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.

After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015.

French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; however, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons – the lowest level since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of total economy in 2012 - including agriculture and fishing.

France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.49 billion (2015 est.)
$5.383 billion (2014 est.)
$6.963 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 177
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.795 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2015 est.)
-2.7% (2014 est.)
-2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 150
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,000 (2015 est.)
$20,100 (2014 est.)
$22,700 (2010)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 104
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 66.9% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 33.6% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 19.4% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 17.5% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -37.5% (2014 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 2.5% (2009)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 13% (2009)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 84.5% (2009)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Industrial production growth rate:
NA
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
126,300 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 179
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 19%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 68% (2013 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
21.8% (2012)
11.7% (2010)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 190
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
19.7% (2009 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 1.891 billion (2012)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 1.833 billion (2011)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
39.4% (of GDP) (2012)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 46
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.2% (of GDP) (2012)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 28
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0% (2015 est.)
0.3% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 10
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$3.81 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 118
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$207.7 million (2014 est.)
$158.8 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 58
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.245 billion (2014 est.)
$1.168 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 152
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Japan 23.1%, Hong Kong 21.5%, Kyrgyzstan 15.9%, US 15.9%, France 12.4% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

Imports:
$2.235 billion (2014 est.)
$2.271 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 162
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:
France 27.9%, South Korea 12.1%, US 10.1%, China 7.3%, NZ 6.7%, Singapore 4.2% (2017)

Debt - external:
NA
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$905 million (2015 est.)
$822.3 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 124
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$349.3 million (2015)
$310.8 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 101
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
110.2 (2017 est.)
107.84 (2016 est.)
107.84 (2015 est.)
89.85 (2014 est.)
90.56 (2013 est.)