French Polynesia, officially Territory of French Polynesia, internally self-governing overseas country (2002 pop. 245,516) of France, consisting of 118 islands in the South Pacific. The capital is Papeete Papeete (päpā-ā`tā), town (2002 pop. 26,181), capital of Tahiti and of French Polynesia , South Pacific.
..... Click the link for more information. , on Tahiti Tahiti (tähē`tē), island (2002 pop. 169.674), South Pacific, in the Windward group of the Society Islands , French Polynesia .
..... Click the link for more information. . The territory comprises five main groups: the Society Islands Society Islands, island group (2002 pop. 214,445), South Pacific, a part of French Polynesia . The group comprises the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands (total land area c.
..... Click the link for more information. ; Marquesas Islands Marquesas Islands (märkā`säs), volcanic group (2002 pop. 8,712), South Pacific, a part of French Polynesia .
..... Click the link for more information. ; Austral Islands Austral Islands (ô`strəl), volcanic island group (2002 pop. 6,386), South Pacific, part of French Polynesia .
..... Click the link for more information. ; Tuamotu Archipelago Tuamotu Archipelago (t

ämō`t
..... Click the link for more information. ; and Gambier Islands Gambier Islands (găm`bĭr), volcanic islands (6 sq mi/15.5 sq km; 2002 pop.
..... Click the link for more information. . The small, uninhabited atoll of Clipperton Island Clipperton Island, uninhabited atoll, c.2 sq mi (5.2 sq km), in the Pacific Ocean, c.800 mi (1,290 km) SW of Mexico. It was used as a base by John Clipperton, an English pirate.
..... Click the link for more information. , c.3,400 mi (5,470 km) NE of Tahiti, is administered by France from French Polynesia.

Tropical fruits are grown on plantations, and cultured pearls, coconut oil, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, and shark meat are exported. Tourism is important to the economy. Foodstuffs, fuel, and equipment are the largest imports.

The inhabitants of the territory are mainly indigenous Polynesians or those of mixed Polynesian and European descent (known as Demis); about 55% are Protestant and 30% Roman Catholic. There is a considerable Chinese and a smaller French minority. French and Tahitian are both official languages. French Polynesia is administered by a French-appointed high commissioner and by an elected assembly that elects a territorial president and a council of ministers. The territory elects two deputies to the French national assembly and one member of the senate.

European contact began in the 16th cent., and the area was widely explored by the French during the 18th and 19th cent., when French missionaries also came to the region. The Marquesas and Society groups were annexed by France in 1842, Tahiti in 1844, and by the end of the 19th cent. the other islands had come under French administration. Uniform governance of the area began in 1903, and the islands became an overseas territory in 1946. France began testing nuclear weapons in some parts of French Polynesia in the 1960s, meeting with widespread local opposition; a series of six tests in 1995–96 was declared by France to be the last. Many inhabitants have sought a greater measure of independence from French control, and limited autonomy was awarded in 1984. In 2004 the territory became a French overseas country. France granted the territory greater autonomy in most local affairs and regional relations but retained control of law enforcement, defense, and the money supply.

Elections in May, 2004, brought a coalition of independents and pro-independence legislators to power, and Oscar Temaru, of the pro-independence Union for Democracy, became territorial president. Temaru's coalition lost a confidence vote in Oct., 2004, and Gaston Flosse, long-time leader of the government and an opponent of independence, was returned to power. The change led to political tensions in French Polynesia; at the same time, the French State Council called for rerunning the balloting for nearly two thirds of the seats. The Feb., 2005, revote enabled Temaru to form a new coalition, and he again became territorial president. Temaru again lost a confidence vote in Dec., 2006, and Gaston Tong Sang, the pro-autonomy mayor of Bora Bora, was elected to succeed Temaru.

French Polynesia

formerly French Oceania

French overseas territory (pop., 2005 est.: 255,000), south-central Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia has an area of some 1,550 sq mi (4,000 sq km), comprising 130 islands in five archipelagoes: the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Austral Islands. Tahiti, in the Society group, is the largest island and the site of the capital, Papeete. More than two-thirds of the population of French Polynesia lives on Tahiti. The islands became French protectorates in the 1840s, and in the 1880s the French colony of Oceania was established. It became an overseas territory of France after World War II and was granted partial autonomy in 1977.