FRENCH POLYNESIA
(See reference map X) |
LAND
About 4,000 km2
WATER
Limits of territorial waters: 12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)
Coastline: about 2,525 km
PEOPLE
Population: 155,000 (July 1982), annual growth rate 2.2%
Nationality: noun—French Polynesian(s); adjective—French Polynesian
Ethnic divisions: 78% Polynesian, 12% Chinese, 6% local French, 4% metropolitan French
Religion: mainly Christian; 55% Protestant, 32% Catholic
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Territory of French Polynesia
Type: overseas territory of France
Capital: Papeete
Political subdivisions: five districts
Legal system: based on French; lower and higher courts
Branches: 33-member Territorial Assembly, popularly elected; 5-member Council of Government, elected by Assembly; popular election of two deputies to National Assembly and one senator to Senate in Paris
Government leader: High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Paul NOIROT-COSSON, appointed by French Government
Suffrage: universal adult
Elections: every five years, last in May 1977
Political parties and leaders: Le Front Uni, autonomist coalition, Francis Sanford; Tahoeraa Huiraatira, conservative Gaullist, Gaston Flosse
Voting strength (1977 election): Le Front Uni, 14 seats; Tahoerra Huiraatira, 10 seats; independents, 9 seats
ECONOMY
GDP: $636.8 million (1976), $4,550 per capita
Agriculture: coconut main crop
Major industries: maintenance of French nuclear test base, tourism
Electric power: 67,000 kW capacity (1981); 160 million kWh produced (1979), 1,074 kWh per capita
Exports: $21 million (1977); principal products—coconut products (79%), mother-of-pearl (14%), vanilla (1971)
Imports: $419 million (1977); principal items—fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
Major trade partners: imports—59% France, 14% US; exports—86% France
Aid: France $91 million (1978)
Budget: $180 million in 1979; ODA and OOF commitments from Western (non-US countries)
Monetary conversion rate: 100 CFP=1NZ$ (1971)
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,700 km, all types
Ports: 1 major, 6 minor
Airfields: 38 total, 38 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air: about 3 major transport aircraft
Telecommunications: 17,302 telephones (12.9 per 100 popl.); 72,000 radio and 14,000 TV sets; 5 AM, 2 FM, and 6 TV stations; 1 ground satellite station
DEFENSE FORCES
Defense is responsibility of France
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