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Compare French Polynesia (2003) - British Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare French Polynesia (2003) z British Virgin Islands (2003)

 French Polynesia (2003)British Virgin Islands (2003)
 French PolynesiaBritish Virgin Islands
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent


note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)


15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358)


15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709)


65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports 45 (2002) 3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 37


over 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 22


under 914 m: 8 (2002)
total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)


land: 3,660 sq km


water: 507 sq km
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 island of Anegada
Area - comparative slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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. First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate 17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $1 billion


expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
revenues: $121.5 million


expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital Papeete Road Town
Climate tropical, but moderate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline 2,525 km 80 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 1 June 1977
Country name conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia


conventional short form: French Polynesia


local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise


local short form: Polynesie Francaise


former: French Colony of Oceania
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
Currency Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003 US dollar (USD)
Death rate 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $36.1 million (1997)
Dependency status overseas territory of France since 1946 overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $367 million (1997) NA%
Economy - overview 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. 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, is expected to make 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 dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption 398.3 million kWh (2001) 35.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 428.3 million kWh (2001) 38.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 60.7%


hydro: 39.3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues NA 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)
Ethnic groups Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Exchange rates Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)


note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)


head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)


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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Orlando 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
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997) rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and 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 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)
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 6%


industry: 18%


services: 76% (1997)
agriculture: 1.8%


industry: 6.2%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 140 00 W 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note 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 strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Highways total: 2,590 km


paved: 1,735 km


unpaved: 855 km (1999)
total: 177 km


paved: 177 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
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
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Independence none (overseas territory of France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA
Industries tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% 2.5% (2002)
International organization participation ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 16 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif 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
Labor force 70,000 (1996) 4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 1.64%


permanent crops: 6.01%


other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Tahitian (official) English (official)
Legal system based on French system English law
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats - changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998 (next to be held NA 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 NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.45 years


male: 73.08 years


female: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
total population: 76.06 years


male: 75.07 years


female: 77.1 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 14 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1977 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Oceania Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/28,864 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie -
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Territory Day, 1 July
Nationality noun: French Polynesian(s)


adjective: French Polynesian
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards occasional cyclonic storms in January hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower NEGL
Net migration rate 2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [leader NA] 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 262,125 (July 2003 est.) 21,730 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.62% (2003 est.) 2.1% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa Road Town
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% 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)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female


total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: worldwide telephone service


domestic: NA


international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use 52,000 (1997) 10,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 5,427 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) 1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Terrain mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate 2.14 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 11.8% (1994) 3% (1995)
Waterways none none
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