |last=Ganse |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230062217/http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn18891918.html |archive-date=30 December 2007}}</ref>

[[File:FRE-OCE-12-French Oceania-2 francs (1943).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|A two-franc [[World War II]] emergency-issue banknote (1943), printed in [[Papeete]], and depicting the outline of [[Tahiti]] on the reverse]]
In 1940, the administration of French Polynesia recognised the [[Free French Forces]], and many Polynesians served in World War II, primarily in North Africa and parts of Italy. Unknown at the time to the French and Polynesians, the [[Fumimaro Konoe|Konoe]] Cabinet in [[Imperial Japan]] on 16 September 1940 included French Polynesia among the many territories which were to become [[Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere#Japanese-governed|Japanese possessions]], as part of the "[[Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere|Eastern Pacific Government-General]]" in the [[Hypothetical Axis victory in World War II|post-war world]].<ref>The Japanese claim to the French Pacific islands, along with many other vast territories, appears in 16 September 1940 "Sphere of survival for the Establishment of a New Order in Greater East Asia by Imperial Japan", published in 1955 by Japan's Foreign Ministry as part of the two-volume "Chronology and major documents of Diplomacy of Japan 1840–1945" – here quoted from "Interview with Tetsuzo Fuwa: Japan's War: History of Expansionism", Japan Press Service, July 2007</ref> However, in the course of the war in the Pacific the Japanese were not able to launch an actual invasion of the French islands.

[[File:Floreal-Bora-Bora.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|The French frigate {{ship|French frigate|Floréal||2}} in November 2002, at anchor in [[Bora Bora]] lagoon]]
In 1946, Polynesians were granted French citizenship and the islands' status was changed to an overseas territory. The islands' name was changed in 1957 to {{lang|fr|Polynésie Française}} (French Polynesia). In 1962, France's early [[France and weapons of mass destruction|nuclear testing]] ground in [[Algeria]] was no longer usable when Algeria became independent and the [[Moruroa|Moruroa atoll]] in the Tuamotu Archipelago was selected as the new testing site. Nuclear tests were conducted underground after 1974.<ref name=KMLA1977>{{cite web |url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn193977.html |title=History of Polynesia, 1939 to 1977 |first=Alexander |last=Ganse |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230062222/http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn193977.html |archive-date=30 December 2007}}</ref> In 1977, French Polynesia was granted partial internal autonomy; in 1984, the autonomy was extended. French Polynesia became a full overseas collectivity of France in 2003.<ref name="cia">[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-polynesia/ French Polynesia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415181639/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-polynesia/ |date=15 April 2021 }}. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].. Retrieved 25 September 2012.</ref>

In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing at [[Fangataufa]] atoll after a three-year moratorium. The last test was on 27 January 1996. On 29 January 1996, France announced that it would accede to the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]], and no longer test nuclear weapons.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |work=The New York Times |title=France Ending Nuclear Tests That Caused Broad Protests |first=Craig R |last=Whitney |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D71639F933A05752C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |date=30 January 1996 |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-date=1 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101222208/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D71639F933A05752C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}</ref>

French Polynesia was relisted in the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] in 2013, making it eligible for a UN-backed independence referendum. The relisting was made after the indigenous opposition was voiced and supported by the Polynesian Leaders Group, Pacific Conference of Churches, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Non-Aligned Movement, World Council of Churches, and Melanesian Spearhead Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/2012/10/french-polynesia-last-vestiges-of-frances-empire/2/ |title=French Polynesia Battles for Independence |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]] |date=10 October 2012 |first1=Rachel |last1=Reeves |first2=Luke |last2=Hunt |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-date=28 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628043153/http://thediplomat.com/2012/10/french-polynesia-last-vestiges-of-frances-empire/2/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Governance ==
{{main|Politics of French Polynesia}}
Under the terms of Article 74 of the [[Constitution of France|French constitution]] and the [[Organic Law]] 2014–192 on the statute of autonomy of French Polynesia, politics of French Polynesia takes place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of French Polynesia is the [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the government and the [[Assembly of French Polynesia]] (the territorial assembly).

Political life in French Polynesia was marked by great instability from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s. The anti-independence right-wing president of French Polynesia, [[Gaston Flosse]], who had been in power since 1991, had supported the resumption of the [[List of nuclear weapons tests of France|French nuclear weapons tests]] in 1995, and had obtained from his longtime friend and political ally [[Jacques Chirac]], then president of France, a status of expanded autonomy for French Polynesia in 2004, failed to secure an absolute majority in the [[2004 French Polynesian legislative election]], resulting in deadlock at the Assembly of French Polynesia. Flosse's longtime opponent, the pro-independence leader [[Oscar Temaru]], whose pro-independence coalition had won one less seat than Flosse's party in the Assembly, was nonetheless elected president of French Polynesia by the Assembly in June 2004 thanks to the votes of two non-aligned Assembly members. This resulted in several years of political instability, as neither the pro- nor the anti-independence camps were assured of a majority, depending on the votes of smaller non-aligned parties representing the interests of the distant islands of French Polynesia (as opposed to Tahiti). Several [[Constructive vote of no confidence|constructive votes of no confidence]] were passed against the presidency, resulting in it shuffling between Temaru and Flosse until December 2006, when Temaru was succeeded by [[Gaston Tong Sang]], a close ally of Flosse.

On 14 September 2007, Temaru was elected president of French Polynesia for the third time in three years (with 27 of 44 votes cast in the Assembly).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6994513.stm |title=BBC NEWS, French Polynesia gets new leader |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2007 |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730062740/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6994513.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> He replaced anti-independence leader [[Gaston Tong Sang]], who on 31 August had lost a no confidence vote in the Assembly, after Flosse, hitherto opposed to independence, supported Temaru to topple the Tong Sang government. Temaru, however, had no stable majority in the Assembly, and new elections were held in February 2008 in an attempt to solve the political crisis.

[[File:Assemblée de Polynésie.JPG|left|thumb|The [[Assembly of French Polynesia]]]]
Tong Sang's political party, [[Tāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira]], won the territorial elections. The two minority parties of Temaru and Flosse, who together had one more member in the Assembly than did Tāhōʻēraʻa Huiraʻatira, formed an alliance to prevent Tong Sang from becoming president again. Flosse was then elected president of French Polynesia by the territorial assembly on 23 February 2008 with the support of the pro-independence party led by Temaru, while Temaru was elected speaker of the territorial assembly with the support of the anti-independence party led by Flosse. Both formed a coalition cabinet. Many observers doubted that the alliance between anti-independence Flosse and pro-independence Temaru could last very long.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rfo.fr/article1437.html |title=Polynésie : Gaston Flosse présente un gouvernement d'union |trans-title=Polynesia: Gaston Flosse announces a unity government |access-date=23 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304152635/http://www.rfo.fr/article1437.html |archive-date=4 March 2008 |date=29 February 2008 |language=fr |work=RFO}}</ref>

At the [[2008 French municipal elections|French municipal elections held in March 2008]], several prominent mayors who were members of the Flosse–Temaru coalition lost their offices in key municipalities of French Polynesia, which was interpreted as a disapproval of how the alliance had prevented Tong Sang (whose party French Polynesian voters had placed first in the territorial elections the month before) from becoming president of French Polynesia. Only a month later, on 15 April 2008, the coalition government was toppled—by a [[constructive vote of no confidence]] in the territorial assembly—when two members of the Flosse–Temaru coalition left the coalition and sided with Tong Sang's party. Tong Sang's majority in the territorial assembly was very narrow, and he was toppled in February 2009, succeeded again by Temaru, who was still supported by Flosse.

Temaru's return to power was brief as he fell out with Flosse and was toppled in November 2009, succeeded by his predecessor, Tong Sang. Tong Sang remained in power for a year and a half before being toppled in a vote of no confidence in April 2011, and succeeded again by Temaru. Temaru's fifth stint as president of French Polynesia lasted two years, during which time he campaigned for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. Temaru's party, [[Tāvini Huiraʻatira]], lost the [[2013 French Polynesian legislative election]] by a wide margin, only two weeks before the [[United Nations]] re-registered French Polynesia on its list of non-self governing territories. This was interpreted by political analysts as a rejection by French Polynesian voters of Temaru's push for independence as well as the consequence of the socioeconomic crisis affecting French Polynesia after years of political instability and corruption scandals.

Flosse, whose anti-independence party won a majority of seats in the 2013 election, succeeded Temaru as president of French Polynesia in May 2013, but he was removed from office in September 2014 due to a corruption conviction by France's highest court. Flosse was replaced as president of French Polynesia by his second-in-command in the anti-independence camp, [[Édouard Fritch]], who was also Flosse's former son-in-law (divorced from Flosse's daughter). Fritch fell out with Flosse in 2015 as both leaders were vying for control of the anti-independence camp, and Fritch was excluded from Flosse's party in September 2015, before founding his own anti-independence party, [[Tāpura Huiraʻatira]], in February 2016. His new party managed to keep a majority in the Assembly, and Fritch remained as president.

Political stability returned to French Polynesia following the split of the anti-independence camp in 2016. Tāpura Huiraʻatira won 70% of the seats in the Assembly of French Polynesia at the [[2018 French Polynesian legislative election]]—defeating both Temaru's pro-independence party and Flosse's anti-independence party—and Édouard Fritch was re-elected president of French Polynesia by the Assembly in May 2018. By 2022, Édouard Fritch was the longest-serving president of French Polynesia since his former father-in-law Flosse in the 1990s and early 2000s.

=== Legal status ===
[[File:Bora Bora, French Polynesia.jpg|thumb|[[Bora Bora]]]]
Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (''{{lang|fr|[[territoire d'outre-mer]]}}'', or ''TOM''). In 2003, it became an overseas collectivity (''{{lang|fr|[[collectivité d'outre-mer]]}}'', or COM). Its statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of "[[overseas country]] within the Republic" (''{{lang|fr|pays d'outre-mer au sein de la République}}'', or POM), but without legal modification of its status.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/law/research/publications/about-nzacl/publications/special-issues/hors-serie-volume-x,-2010/Moyrand-And-Angelo.pdf |chapter=Administrative Regimes of French Overseas Territories: New Caledonia and French Polynesia |last1=Angelo |first1=Tony |last2=Moyrand |first2=A |title=Governance and Selfreliance in Pacific Island Societies: Comparative Studies (Gouvernance et autonomie dans les sociétés du Pacifique Sud: Etudes comparés) |editor-last1=Angelo |editor-first1=Tony |editor-last2=Sage |editor-first2=Yves-Louis |publisher=Revue Juridique Polynesienne |year=2010 |page=202 |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124050107/https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/law/research/publications/about-nzacl/publications/special-issues/hors-serie-volume-x,-2010/Moyrand-And-Angelo.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Relations with mainland France ===
[[File:Haut Commissariat à Papeete.JPG|thumb|High Commission of the French Republic in Papeete]]
Despite having a local assembly and government, French Polynesia is not in a [[Associated state|free association]] with France, like the [[Cook Islands]] with [[New Zealand]]. As a French overseas collectivity, the [[Government of France|French central government]] has direct responsibility for justice, university education, defense (including the [[National Gendarmerie]] and [[French Armed Forces|French military forces]]) and foreign affairs. The local government of French Polynesia retains control over primary and secondary education, health, town planning, and the environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/2012/10/french-polynesia-last-vestiges-of-frances-empire/ |title=French Polynesia Battles for Independence |author1=Rachel Reeves |author2=Luke Hunt |author3=The Diplomat |work=The Diplomat |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101005402/http://thediplomat.com/2012/10/french-polynesia-last-vestiges-of-frances-empire/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia]] ({{langx|fr|Haut commissaire de la République en Polynésie française}}) represents the French state in the territory.

French Polynesia also sends three [[Member of Parliament (France)|deputies]] to the [[National Assembly of France|French National Assembly]] in three constituencies, [[French Polynesia's 1st constituency|the 1st]] representing Papeete and its north-eastern suburbs, plus the [[Communes of France|commune]] (municipality) of [[Moorea-Maiao|Mo'orea-Mai'ao]], the [[Îles Tuamotu-Gambier|Tuāmotu-Gambier]] administrative division, and the Marquesas Islands administrative division, [[French Polynesia's 2nd constituency|the 2nd]] representing much of Tahiti outside Papeete and the Austral Islands administrative subdivision, and [[French Polynesia's 3rd constituency|the 3rd]] representing the [[Leeward Islands (Society Islands)|Leeward Islands]] [[Administrative divisions of French Polynesia|administrative subdivision]] and the south-western suburbs of Papeete. French Polynesia also sends two senators to the [[Senate of France|French Senate]].

==== Defence ====
The defence of the collectivity is the responsibility of the [[French Armed Forces]]. Some 900 military personnel are deployed in the territory — incorporating the Pacific-Polynesian Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMaP-P)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fapf-bilan-mission-pacific-aito-du-patrouilleur-arago |title=FAPF – Bilan de la mission PACIFIC AITO du patrouilleur Arago |website=Ministère des Armées |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228180729/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fapf-bilan-mission-pacific-aito-du-patrouilleur-arago |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fpolynesia">{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/monde/asie-pacifique/forces-armees-polynesie-francaise |title=Forces armées de Polynésie française |date=14 February 2022 |trans-title=Armed Forces of French Polynesia |publisher=Ministère des Armées |language=fr |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114111103/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/monde/asie-pacifique/forces-armees-polynesie-francaise |url-status=live}}</ref> — along with modest air transport and surveillance assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/French-deployments.jpg |access-date=28 November 2021 |title=French Military Presence in the Indo-Pacific |website=United States Naval Institute News |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724031507/https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/French-deployments.jpg |url-status=live}}</ref> The latter included three [[Dassault Falcon 20|Falcon 200 Gardian maritime surveillance aircraft]] from [[French Naval Aviation]], which as of 2025/26 are being replaced, on an interim basis, by the more advanced [[Dassault Falcon 50|Falcon 50 aircraft]]. These aircraft will in turn be replaced by the new [[Dassault Falcon 2000|Falcon 2000 Albatros]] starting in about 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-retrait-du-service-des-falcon-200-gardian-bases-a-tahiti-et-noumea-a-debute |title=Le retrait du service des Falcon 200 Gardian basés à Tahiti et Nouméa a débuté |website=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=17 October 2025 |access-date=17 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/falcon-2000-albatros-la-marine-nationale-table-sur-une-pco-des-premiers-avions-fin-2026 |title=Falcon 2000 Albatros : la Marine nationale table sur une PCO des premiers avions fin 2026 |website=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=5 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/les-avions-de-surveillance-maritime-gardian-prolonges-a-tahiti-et-noumea |title=Les avions de surveillance maritime Gardian prolongés à Tahiti et Nouméa |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |website=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213144653/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/les-avions-de-surveillance-maritime-gardian-prolonges-a-tahiti-et-noumea |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/26468-french-navy-to-receive-new-eyes-in-the-sky-from-dassault |title=French Navy to receive new eyes in the sky from Dassault |work=AeroTime |date=19 November 2020 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113213457/https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/26468-french-navy-to-receive-new-eyes-in-the-sky-from-dassault |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/un-nouvel-helicoptere-pour-la-fregate-de-surveillance-prairial-en-polynesie |title=Un nouvel hélicoptère pour la frégate de surveillance Prairial en Polynésie |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |trans-title=A new helicopter for the surveillance frigate Prairial in Polynesia |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018083522/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/un-nouvel-helicoptere-pour-la-fregate-de-surveillance-prairial-en-polynesie |url-status=live}}</ref> The former is composed of two [[CASA/IPTN CN-235|CN-235]] tactical transport aircraft drawn from the Air Force's ET 82 "Maine" transport squadron.<ref name="fpolynesia"/>

As of mid-2024, three principal [[French Navy]] vessels are based in the territory, including the surveillance frigate {{ship|French frigate|Prairial||2}}, the patrol and support ship [[D'Entrecasteaux-class patrol ship|''Bougainville'']], and ''Teriieroo to Teriierooiterai'', a vessel of the new [[Patrouilleur Outre-mer|''Félix Éboué'' class]] of patrol vessels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-met-en-service-son-deuxieme-patrouilleur-d-outre-mer |title=La Marine nationale met en service son deuxième patrouilleur d'outre-mer |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |website=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=19 July 2024 |archive-date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724230145/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-met-en-service-son-deuxieme-patrouilleur-d-outre-mer |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2027 a second vessel of the ''Félix Éboué'' class, ''Philip Bernardino'', is to be deployed in Tahiti to further reinforce France's maritime surveillance capabilities in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-pom-jean-tranape-officiellement-baptise-a-calais |title=Le POM Jean Tranape officiellement baptisé à Calais |work=Mer et Marine |date=8 December 2025 |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.opex360.com/2024/07/18/le-patrouilleur-outre-mer-teriieroo-a-teriierooiterai-a-ete-admis-au-service-actif/ |title=Le patrouilleur outre-mer " Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai " a été admis au service actif |work=zone militaire |last=Lagneau |first=Laurent |language=fr |date=18 July 2024 |access-date=16 August 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805102742/https://www.opex360.com/2024/07/18/le-patrouilleur-outre-mer-teriieroo-a-teriierooiterai-a-ete-admis-au-service-actif/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2025, the coastal tug (RPC),  ''Manini'', was operational in the territory<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Le-remorqueur-Maroa-retire-du-service-une-page-se-tourne-a-Papeete_a232020.html |title=Le remorqueur Maroa retiré du service : une page se tourne à Papeete |work=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=31 July 2025 |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-n-a-plus-aucun-batiment-disponible-en-nouvelle-caledonie |title=La Marine nationale n'a plus aucun bâtiment disponible en Nouvelle-Calédonie |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=16 July 2021 |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305120331/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-n-a-plus-aucun-batiment-disponible-en-nouvelle-caledonie |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, pp. 19 and 23 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and she is eventually to be replaced and/or complemented by two ''RP10''-class harbour tugboats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/merre-met-a-l-eau-le-dernier-remorqueur-pousseur-du-type-rp-10 |title=Merré met à l’eau le dernier remorqueur-pousseur du type RP 10 |website=Mer et Marine |date=13 October 2025 |access-date=13 October 2025 |last= Groizeleau  |first=Vincent |language=fr }}</ref> 

As of 2025, Flottilla 35F of [[French Naval Aviation]] deploys a detachment of two [[Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin|AS 365N Dauphin]] helicopters in Tahiti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tahiti : Sauvetage en mer par la 35F |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/tahiti-sauvetage-mer-35f |date=13 August 2025 |access-date=15 August 2025 |website=French Navy |language=fr |archive-date=14 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814142725/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/tahiti-sauvetage-mer-35f |url-status=live }}</ref> The helicopters carry out a variety of roles in the territory, and may be embarked on the frigate ''Prairial'' as needed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-05-07/french-navy-revamps-its-helicopter-fleet |title=French Navy Revamps Its Helicopter Fleet |work=AIN Online |last=Donald |first=David |date=7 May 2020 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114111121/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-05-07/french-navy-revamps-its-helicopter-fleet |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[National Gendarmerie]] (which also polices rural and border areas in metropolitan France) deploys some 500 active personnel and civilians, plus around 150 reservists, in French Polynesia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Services-de-l-Etat/Securite/Gendarmerie-Nationale#:~:text=La%20gendarmerie%20exerce%20sa%20responsabilit%C3%A9,li%C3%A9s%20par%20contrat%20(ESR) |title=Le Commandement de la Gendarmerie pour la Polynésie Française |trans-title=The Gendarmerie Command for French Polynesia |language=fr |publisher=Haut-Commissariat de la République en Polynésie Française |date=9 October 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107141134/http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Services-de-l-Etat/Securite/Gendarmerie-Nationale#:~:text=La%20gendarmerie%20exerce%20sa%20responsabilit%C3%A9,li%C3%A9s%20par%20contrat%20(ESR) |url-status=live}}</ref> The patrol boat ''Jasmin'' of the [[Maritime Gendarmerie]] is also based in the territory and is to be replaced by a new PCG-NG patrol boat in the latter 2020s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/non-naval-security/police/vessel-review-pcg-rozel-new-coastal-patrol-boat-for-frances-national-gendarmerie | title= PCG Rozel – New coastal patrol boat for France's National Gendarmerie |website=Baird Maritime |date=3 December 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Jasmin sera remplacé en 2024 |url=https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/2019/06/12/le-jasmin-sera-remplace-en-2024/ |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Direction Polynésienne des Affaires Maritimes |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304184337/https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/2019/06/12/le-jasmin-sera-remplace-en-2024/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lessor.org/operationnel/le-premier-des-six-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-cotiers-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-officiellement-commande |title=Le premier des six nouveaux patrouilleurs côtiers de la Gendarmerie maritime officiellement commandé |date=2 September 2022 |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305121333/https://lessor.org/operationnel/le-premier-des-six-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-cotiers-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-officiellement-commande |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of French Polynesia}}

[[File:French Polynesia relief map.svg|thumb|upright=2.05|center|Map of French Polynesia]]
[[File:BoraBora SEtienne.jpg|thumb|[[Bora Bora]], Leeward Islands]]
The islands of French Polynesia make up a total land area of {{convert|3521|km2|sqmi}},<ref name=land_area /> scattered over more than {{convert|2000|km|mi|abbr=in}} of ocean. There are 121 islands in French Polynesia and many more islets or {{lang|ty|motu}}s around [[atoll]]s.<ref name=islands /> The highest point is [[Mount Orohena]] on [[Tahiti]].

It is made up of five archipelagos. The largest and most populated island is Tahiti, in the Society Islands.

Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: [[Ahe|Ahē]], [[Bora Bora]], [[Hiva Oa|Hiva ʻOa]], [[Huahine]], [[Maiʻao]], [[Maupiti]], [[Mehetiʻa]], [[Moʻorea]], [[Nuku Hiva]], [[Raʻiātea]], [[Tahaʻa]], [[Tetiʻaroa]], [[Tubuai]] and [[Tupai|Tūpai]].

French Polynesia is home to four terrestrial ecoregions: [[Marquesas tropical moist forests]], [[Society Islands tropical moist forests]], [[Tuamotu tropical moist forests]], and [[Tubuai tropical moist forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

{{Clear}}
{{table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable col2right col3right col4right"
|+ Islands of French Polynesia
! Name !! Land area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name=land_area />!! Population <br/>2022 Census!! Density <br/>(per km<sup>2</sup>)<br/>2022!! Notes
|-
|[[Marquesas Islands]] || 1,049.3 || 9,478 || 9 || 12 high islands; administratively making the Marquesas Islands subdivision
|-
|[[Society Islands]] ||	1,597.6 || 245,987 || 154 ||Administratively subdivided into the Windward Islands subdivision (4 high islands and 1 atoll) <br/>and the Leeward Islands subdivision (5 high islands and 4 atolls)
|-
|[[Tuamotus|Tuamotu Archipelago]] || 698.7 || 	15,159 || 22 || 80 atolls, grouping over 3,100 islands or islets; administratively part of the Tuamotu-Gambier subdivision
|-
| [[Gambier Islands]] || 27.8<ref name=Mangareva_land_area>{{cite web |title=Gambier – Guide Floristique |url=https://www.service-public.pf/diren/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/01/Gambier-Light.pdf |publisher=Government of French Polynesia, Directorate of the Environment |access-date=4 March 2022 |language=fr |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121014255/https://www.service-public.pf/diren/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/01/Gambier-Light.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Temoe_land_area>{{cite web |title=Annexe 3 : Indicateurs par île et classement par archipel pour la PF |url=http://www.cetop.upf.pf/sites/default/files/2020-11/Annexe%203%20-%20Diagnostic%20Tourisme%20PF%20-%20Base%20Indicateurs%20.pdf |page=91 |publisher=Centre d'Etudes du Tourisme en Océanie-Pacifique (CETOP) |access-date=4 March 2022 |language=fr |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407114639/http://www.cetop.upf.pf/sites/default/files/2020-11/Annexe%203%20-%20Diagnostic%20Tourisme%20PF%20-%20Base%20Indicateurs%20.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> ||	1,570 || 56 || 6 high islands and 1 atoll; administratively part of the Tuamotu-Gambier subdivision
|-
| [[Austral Islands]] || 147.8 ||	6,592 || 45 || 5 high islands and 1 atoll; administratively part of the Austral Islands subdivision
|-
!Total!!3,521.2!!278,786!!79!!121 high islands and atolls (75 inhabited at the 2017 census; 46 uninhabited)<ref name=islands />
|}

== Administrative divisions ==
{{main|Administrative divisions of French Polynesia}}

[[File:French_Polynesia_relief_map_with_communes.svg|thumb|500x500px|The 5 administrative subdivisions and 48 [[communes of France|communes]] of French Polynesia.]]
French Polynesia is divided in five administrative subdivisions ({{lang|fr|subdivisions administratives}}):

* [[Marquesas Islands]] ({{langx|fr|les îles Marquises}} or officially {{lang|fr|la subdivision administrative des îles Marquises}})
* [[Leeward Islands (Society Islands)|Leeward Islands]] ({{langx|fr|les îles Sous-le-Vent}} or officially {{lang|fr|la subdivision administrative des îles Sous-le-Vent}}) (the two {{lang|fr|subdivisions administratives}} Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands)
* [[Windward Islands (Society Islands)|Windward Islands]] ({{langx|fr|les îles du Vent}} or officially {{lang|fr|la subdivision administrative des îles du Vent}}) (the two {{lang|fr|subdivisions administratives}} Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands)
* [[Îles Tuamotu-Gambier|Tuāmotu-Gambier]] ({{langx|fr|les Îles Tuamotu-Gambier}} or officially {{lang|fr|la subdivision administrative des îles Tuamotu-Gambier}}) (the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands)
* [[Austral Islands]] ({{langx|fr|les îles Australes}} or officially {{lang|fr|la subdivision administrative des îles Australes}}) (including the [[Bass Islands (French Polynesia)|Bass Islands]])

The five administrative subdivisions are not local councils; they are solely [[Decentralisation|deconcentrated]] subdivisions of the French central State. At the head of each administrative subdivision is an {{lang|fr|administrateur d'État}} ('State administrator'), generally simply known as {{lang|fr|administrateur}}, also sometimes called {{lang|fr|chef de la subdivision administrative}} ('head of the administrative subdivision'). The {{lang|fr|administrateur}} is a civil servant under the authority of the High Commissioner of the French Republic in French Polynesia in [[Papeete]].

Four administrative subdivisions (Marquesas Islands, Leeward Islands, Tuamotu-Gambier, and Austral Islands) each also form a deconcentrated subdivision of the government of French Polynesia. These are called {{lang|fr|circonscriptions}} ('districts'). The head of a {{lang|fr|circonscription}} is the {{lang|ty|tavana hau}}, known as {{lang|fr|administrateur territorial}} in French ('territorial administrator'), but the [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] title {{lang|ty|tavana hau}} is most often used. The [[president of French Polynesia|president of French Polynesia's government]] appoints the {{lang|ty|tavana hau}}, who directly reports to the president. The Windward Islands, due to their proximity to Papeete, do not form a deconcentrated subdivision of the government of French Polynesia.

The 5 administrative subdivisions are themselves divided in 48 [[communes of France|communes]]. Like all other communes in the French Republic, these are municipalities in which local residents with either a French or another [[European Union|EU]] citizenship elect a municipal council and a mayor in charge of managing local affairs within the commune. Municipal elections occur every six years on the same date as in the rest of the French Republic (the last municipal elections [[2020 French municipal elections|took place in 2020]]).

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Top three largest communes
|-
! Commune !! Island !! Population<br />(2022)
|-
| [[Faʻaʻā]] || [[Tahiti]] || 29,826
|-
| [[Punaʻauia]] || [[Tahiti]] || 28,781
|-
| [[Papeete]] || [[Tahiti]] || 26,654
|}

30 communes are further subdivided in 98 [[associated communes of France|associated communes]] which have each a delegate mayor and a registry office. These 30 communes were subdivided in associated communes either because they have a large land territory (particularly in the larger islands such as [[Tahiti]] or [[Nuku Hiva]]) or because they are made up of [[atoll]]s distant from each other (particularly in the Tuamotu archipelago), which led to the creation of associated communes for each inhabited atoll.

17 communes (out of French Polynesia's 48 communes) have banded together in three separate [[communauté de communes|communities of communes]]. These indirectly elected [[Communes of France#Intercommunality|intercommunal councils]] are still relatively new in French Polynesia, and unlike in [[metropolitan France]] and its [[overseas departments and regions of France|overseas regions]] it is not mandatory for the communes in French Polynesia to join an intercommunal council. The three intercommunal councils in existence as of 2022, all formed on a voluntary basis, were:

* community of communes of the Marquesas Islands ({{langx|fr|communauté de communes des îles Marquises}}, or {{lang|fr|CODIM}}), formed in 2010 by all the communes in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands
* community of communes Havaʻi ({{langx|fr|communauté de communes Havaʻi}}, or {{lang|fr|CCH}}), formed in 2012 by all the communes in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands, with the exception of [[Bora-Bora (commune)|Bora-Bora]] which preferred to remain separate for financial reasons
* community of communes Terehēamanu ({{langx|fr|communauté de communes Terehēamanu}}), formed in 2021 by 5 [[exurb]]an and rural communes on the eastern side of the island of [[Tahiti]]: [[Hitiaa O Te Ra]], [[Taiarapu-Est]], [[Taiarapu-Ouest]], [[Teva I Uta]], and [[Papara]].

These communities of communes, as elsewhere in the French Republic, are not full-fledged [[territorial collectivity|territorial collectivities]], but only federations of communes. From a legal standpoint, the only territorial collectivities in French Polynesia are the overseas collectivity of French Polynesia and the 48 communes.

== Demographics ==
[[File:Tahitiennes en robe mission.jpg|thumb|Tahitian girls, c. 1860–1879]]
{{main|Demographics of French Polynesia}}

Total population was 278,786 according to the 18 August 2022 census,<ref name=pop /> 68.7% of whom lived on the island of [[Tahiti]] alone. The urban area of Papeete, the capital city, has 136,771 inhabitants (2017 census).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ispf.pf/themes/Geographie/Population.aspx |title=Bilan démographique 2020 |publisher=Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française (ISPF) |access-date=4 March 2022 |archive-date=4 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304190719/https://www.ispf.pf/themes/Geographie/Population.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the 2017 census, 89.0% of people living in French Polynesia had been born there (up from 87.3% in 2007); 8.1% had been born in [[Metropolitan France]] (down from 9.3% in 2007); 1.2% were born elsewhere in [[overseas France]] (down from 1.4% in 2007); and 1.7% were from foreign countries (down from 2.0% in 2007).<ref name=Census_2017>{{cite web |url=http://ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017/Donnees_detaillees/Migrations.aspx |title=Recensement 2017 – Données détaillées – Migrations |author=Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF) |access-date=7 April 2019 |language=fr |archive-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407144337/http://ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017/Donnees_detaillees/Migrations.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> The population of natives of Metropolitan France living in French Polynesia has declined in relative terms since the 1980s, but in absolute terms their population peaked at the 2007 census, when 24,265 lived in French Polynesia (not counting their children born there).<ref name=migration>{{cite web |url=http://www.ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/Historique/caract%C3%A9ristiques-socio-d%C3%A9mographiques |title=Recensements de la population – Evolution des caractéristiques socio-démographiques |publisher=ISPF |access-date=18 February 2018 |archive-date=24 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624035342/http://www.ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/Historique/caract%C3%A9ristiques-socio-d%C3%A9mographiques |url-status=dead}}</ref> With the local economic crisis, their population declined to 22,278 at the 2012 census,<ref name=migration /> and 22,387 at the 2017 census.<ref name=Census_2017 />

{|class=wikitable style="text-align:right;"
|+Place of birth of residents of French Polynesia
!Census!!French&nbsp;Polynesia!![[Metropolitan France]]!![[Overseas France]]!!Foreign<br />countries with French<br />citizenship at birth<sup>1</sup>!!Immigrants<sup>2</sup>
|-
| 2017 || 89.0% || 8.1% || 1.2% || 0.9% || 0.8%
|-
| 2012 || 88.7% || 8.3% || 1.3% || 0.9% || 0.8%
|-
| 2007 || 87.3% || 9.3% || 1.4% || 1.1% || 0.9%
|-
| 2002 || 87.2% || 9.5% || 1.4% || 1.2% || 0.8%
|-
| 1996 || 86.9% || 9.3% || 1.5% || 1.3% || 0.9%
|-
| 1988 || 86.7% || 9.2% || 1.5% || 1.5% || 1.0%
|-
| 1983 || 86.1% || 10.1% || 1.0% || 1.5% || 1.3%
|}
;Notes to table
<sup>1</sup> Persons born abroad of French parents, such as [[Pieds-Noirs]] and children of French [[expatriate]]s.

<sup>2</sup> An immigrant is by French definition a person born in a foreign country and who had no French citizenship at birth. An immigrant may have acquired French citizenship since moving to France, but is still listed as an immigrant in French statistics. On the other hand, persons born in France with foreign citizenship (the children of immigrants) are not listed as immigrants.
Source: ISPF<ref name=migration /><ref name=Census_2017 />

At the 1988 census, the last census which asked questions regarding ethnicity, 66.5% of people were ethnically unmixed [[Polynesians]], 7.1% were ethnically Polynesians with light European or East Asian mixing, 11.9% were [[European ethnic groups|Europeans]] (mostly [[French people|French]]), 9.3% were people of mixed European and Polynesian descent, the so-called Demis (literally meaning "Half"), and 4.7% were [[East Asians]] (mainly [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]]).<ref name=ethnicities />

Chinese, Demis, and the white populace are essentially concentrated on the island of Tahiti, particularly in the urban area of Papeete, where their share of the population is thus much greater than in French Polynesia overall.<ref name=ethnicities /> Despite a long history of ethnic mixing, ethnic tensions have been growing in recent years, with politicians using a [[xenophobia|xenophobic]] discourse and fanning the flame of nationalism.<ref name=logiques>{{cite web |url=http://www.conflits.org/index1709.html |title=Logiques " autonomiste " et " indépendantiste " en Polynésie française |publisher=Conflits.org |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124044158/http://www.conflits.org/index1709.html |archive-date=24 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rue89.com/2008/03/01/temaru-flosse-le-rebond-du-nationalisme-tahitien |title=Temaru-Flosse: le rebond du nationalisme tahitien |publisher=Rue89.com |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524063226/http://www.rue89.com/2008/03/01/temaru-flosse-le-rebond-du-nationalisme-tahitien |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Historical population ===
{{Historical populations
| title= Historical population
| percentages = pagr
| align = none
| cols = 2
| graph-pos = bottom
| footnote = <small>Official figures from past censuses.<ref name=pop /><ref name=pop2017>{{cite web |url=http://www.ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017 |title=La population légale au 17 août 2017 : 275 918 habitants |publisher=ISPF |access-date=16 February 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209030600/http://ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/detail.asp?ref_id=populegalescom&page=recensement%2Fpopulegalescom%2F2007%2Fpopcomseupolynesie.htm |title=Population des communes de Polynésie française au RP 2007 |publisher=INSEE |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=19 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919080644/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/detail.asp?ref_id=populegalescom |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ispf.pf/Libraries/RP2002/retro1.sflb.ashx |title=Population statistique des communes et communes associées aux recensements de 1971 à 2002 |publisher=ISPF |access-date=13 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218221151/http://www.ispf.pf/Libraries/RP2002/retro1.sflb.ashx |archive-date=18 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.persee.fr/showPage.do?zoom=0&urn=pop_0032-4663_1972_num_27_4_15221&pageId=pop_0032-4663_1972_num_27_4_T1_0704_0000 |title=Censuses from 1907 to 1962 in Population, 1972, #4–5, pp. 705–706, published by INED |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{New archival link needed|date=April 2026}}</small>
| 1907 | 30600
| 1911 | 31900 
| 1921 | 31600 
| 1926 | 35900
| 1931 | 40400
| 1936 | 44000
| 1941 | 51200 
| 1946 | 58200
| 1951.715068493 | 63300
| 1956.950819672 | 76323
| 1962.857534 | 84551
| 1971.106849315 | 119168
| 1977.326027397 | 137382
| 1983.789041096 | 166753
| 1988.683060109 | 188814 
| 1996.674863388 | 219521
| 2002.852054795 | 245516
| 2007.635616438 | 259596
| 2012.642077 | 268270
| 2017.62739726 | 275918
| 2022.630136986 | 278786
}}

== Culture ==

=== Languages ===
{{bar box
|title=Home languages in French Polynesia (2017 Census)
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Languages
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|French|darkgreen|73.9}}
{{bar percent|Tahitian|purple|20.2}}
{{bar percent|Marquesan|red|2.6}}
{{bar percent|Mangareva|black|0.2}}
{{bar percent|Austral languages|orange|1.2}}
{{bar percent|Tuamotuan|darkblue|1}}
{{bar percent|Chinese|green|0.6}}
{{bar percent|Other|purple|0.4}}
}}
All the indigenous languages of French Polynesia are [[Polynesian languages|Polynesian]]. French Polynesia has been linguistically diverse since ancient times, with each community having its own local speech variety. These dialects can be grouped into seven languages on the basis of [[mutual intelligibility]]: [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]], [[Tuamotuan language|Tuamotuan]], [[Rapa language|Rapa]], [[Austral language|Austral]], [[North Marquesan]], [[South Marquesan]], and [[Mangareva language|Mangarevan]]. Some of these, especially Tuamotuan, are really [[dialect continua]] formed by a patchwork of different dialects. The distinction between languages and dialects is notoriously difficult to establish, and so some authors may view two varieties as dialects of the same language, while others may view them as distinct languages. In this way, North and South Marquesan are often grouped together as a single Marquesan language, and Rapa is often viewed as part of Austral subfamily. At the same time, Ra'ivavae is often viewed as distinct from them.{{Sfn|Charpentier|François|2015|pp=73–76}}

[[French language|French]] is the sole official language of French Polynesia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101023183701/http://polynesie.rfo.fr/infos/actualites/langues-le-tahitien-reste-interdit-a-lassemblee-de-polynesie_37394.html Le tahitien reste interdit à l'assemblée de Polynésie], RFO, 6 October 2010</ref> An [[organic law]] of 12 April 1996 states that "French is the official language, Tahitian and other Polynesian languages can be used." At the 2017 census, among the population whose age was 15 and older, 73.9% of people reported that the language they spoke the most at home was French (up from 68.6% at the 2007 census), 20.2% reported that the language they spoke the most at home was [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] (down from 24.3% at the 2007 census), 2.6% reported [[Marquesan language|Marquesan]] and 0.2% the related [[Mangareva language]] (same percentages for both at the 2007 census), 1.2% reported any of the [[Austral language]]s (down from 1.3% at the 2007 census), 1.0% reported [[Tuamotuan language|Tuamotuan]] (down from 1.5% at the 2007 census), 0.6% reported a [[Varieties of Chinese|Chinese dialect]] (41% of which was [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]) (down from 1.0% at the 2007 census), and 0.4% another language (more than half of which was [[English language|English]]) (down from 0.5% at the 2007 census).<ref name="languages">{{cite web |url=http://ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017/Donnees_detaillees/Langues.aspx |title=Recensement 2017 – Données détaillées Langues |author=Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF) |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407144500/http://ispf.pf/bases/Recensements/2017/Donnees_detaillees/Langues.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the same census, 95.2% of people whose age was 15 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French (up from 94.7% at the 2007 census), whereas only 1.3% reported that they had no knowledge of French (down from 2.0% at the 2007 census).<ref name=languages /> 86.5% of people whose age was 15 or older reported that they had some form of knowledge of at least one Polynesian language (up from 86.4% at the 2007 census but down from 87.8% at the 2012 census), whereas 13.5% reported that they had no knowledge of any of the Polynesian languages (down from 13.6% at the 2007 census but up from 12.2% at the 2012 census).<ref name=languages />

=== Music ===
{{main|Music of French Polynesia}}

French Polynesia appeared in the [[world music]] scene in 1992, recorded by French musicologist [[Pascal Nabet-Meyer]] with the release of [[The Tahitian Choir]]'s recordings of unaccompanied vocal Christian music called [[himene tarava|himene tārava]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Philip |last=Hayward |title=Bounty Chords: Music, Dance and Cultural Heritage on Norfolk and Pitcairn Islands |location=Bloomington |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2006 |pages=24–35 |isbn=9780861966783}}</ref> This form of singing is common in French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, and is notable for a unique drop in pitch at the end of the phrases, a characteristic formed by several different voices, accompanied by a steady grunting of staccato, [[Non-lexical vocables in music|nonlexical]] syllables.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mervyn |last=McLean |title=Weavers of Song: Polynesian Music and Dance |publisher=Auckland University Press |year=1999 |pages=403–435 |isbn=9781869402129}}</ref>

=== Dance ===

Tahitian dance as a movement art evolved alongside Tahitian oral transmission of cultural knowledge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oritahiti.net/en/on-ori-tahiti-teaching/tahitian-dance/index.html |title=Tahitian Dance |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> In fact, dance movement or gesture has significance that supported the transmission of cultural knowledge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahititourisme.com/the-history-of-tahitian-dance/ |title=Traditional Tahitian dances – cultural survivors |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> Dance styles include [['Aparima]] and [['upa'upa]].

However, after the [[London Missionary Society]] brought their religion to the islands, they pressured King [[Pōmare II]] (whom they had converted from traditional beliefs to their [[Reformed tradition]]) to introduce a new legal code.<ref>Gunson, N. (1969). Pomare II of Tahiti and Polynesian imperialism. The Journal of Pacific History, 4(1), 65–82</ref> This code, now known as the Pōmare Code, came into effect in 1819<ref>{{cite book |first=Bernard |last=Gille |title=Histoire des institutions de l'Océanie française: Polynésie, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis et Futuna, L'Harmattan |language=fr |date=2009 |pages=403–435 |publisher=Harmattan |isbn=978-2-296-09234-1}}</ref> and banned numerous traditional practices including dancing, chants, floral costumes, tattooing and more.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heiva.org/en/140-years-of-heiva-i-tahiti/ |title=Let's celebrate 140 years of Heiva ! |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=22 May 2024 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522212503/https://www.heiva.org/en/140-years-of-heiva-i-tahiti/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:TuamotuCemetery.jpg|thumb|Cemetery in the [[Îles Tuamotu-Gambier|Tuāmotu]]]]
[[Christianity]] is the main religion of the islands. A majority of 54% belongs to various [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches, especially the [[Maohi Protestant Church]], which is the largest and accounts for more than 50% of the population.<ref name=tahitipresse>{{cite news |title=126th Maohi Protestant Church Synod to last one week |url=http://en.tahitipresse.pf/2010/07/126th-maohi-protestant-church-synod-to-last-one-week/ |work=[[Tahitipresse]] |date=26 July 2010 |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729164942/http://en.tahitipresse.pf/2010/07/126th-maohi-protestant-church-synod-to-last-one-week/ |archive-date=29 July 2010}}</ref> It traces its origins to [[Pōmare II]], the king of Tahiti, who converted from traditional beliefs to the Reformed tradition brought to the islands by the London Missionary Society.

[[Catholic Church|Catholics]] constitute a large minority of 38.3%<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Papeete (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dpape.html |access-date=15 August 2021 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815081524/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dpape.html |url-status=live}}</ref> of the population (2019)<ref name=":0" /> which has its own [[ecclesiastical province]], comprising the Metropolitan [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Papeete|Archdiocese of Papeete]] and its only [[suffragan]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Taiohae|Diocese of Taiohae]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/PF.htm |website=GCatholic |title=Catholic Church in Territory of French Polynesia |access-date=1 April 2017 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210045604/http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/PF.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The number and proportion of Catholics has increased significantly since 1950, when they represented 21.6% of the total population.<ref name=":0" />

Data from 1991 revealed that Catholics were in the majority in the [[Tuamotu Islands]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Saura |first=Bruno |date=1991 |title=The Tahitian Churches and the Problem of the French Presence in 1991 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25169083 |journal=The Journal of Pacific History |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=347–357 |doi=10.1080/00223349108572673 |jstor=25169083 |issn=0022-3344 |access-date=15 August 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815003850/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25169083 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[Gambier Islands]]<ref name=":1" /> and the [[Marquesas Islands]],<ref name=":1" /> while Protestants formed the majority in the [[Austral Islands]]<ref name=":1" /> and several of the [[Society Islands]] such as Tahiti.<ref name=":1" /> This diversity is due to the fact that Protestant missionaries (from England and the United States) first came to one group of islands, and after French colonisation the Catholic Church spread to several more scattered islands, but also to the main island of Tahiti.<ref name=":1" />

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] had 30,350 members {{As of|2025||lc=y}}.<ref>[https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/french-polynesia LDS Newsroom Statistical Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712232042/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/french-polynesia |date=12 July 2019 }}. Retrieved 30 April 2026.</ref> [[Community of Christ]], another denomination within the [[Latter Day Saint movement|Latter-Day Saint]] tradition, claimed 9,256 total French Polynesian members as of 2018<ref>Saturday/Sunday Bulletin World Conference 2019. Community of Christ. 2019. pp. 15–16.</ref> including Mareva Arnaud Tchong who serves in the church's governing [[Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)|Council of Twelve Apostles]]. There were about 3,000 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] in Tahiti {{As of|2014|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite book |title=2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses |publisher=Watch Tower Society |page=186}}</ref> and an estimated 500 Muslims in French Polynesia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.refworld.org/docid/53ba8dbb5.html |title=State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2014 – Case study: Tahiti: Islamophobia in French Polynesia |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109123410/http://www.refworld.org/docid/53ba8dbb5.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
French Polynesia produces a significant array of fruits and vegetables as natural local produce (especially coconut), which feature in many of the dishes of the islands, as does fresh seafood.
Foods like [[faraoa 'ipo]], [[poisson cru]] and [[rēti'a]] are commonly eaten. The islands of Tahiti and the Marquesas indulge in a unique food made by preserving [[breadfruit]], known as [[List of fermented foods#Fermented fruits and vegetables|''ma'']], which either can be baked further in the [[earth oven]], or consumed directly mixed with fresh breadfruit as ''popoi mei'' (as is in the Marquesas).<ref>{{cite journal |title=Breadfruit Fermentation Practices in Oceania |pages=157–8 |journal=Journal de la Société des Océanistes |date=1984 |volume=40 |issue=79 |first=Nancy |last=Pollock |doi=10.3406/jso.1984.2544 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/jso_0300-953x_1984_num_40_79_2544 |archive-date=2 December 2024 |access-date=28 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202074512/https://www.persee.fr/doc/jso_0300-953x_1984_num_40_79_2544 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
[[File:Hawaiki Nui Va'a 4.jpg|thumb|Va'a (traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe) during the Hawaiki Nui Va'a race]]

==== Football ====
{{Further|Football in Tahiti}}
The [[sport]] of [[Football (soccer)|football]] in the island of [[Tahiti]] is run by the [[Fédération Tahitienne de Football]].

==== Va'a ====
The Polynesian traditional sport [[va'a]] is practiced in all the islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tahitinuitravel.com/destination/vaa-canoe/ |title="Va'a" – the Polynesian Canoe |publisher=Tahiti Nui Travel |access-date=24 January 2022 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928031829/https://tahitinuitravel.com/destination/vaa-canoe/ |url-status=live}}</ref> French Polynesia hosts the {{interlanguage link|Hawaiki nui va'a|fr|Hawaiki nui va'a|it|Hawaiki Nui Va'a|no|Hawaiki Nui Va'a}}{{void|Fabrickator|comment|use explicit article name for each language to avoid confusion about capitalization used for each language}} an international race between Tahiti, Huahine and Bora Bora.

==== Surfing ====
French Polynesia is famous for its [[Surf break|reef break]] waves. [[Teahupo'o]] is probably the most renowned, regularly ranked in the best waves of the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/30/travel/50-surf-spots/index.html |title=World's 50 best surf spots - CNN.com |author=Jade Bremner |website=CNN |date=July 2013 |access-date=3 June 2016 |archive-date=16 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816180725/http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/30/travel/50-surf-spots/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This site hosts the annual [[Billabong Pro Teahupoo|Billabong Pro Tahiti]] surf competition, the 7th stop of the [[World championship tour (WCT) surfing|World Championship Tour]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2019/mct/2919/tahiti-pro-teahupoo |title=2019 Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o |website=World Surf League |date=28 August 2019 |language=en |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731205430/https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2019/mct/2919/tahiti-pro-teahupoo |url-status=live}}</ref> and hosted the surfing events of the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1091410/tahiti-approved-ioc-paris-2024-surfing |title=Tahiti approved by IOC as surfing venue for Paris 2024 Olympic Games |website=Inside the Games |language=en |date=3 March 2020 |access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024204400/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1091410/tahiti-approved-ioc-paris-2024-surfing |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Kitesurfing ====
There are many spots to practice kitesurfing in French Polynesia, with Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora, Maupiti and Raivavae being among the most iconic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tahiti-kitesurf.com/kite-in-french-polynesia/general-informations.html |title=General Info - WWW.TaHiTi-KiTeSuRF.COM |last=GR3G |website=tahiti-kitesurf.com |access-date=3 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807174820/http://www.tahiti-kitesurf.com/kite-in-french-polynesia/general-informations.html |archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Fakarava Atoll Passe Sud.jpg|right|thumb|Fakarava atoll, south pass]]

==== Diving ====
French Polynesia is internationally known for diving. Each archipelago offers opportunities for divers. [[Rangiroa]] and [[Fakarava]] in the [[Tuamotus|Tuamotu]] islands are the most famous spots in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scubadiving.com/top-100-diving-in-french-polynesia |title=Top 100 Destination: Diving in French Polynesia |website=Scuba Diving |access-date=3 June 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402070949/http://www.scubadiving.com/top-100-diving-in-french-polynesia |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Rugby ====
{{main|Rugby union in French Polynesia}}

Rugby is also popular in French Polynesia, specifically rugby union.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wheretoplayrugby.com/news/2020/02/25/french-polynesian-rugby-rugby-is-a-hit-in-tahiti/ |title=French Polynesian Rugby – Rugby is a hit in Tahiti! |publisher=Where to play rugby |date=25 February 2020 |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811203723/https://wheretoplayrugby.com/news/2020/02/25/french-polynesian-rugby-rugby-is-a-hit-in-tahiti/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Television ===
Television channels with local programming include [[Polynésie la 1ère]] (established in 1965) and [[Tahiti Nui Television]] (established in 2000). Channels from metropolitan France are also available.

== Economy and infrastructure ==
{{main|Economy of French Polynesia}}

{| class="wikitable sortable floatright"  style="margin:20px 0px 20px 20px"
|-
! Region
! style="width:6em;" | Total GDP, nominal, 2019 <br />(billion US$)
! style="width:6em;" | GDP per capita, nominal, 2019 <br />(US$)
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Australia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,388.09
| style="text-align:right;" | 54,391
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 210.76
| style="text-align:right;" | 42,274
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Hawaii}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 93.24
| style="text-align:right;" |  63,997
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Papua New Guinea}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 24.75
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,315
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|New Caledonia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 9.48
| style="text-align:right;" | 34,939 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Guam}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 6.36
| style="text-align:right;" | 37,794
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|French Polynesia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 6.02
| style="text-align:right;" | 21,673
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Fiji}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 5.44
| style="text-align:right;" | 6,079
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Solomon Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1.62
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,278
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Northern Mariana Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1.18
| style="text-align:right;" | 24,670
|-
| style="t.ext-align:left;"  | {{flagcountry|Vanuatu}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.93
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,187
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Samoa}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.91
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,472
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|American Samoa}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.65
| style="text-align:right;" | 13,352
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Tonga}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.45
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,435
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Micronesia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.39
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,001
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Cook Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.39
| style="text-align:right;" | 22,752 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Palau}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.28
| style="text-align:right;" | 15,992
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Marshall Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.23
| style="text-align:right;" | 5,275
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Kiribati}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.22
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,847
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Wallis and Futuna}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.21
| style="text-align:right;" | 18,360
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Nauru}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.13
| style="text-align:right;" | 10,567
|-
| style="text-align:left;"   | {{flagcountry|Tuvalu}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 0.05 
| style="text-align:right;" | 5,277
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=3   | Sources:<ref name="GDP"/><ref name="IMF">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=512,914,612,171,614,311,213,911,314,193,122,912,313,419,513,316,913,124,339,638,514,218,963,616,223,516,918,748,618,624,522,622,156,626,628,228,924,233,632,636,634,238,662,960,423,935,128,611,321,243,248,469,253,642,643,939,734,644,819,172,132,646,648,915,134,652,174,328,258,656,654,336,263,268,532,944,176,534,536,429,433,178,436,136,343,158,439,916,664,826,542,967,443,917,544,941,446,666,668,672,946,137,546,674,676,548,556,678,181,867,682,684,273,868,921,948,943,686,688,518,728,836,558,138,196,278,692,694,962,142,449,564,565,283,853,288,293,566,964,182,359,453,968,922,714,862,135,716,456,722,942,718,724,576,936,961,813,726,199,733,184,524,361,362,364,732,366,144,146,463,528,923,738,578,537,742,866,369,744,186,925,869,746,926,466,112,111,298,927,846,299,582,487,474,754,698,&s=NGDPD,NGDPDPC,&sy=2019&ey=2019&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database – October 2024 |publisher=IMF |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=16 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716103017/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2C&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&ssc=0&scc=0&sic=0&sy=2019&ey=2019&ssm=0&scsm=1&ssd=1&c=512%2C914%2C612%2C171%2C614%2C311%2C213%2C911%2C314%2C193%2C122%2C912%2C313%2C419%2C513%2C316%2C913%2C124%2C339%2C638%2C514%2C218%2C963%2C616%2C223%2C516%2C918%2C748%2C618%2C624%2C522%2C622%2C156%2C626%2C628%2C228%2C924%2C233%2C632%2C636%2C634%2C238%2C662%2C960%2C423%2C935%2C128%2C611%2C321%2C243%2C248%2C469%2C253%2C642%2C643%2C939%2C734%2C644%2C819%2C172%2C132%2C646%2C648%2C915%2C134%2C652%2C174%2C328%2C258%2C656%2C654%2C336%2C263%2C268%2C532%2C944%2C176%2C534%2C536%2C429%2C433%2C178%2C436%2C136%2C343%2C158%2C439%2C916%2C664%2C826%2C542%2C967%2C443%2C917%2C544%2C941%2C446%2C666%2C668%2C672%2C946%2C137%2C546%2C674%2C676%2C548%2C556%2C678%2C181%2C867%2C682%2C684%2C273%2C868%2C921%2C948%2C943%2C686%2C688%2C518%2C728%2C836%2C558%2C138%2C196%2C278%2C692%2C694%2C962%2C142%2C449%2C564%2C565%2C283%2C853%2C288%2C293%2C566%2C964%2C182%2C359%2C453%2C968%2C922%2C714%2C862%2C135%2C716%2C456%2C722%2C942%2C718%2C724%2C576%2C936%2C961%2C813%2C726%2C199%2C733%2C184%2C524%2C361%2C362%2C364%2C732%2C366%2C144%2C146%2C463%2C528%2C923%2C738%2C578%2C537%2C742%2C866%2C369%2C744%2C186%2C925%2C869%2C746%2C926%2C466%2C112%2C111%2C298%2C927%2C846%2C299%2C582%2C487%2C474%2C754%2C698%2C |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.isee.nc/component/phocadownload/category/82-donnees?download=566:pib |title=Evolution du PIB et du PIB par habitant |publisher=[[Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies]] (ISEE-NC) |place=Nouméa |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514113755/https://www.isee.nc/component/phocadownload/category/82-donnees?download=566:pib |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SASUMMARY State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment |url=https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI2MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIwIl0sWyJTdGF0ZSIsWyIwIl1dLFsiQXJlYSIsWyIxNTAwMCJdXSxbIlN0YXRpc3RpYyIsWyI0Il1dLFsiVW5pdF9vZl9tZWFzdXJlIiwiTGV2ZWxzIl0sWyJZZWFyIixbIjIwMTkiXV0sWyJZZWFyQmVnaW4iLCItMSJdLFsiWWVhcl9FbmQiLCItMSJdXX0= |publisher=[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] (BEA) |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=11 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251211205259/https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI2MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIwIl0sWyJTdGF0ZSIsWyIwIl1dLFsiQXJlYSIsWyIxNTAwMCJdXSxbIlN0YXRpc3RpYyIsWyI0Il1dLFsiVW5pdF9vZl9tZWFzdXJlIiwiTGV2ZWxzIl0sWyJZZWFyIixbIjIwMTkiXV0sWyJZZWFyQmVnaW4iLCItMSJdLFsiWWVhcl9FbmQiLCItMSJdXX0= |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI4MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIxNiJdLFsiU3RhdGUiLFsiMCJdXSxbIkFyZWEiLFsiNjAwMDAiLCI2NjAwMCIsIjY5MDAwIl1dLFsiU3RhdGlzdGljIixbIjEiXV0sWyJVbml0X29mX21lYXN1cmUiLCJMZXZlbHMiXSxbIlllYXIiLFsiMjAxOSJdXSxbIlllYXJCZWdpbiIsIi0xIl0sWyJZZWFyX0VuZCIsIi0xIl1dfQ== |title=TASUMMARY1 Summary of GDP and components for U.S. territories, current dollars |publisher=[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] (BEA) |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=11 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251211205259/https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI4MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIxNiJdLFsiU3RhdGUiLFsiMCJdXSxbIkFyZWEiLFsiNjAwMDAiLCI2NjAwMCIsIjY5MDAwIl1dLFsiU3RhdGlzdGljIixbIjEiXV0sWyJVbml0X29mX21lYXN1cmUiLCJMZXZlbHMiXSxbIlllYXIiLFsiMjAxOSJdXSxbIlllYXJCZWdpbiIsIi0xIl0sWyJZZWFyX0VuZCIsIi0xIl1dfQ== |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://stats.gov.ck/download/476/2024/6494/gross-domestic-product-march-quarter-2024.xlsx |title=Table 1: Gross domestic product at current prices by industry – quarterly value |publisher=Cook Islands Statistics Office |access-date=22 February 2025 |archive-date=22 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222205527/https://stats.gov.ck/download/476/2024/6494/gross-domestic-product-march-quarter-2024.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cerom-outremer.fr/wallis-et-futuna/publications/etudes-cerom/evaluation-du-pib-de-wallis-et-futuna-en-2019.html |title=Évaluation du PIB de Wallis-et-Futuna en 2019 |author=INSEE, CEROM |date=11 September 2024 |access-date=22 February 2025 |language=fr |archive-date=11 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211084202/https://www.cerom-outremer.fr/wallis-et-futuna/publications/etudes-cerom/evaluation-du-pib-de-wallis-et-futuna-en-2019.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

[[File:DSC00033 Polynésia Moréa island Haapiti Beach (8076090305).jpg|thumb|right|Tourism is an important source of income for French Polynesia.]]
The legal tender of French Polynesia is the [[CFP franc]] which has a fixed exchange rate with the [[euro]]. The nominal [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of French Polynesia in 2019 was 6.02&nbsp;billion [[United States dollar|U.S. dollars]] at market exchange rates, the seventh-largest economy in Oceania after [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Hawaii]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[New Caledonia]], and [[Guam]].<ref name="GDP" /> The GDP per capita was US$21,673 in 2019 (at market exchange rates, not at [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]), lower than in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, New Caledonia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Cook Islands, but higher than in all other independent insular states and dependent territories of [[Oceania]].<ref name="GDP" />

French Polynesia was severely affected by the [[2008 financial crisis]] and subsequent [[Great Recession]], and experienced as a result 4 years of [[recession]] from 2009 to 2012. French Polynesia renewed with economic growth in 2013, and experienced strong economic growth in the 2nd half of the 2010s, with an average [[Real gross domestic product|real GDP]] growth rate of +2.8% per year from 2016 to 2019, before being affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, which has led to another recession.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ispf.pf/themes/EconomieFinances/Comptesconomiques/Details.aspx |title=Comptes économiques – Données essentielles |publisher=Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française (ISPF) |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303221221/https://www.ispf.pf/themes/EconomieFinances/Comptesconomiques/Details.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>

French Polynesia has a moderately developed economy, which is dependent on imported goods, tourism, and the financial assistance of mainland France. Tourist facilities are well developed and are available on the major islands. Main agricultural productions are [[coconut]]s ([[copra]]), vegetables and fruits. French Polynesia exports [[noni]] juice, a high quality [[Vanilla production in French Polynesia|vanilla]], and the famous [[Tahitian pearl|black Tahitian pearls]]<ref name="Taaroa Bijoux">{{cite web |url=https://www.black-pearls-tahiti.com/the-story-of-tahitian-pearls-n-3.html |language=en |title=The story of Tahitian Pearls in French Polynesia |access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref> which accounted for 55% of exports (in value) in 2008.<ref name=FT />

French Polynesia's seafloor contains rich deposits of [[nickel]], [[cobalt]], [[manganese]], and [[Copper extraction|copper]] that are not exploited.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Manheim |first1=F. T. |title=Marine Cobalt Resources |journal=Science |volume=232 |issue=4750 |year=1986 |pages=600–608 |issn=0036-8075 |doi=10.1126/science.232.4750.600 |pmid=17781410 |bibcode=1986Sci...232..600M |s2cid=21146020 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1230970 |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401035458/https://zenodo.org/record/1230970 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008, French Polynesia's imports amounted to 2.2&nbsp;billion U.S. dollars and exports amounted to 0.2&nbsp;billion U.S. dollars.<ref name=FT>{{cite web |url=https://www.ieom.fr/IMG/pdf/ra2008_pf.pdf |title=La Polynésie française en 2008 |author=[[Institut d'émission d'Outre-Mer]] (IEOM) |access-date=14 September 2009 |language=fr |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817201614/https://www.ieom.fr/IMG/pdf/ra2008_pf.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+GDP (nominal) per capita in 2019 (US$)
|-
| {{Color box|#e43114|$0 – $5,000|white|border=darkgray|}} {{Color box|#f57e00|$5,000 – $10,000|white|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#eea800|$10,000 – $20,000|white|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#22aaff|$20,000 – $30,000|white|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#2259ff|$30,000 – $45,000|white|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#5222ff|$45,000 – $60,000|white|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#a522ff|$60,000 – $90,000|white|border=darkgray}}
|}
{{Image label begin|image=Oceania political map.png|width=662}}
{{Image label|x=0.15|y=0.55|scale=662|text=[[Australia|<span style="background:#5222ff;color:white">54,391</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.45|y=0.67|scale=662|text=[[New Zealand|<span style="background:#2259ff;color:white">42,274</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.7|y=0.07|scale=662|text=[[Hawaii|<span style="background:#a522ff;color:white"> 63,997</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.3|y=0.43|scale=662|text=<span style="background:#2259ff;color:white">34,939</span>}}
{{Image label|x=0.135|y=0.118|scale=662|text=[[Guam|<span style="background:#2259ff;color:white">37,794</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.18|y=0.31|scale=662|text=[[Papua New Guinea|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">2,315</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.8|y=0.46|scale=662|text=<span style="background:#2af; color:white;">21,673</span>}}
{{Image label|x=0.36|y=0.39|scale=662|text=[[Vanuatu|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">3,187</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.3|y=0.365|scale=662|text=[[Solomon Islands|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">2,278</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.47|y=0.45|scale=662|text=[[Fiji|<span style="background:#f57e00;color:white">6,079</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.513|y=0.353|scale=662|text=[[Wallis and Futuna|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white"><small>18,360</small></span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.566|y=0.388|scale=662|text=[[Samoa|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white"><small>4,472</small></span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.611|y=0.395|scale=662|text=[[American Samoa|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white">13,352</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.67|y=0.43|scale=662|text=[[Cook Islands|<span style="background:#22aaff;color:white">22,752</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.55|y=0.44|scale=662|text=[[Tonga|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">4,435</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.15|y=0.079|scale=662|text=[[Northern Mariana Islands|<span style="background:#2af; color:white;">24,670</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.02|y=0.165|scale=662|text=[[Palau|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white">15,992</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.22|y=0.18|scale=662|text=[[Federated States of Micronesia|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">4,001</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.38|y=0.16|scale=662|text=[[Marshall Islands|<span style="background:#f57e00;color:white">5,275</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.434|y=0.262|scale=662|text=[[Kiribati|<span style="background:#e43114;color:white">1,847</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.348|y=0.262|scale=662|text=[[Nauru|<span style="background:#eea800;color:white">10,567</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=0.48|y=0.325|scale=662|text=[[Tuvalu|<span style="background:#f57e00;color:white">5,277</span>]]}}
{{Image label end}}

=== Transportation ===
{{main|Transportation in French Polynesia}}

There are 53 airports in French Polynesia; 46 are paved.<ref name="cia"/> [[Fa'a'ā International Airport]] is the only international airport in French Polynesia. Each island has its own airport that serves flights to other islands. [[Air Tahiti]] is the main airline that flies around the islands.

=== Communication ===
In 2017, Alcatel Submarine Networks, a unit of [[Nokia]], launched a project to connect many of the islands in French Polynesia with underwater fiber optic cable. The project, called NATITUA, is intended to improve French Polynesian broadband connectivity by linking Tahiti to 10 islands in the Tuamotu and Marquesas archipelagos.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/07/natitua-submarine-cable-system-to-bridge-french-polynesian-digital-divide.html |title=NATITUA submarine cable system to bridge French Polynesian digital divide |website=lightwaveonline.com |date=25 July 2017 |access-date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035146/https://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/07/natitua-submarine-cable-system-to-bridge-french-polynesian-digital-divide.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2018, a celebration was held to commemorate the arrival of a submarine cable from [[Papeete]] to the atoll of Hao, extending the network by about 1000 kilometres.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363491/submarine-cable-extended-to-french-polynesia-s-hao |title=Submarine cable extended to French Polynesia's Hao |date=7 August 2018 |work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=23 October 2018 |language=en-nz |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035319/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363491/submarine-cable-extended-to-french-polynesia-s-hao |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Paul Gauguin 144.jpg|Painting of ''[[Tahitian Women on the Beach|Two Women of Tahiti]]'' by [[Paul Gauguin]]|thumb]]
* [[Taïna Barioz]] (born 1988), [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2011|World Champion]] skier representing France
* [[Billy Besson]], Olympic sailor representing France
* [[Michel Bourez]] (born 1985), professional surfer
* [[Cheyenne Brando]] (1970–1995), model, daughter of [[Marlon Brando]] and [[Tarita Teriipaia]]
* [[Jacques Brel]] (1929–1978), Belgian musician who lived in French Polynesia near the end of his life
* [[Vaimalama Chaves]] (born 1994), Miss France 2019
* [[Jean Gabilou]] (born 1944), singer; represented France in the [[1981 Eurovision Song Contest]]
*[[Chantal Galenon]] (born 1956), politician and women's rights activist
* [[Paul Gauguin]] (1848–1903), French [[Post-Impressionist]] painter who spent the last years of his life in French Polynesia
* [[Conrad Hall]] (1926–2003), American cinematographer
* [[Vaitiare Bandera|Vaitiare Hirson-Asars]] (born 1964), actress
* [[Ella Koon]] (born 1979), singer, actress and model
* [[Karina Lombard]] (born 1969), French-American model and actress
* [[Pouvanaa a Oopa|Pouvāna'a 'Ō'opa]] (1895–1977), politician and Tahitian nationalist
* [[Fabrice Santoro]] (born 1972), professional tennis player
* [[Tarita Teriipaia]] (born 1941), actress, third wife of Marlon Brando
* [[Marama Vahirua]] (born 1980), footballer, cousin of Pascal Vahirua
* [[Pascal Vahirua]] (born 1966), French former international footballer
* [[Célestine Hitiura Vaite]] (born 1966), writer

== See also ==
{{Portal bar|Geography|Islands|Oceania}}
* [[Outline of French Polynesia]]
* [[Index of French Polynesia-related articles]]
<!--* [[Bibliography of French Polynesia]] -->
<!--* {{wikipedia books link|French Polynesia}} -->
*[[List of colonial and departmental heads of French Polynesia]]
*[[French colonial empire]]
*[[List of French possessions and colonies]]
* [[Lists of islands]]

{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book |last=Aldrich |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Aldrich (historian) |title=The French Presence in the South Pacific, 1842–1940 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-333-42811-5 |location=Basingstoke, Hampshire}}
* {{Cite book |last=Aldrich |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Aldrich (historian) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tLTDYaHhrZgC |title=France and the South Pacific since 1940 |publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-8248-1558-5 |location=Honolulu}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Charpentier |first1=Jean-Michel |author-link1=:fr:Jean-Michel Charpentier |url=https://marama.huma-num.fr/AF-Atlas-blurbs_e.htm |title=Atlas Linguistique de Polynésie Française — Linguistic Atlas of French Polynesia |last2=François |first2=Alexandre |author-link2=Alexandre François (linguist) |publisher=[[De Gruyter]] & [[Université de la Polynésie Française]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-3-11-026035-9 |language=fr, en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Danielsson |first=Bengt |author-link=Bengt Danielsson |url=https://archive.org/details/worklifeonraroia0000beng |title=Work and life on Raroia, an acculturation study from the Tuamotu group, French Oceania |publisher=[[G. Allen & Unwin]] |year=1956 |location=London |oclc=168202 |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Danielsson |first1=Bengt |url=https://archive.org/details/poisonedreignfre00dani |title=Poisoned reign: French nuclear colonialism in the Pacific |last2=Danielsson |first2=Marie-Thérèse |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-14-008130-5 |edition=2nd |location=Ringwood, Vic., Australia; New York, N.Y., U.S.A |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hough |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Hough |title=Captain James Cook |publisher=[[W.W. Norton & Co]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-393-03680-0 |location=New York}}
*{{Cite book |title=French Polynesia: a book of selected readings |publisher=Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific |year=1988 |isbn=978-982-02-0032-6 |editor-last=Pollock |editor-first=Nancy J. |location=Suva, Fiji |language=en, fr |editor-last2=Crocombe |editor-first2=R. G.}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/sede300309studype407004_/SEDE300309StudyPE407004_en.pdf |title=The Status and Location of the Military Installations of the Member States of the European Union and Their Potential Role for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) |last1=Rogers |first1=James |last2=Simón |first2=Luis |date=February 2009 |publisher=European Parliament |location=Brussels}}
* {{Cite book |last=Regnault |first=Jean-Marc |title=Le pouvoir confisqué en Polynésie française: l'affrontement Temaru – Flosse |language=fr |date=2005 |publisher=Les Indes Savantes |isbn=978-2-84654-097-1 |location=Paris}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Virginia |title=The French Pacific Islands: French Polynesia and New Caledonia |last2=Adloff |first2=Richard |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=1971 |isbn=978-0-520-01843-3 |location=Berkeley}}

{{Wikisource|United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/67/265}}

== External links ==
{{wikibooks |1=Geography of France |2=The Pacific#French Polynesia |3=French Polynesia}}
{{Sister project links|voy=French Polynesia}}

; Government
* [http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/ High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia]
* [https://www.presidence.pf/ Presidency of French Polynesia]
* [https://www.assemblee.pf/ Assembly of French Polynesia]
* [https://lexpol.cloud.pf/ Legal publication service in French Polynesia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190606165251/http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Les-Subdivisions2 Administrative Subdivisions of French Polynesia]
* {{cite web |title=Langues et cité n°29 : les langues de Polynésie française |url=https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Thematiques/langue-francaise-et-langues-de-france/Agir-pour-les-langues/Observer-les-pratiques-linguistiques/Langues-et-cite/Langues-et-cite-n-29-les-langues-de-Polynesie-francaise |website=www.culture.gouv.fr |language=fr-FR |date=3 October 2017}}
; General information
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.tahitiheritage.pf Encyclopédie collaborative du patrimoine culturel et naturel polynésien]
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-polynesia/ French Polynesia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415181639/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-polynesia/ |date=15 April 2021 }}. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080607084838/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/frenchpolynesia.htm French Polynesia] at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{wikiatlas|French Polynesia}}

; Travel
* [https://tahititourisme.com/ Official Tourism Website]

{{portal bar|Geography|Oceania|<!--Polynesia-->|France}}
{{French Polynesia topics}}
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{{French overseas departments and territories}}
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[[Category:French Polynesia| ]]
[[Category:Dependent territories in Polynesia]]
[[Category:Dependent territories in Oceania]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in Oceania]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:European colonisation in Oceania]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where French is an official language]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Overseas collectivities of France]]
[[Category:Small Island Developing States]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1842]]