Compare British Virgin Islands (2006) - French Polynesia (2008)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2006) z French Polynesia (2008)

	British Virgin Islands (2006)	French Polynesia (2008)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent
Age structure	0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331) 15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)	0-14 years: 25.4% (male 36,223/female 34,677) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 98,784/female 91,585) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 8,933/female 8,761) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish	fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products
Airports	3 (2006)	54 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)	total: 37 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)	total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Area	total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke	total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km
Area - comparative	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC	slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Background	First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.	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. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Birth rate	14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)	16.41 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget	revenues: $204.7 million expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of $33.8 million (1997)	revenues: $865 million expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)
Capital	name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	name: Papeete geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds	tropical, but moderate
Coastline	80 km	2,525 km
Constitution	1 June 1977, amended in 2000	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI	conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: French Colony of Oceania
Death rate	4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)	4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external	$36.1 million (1997)	$NA
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing	overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas lands of France)
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	$NA	$579.8 million (2004)
Economy - overview	The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.	Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.
Electricity - consumption	32.13 million kWh (2003)	429.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2003)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2003)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production	34.55 million kWh (2003)	462 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Environment - current issues	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)	NA
Ethnic groups	black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed	Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003) note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Dr. Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor	chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Anne BOQUET (since September 2005) head of government: President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 13 September 2007); note - President TEMARU resigned on 27 January 2008; President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
Exports	NA bbl/day	0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand	cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat
Exports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)	France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2006)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	calendar year
Flag description	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)	two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)	agriculture: 3.1% industry: 19% services: 76.9% (2005)
GDP - real growth rate	1% (2002 est.)	5.1% (2002)
Geographic coordinates	18 30 N, 64 30 W	15 00 S, 140 00 W
Geography - note	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico	includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
Government - note	-	under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister
Heliports	-	1 (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering	-
Imports	NA bbl/day	5,678 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery	fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)	France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2006)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas lands of France)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center	tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Infant mortality rate	total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)	total: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2% (2005)	1.1% (2006 est.)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU	FZ, ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO
Irrigated land	NA	10 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction	Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Labor force	12,770 (2004)	65,930 (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4%	agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2002)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)	arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)
Languages	English (official)	French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Legal system	English law	the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch	unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5	unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February 2008 (second round) (next to be held NA 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance 45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27, Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 76.68 years male: 75.56 years female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)	total population: 76.31 years male: 73.88 years female: 78.86 years (2007 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%	definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)
Location	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Oceania
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)	total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,684 GRT/17,291 DWT by type: cargo 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2007)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches	-	no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July	Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander	noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian
Natural hazards	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)	occasional cyclonic storms in January
Natural resources	NEGL	timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Net migration rate	9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)	2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]	Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; Our Home alliance; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	23,098 (July 2006 est.)	278,963 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	1.97% (2006 est.)	1.461% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)	AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Religions	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)	Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.045 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.079 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.066 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda	general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	11,700 (2002)	53,600 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular	8,000 (2002)	152,000 (2006)
Television broadcast stations	1 (plus one cable company) (1997)	7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly	mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Total fertility rate	1.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)	1.98 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate	3.6% (1997)	11.7% (2005)

Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.