wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--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. The small manufacturing sector
primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited
from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed
principally at creating new jobs.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.6 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,800 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)

Labor force: 118,744 (of which 70,044 are employed) (1988)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%,
services 68% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $652 million
expenditures: $613 million, including capital expenditures of $155
million (1996)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 350 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.14%
hydro: 42.86%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 350 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: cultured pearls 53.8%, coconut products,
mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)

Exports--partners: France 33%, US 8.5% (1994)

Imports: $860 million (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment

Imports--partners: France 44.7%, US 13.9% (1994)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $450.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 1