Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.

GDP: $1.2 billion, per capita $6,300; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (1986 est.)

Budget: revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat; partners--France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

Imports: $806 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment; partners--France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy products

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding French Polynesia on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of French Polynesia Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about French Polynesia Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.