French Polynesia

French Polynesia Background

The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.

French Polynesia Information

• Population: 266,339 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian
• Location:: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
• Religions:: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
• Ethnic Groups:: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) water: 507 sq km land: 3,660 sq km
• Coast Line: 2,525 km
• Climate: tropical, but moderate
• Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 0.82% permanent crops: 5.46% other: 93.72% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: NA
• Natural Resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
• Highways: total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
• Airports: 49 (2003 est.)