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: $1.37 billion, per capita $6,400; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 0.7% (1986)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $253; expenditures $209, including capital expenditures of $NA (1984)

Exports: $42 million (f.o.b., 1986); @m5commodities--coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat; @m5partners--France 44%, US 21%

Imports: $767 million (c.i.f., 1986); @m5commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment; @m5partners--France 50%, US 16%, New Zealand 6%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,420 kWh per capita (1988)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations

Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1979), $180 million

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--111.55 (September 1987), 120.77 (September 1986), 148.55 (September 1985); 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 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of French Polynesia Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about French Polynesia Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.