French Polynesia
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - French Polynesia
Country name - conventional long form : Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
Country name - conventional short form : French Polynesia
Country name - local long form : Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
Country name - local short form : Polynesie Francaise
Country name - former : French Colony of Oceania
Country code : FP
Government type : NA
Capital - name : Papeete
Capital - time difference : UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Population : 283,019 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : French Polynesian(s)
Nationality - adjective : French Polynesian
Languages : French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Currency (code) : Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code : XPF
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
French Polynesia is located Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia. The climate is tropical, but moderate. The terrain is mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.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. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
