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Photo: mcclave · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
French Polynesia places highest on Life Expectancy at Birth (top 2% worldwide) and lowest on Youth Unemployment Rate (bottom 6%).
French Polynesia in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
French Polynesia appears in 32 of the statistics tracked here, but is not placed in the Country Index: the index needs a standing on three quarters of its topics, and French Polynesia is measured on too few of them. Every published reading below is unaffected.
At a glance
Population
281,118
people
since 1950
Land area
3,521
km²
since 1961
Life expectancy
84.07
years at birth
since 1950
Unemployment
11.66
% of the labour force
since 1991
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
About French Polynesia
Key facts about French Polynesia
- Capital
- Papeete
- Official language
- French
- Currency
- CFP Franc (XPF)
- ISO code
- PYF · PF
- Domain · dialling
- .pf · +689
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Where it stands, topic by topic
Strongest first. Each position is French Polynesia’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
128thof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
115thof 147
From 2 of 3 key statistics
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — French Polynesia holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for French Polynesia’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for French Polynesia in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
Where French Polynesia stands out
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which French Polynesia sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
Where French Polynesia does best5
In the top third of all countries measured. 2 are within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 6thLife Expectancy at Birthtop 2%
Position · derived 6th of 222 · 84.07 · 2023
world median 74.63 (better) · ▲ 6 pts since 2013
- 7thGlobal Violent Deathstop 4%
Position · derived 200th of 206 · 1 = worst · 0.33 · 2021
world median 4.02 (better)
Position · derived 146th of 160 · 1 = worst · 21 · 2024
world median 4,750 (better) · ▲ 23 pts since 2017
- Rule of Lawtop 18%
Position · derived 38th of 211 · 1.017 · 2024
world median -0.1 (better) · ▲ 5 pts since 2019
Position · derived 39th of 211 · 1.03 · 2024
world median 0.04 (better) · ▲ 6 pts since 2019
Where French Polynesia struggles most5
In the bottom third of all countries measured.
- Youth Unemployment Ratebottom 6%
Position · derived 12th of 182 · 1 = worst · 36.57 · 2025
world median 12.83 (worse) · ▼ 5 pts since 2015
- Unemployment Ratebottom 14%
Position · derived 26th of 182 · 1 = worst · 11.66 · 2025
world median 5.084 (worse) · ▼ 8 pts since 2015
- Employment-to-Population Ratiobottom 15%
Position · derived 155th of 182 · 46.26 · 2025
world median 57.72 (worse) · ▼ 9 pts since 2015
- Labour Force Participation Ratebottom 20%
Position · derived 146th of 182 · 52.37 · 2025
world median 61.66 (worse) · ▼ 8 pts since 2015
- ICT Goods Exportsbottom 24%
Position · derived 92nd of 119 · 0.13 · 2024
world median 0.975 (worse) · ▼ 29 pts since 2014
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so French Polynesia can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04Over time
Which way it is moving
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
Gaining ground
Where French Polynesia has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Voice and Accountability+10 pts since 2019
- Livestock Production Index+6 pts since 2012
Losing ground
Where French Polynesia has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Crop Production Index-39 pts since 2012
- Food Production Index-33 pts since 2012
05In context
French Polynesia and its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking, not within the region.
Shares a land border with
French Polynesia has no land border with another country.
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world.
- 64
Samoa - 87
Tonga - —
American Samoanot placed - —
Cook Islandsnot placed - —
French Polynesianot placed - —
Niuenot placed - —
Tuvalunot placed
06The evidence
Every statistic we hold for French Polynesia
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe — select a row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
Governance & Institutions2
Rule of Law38th of 211position · derived1.017Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2024
top 18% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
French Polynesia 1.017 · world median -0.1 (better)
Best in the world 2.021 (Finland)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2019
Voice and Accountability50th of 208position · derived0.877Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2024
top 24% of 208 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
French Polynesia 0.877 · world median -0.02 (better)
Best in the world 1.929 (Norway)
▲ +10 percentile points since 2019
Economy & Innovation8
Agricultural Land183rd of 209position · derived8.662Agricultural land (% of land area)2023
bottom 13% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
French Polynesia 8.662 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
No real change since 2013
Crop Production Index118th of 195position · derived102.19Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)2022
bottom 40% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)
French Polynesia 102.19 · world median 106.23 (worse)
Best in the world 189.93 (Senegal)
▼ -39 percentile points since 2012
Fertilizer Consumption per Hectare66th of 188position · derived130.4Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land)2023
top 34% of 191 countries measured · 191 share 188 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land)
French Polynesia 130.4 · world median 87.36
Highest 2,926 (Malaysia)
▼ -17 percentile points since 2013
Food Production Index114th of 195position · derived102.81Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)2022
bottom 42% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)
French Polynesia 102.81 · world median 106.08 (worse)
Best in the world 177.49 (Senegal)
▼ -33 percentile points since 2012
ICT Goods Exports92nd of 119position · derived0.13ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)2024
bottom 24% of 120 countries measured · 120 share 119 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)
French Polynesia 0.13 · world median 0.975 (worse)
Best in the world 61.45 (Hong Kong)
▼ -29 percentile points since 2014
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index90th of 175rank47.75LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)2026
bottom 47% of 167 countries measured · 167 share 175 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
French Polynesia 47.75 · world median 56.21 (worse)
Best in the world 1,319 (China)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2016
Livestock Production Index111th of 194position · derived104.41Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100)2022
bottom 43% of 194 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100)
French Polynesia 104.41 · world median 107.06 (worse)
Best in the world 190.08 (Malawi)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2012
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)171st of 180position · derived0.004Natural resources rents (% of GDP)2021
bottom 13% of 197 countries measured · 197 share 180 positions
World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)
French Polynesia 0.004 · world median 1.708
Highest 61.03 (Libya)
No real change since 2011
Work & Labour13
Average Weekly Hours Worked131st of 182position · derived35.33Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person2025
bottom 28% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person
French Polynesia 35.33 · world median 38.89
Highest 54.7 (Bhutan)
No real change since 2015
Employment in Agriculture156th of 182position · derived1.918Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)2025
bottom 14% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
French Polynesia 1.918 · world median 14.38
Highest 85.34 (Burundi)
No real change since 2015
Employment in Industry143rd of 182position · derived14.33Employment in industry (% of total employment)2025
bottom 22% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in industry (% of total employment)
French Polynesia 14.33 · world median 18.88
Highest 39.44 (Oman)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Employment in Services11th of 182position · derived83.75Employment in services (% of total employment)2025
top 6% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in services (% of total employment)
French Polynesia 83.75 · world median 59.51
Highest 92.17 (Djibouti)
No real change since 2015
Employment-to-Population Ratio155th of 182position · derived46.26Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)2025
bottom 15% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
French Polynesia 46.26 · world median 57.72 (worse)
Best in the world 86.9 (Qatar)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2015
Female Labour Force Participation Rate132nd of 182position · derived46.63Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%)2025
bottom 28% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
French Polynesia 46.63 · world median 53.36 (worse)
Best in the world 82.91 (Madagascar)
▼ -11 percentile points since 2015
Labour Force Participation Rate146th of 182position · derived52.37Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%)2025
bottom 20% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
French Polynesia 52.37 · world median 61.66 (worse)
Best in the world 87.01 (Qatar)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2015
Labour Productivity per Hour Worked36th of 182position · derived56.9Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP)2025
top 19% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP)
French Polynesia 56.9 · world median 22.16 (better)
Best in the world 164.65 (Ireland)
No real change since 2015
Self-Employment Rate126th of 182position · derived18.2Self-employed (% of total employment)2025
bottom 31% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Self-employed (% of total employment)
French Polynesia 18.2 · world median 31.84
Highest 91.56 (Chad)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2015
Unemployment Rate26th of 182position · derived · 1 = worst11.66Unemployment (% of labour force)2025
bottom 14% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment (% of labour force)
French Polynesia 11.66 · world median 5.084 (worse)
Best in the world 0.13 (Qatar)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2015
Vulnerable Employment126th of 182position · derived · 1 = worst14.78Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)2025
top 31% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
French Polynesia 14.78 · world median 28.67 (better)
Best in the world 0.456 (Qatar)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Youth Unemployment Rate12th of 182position · derived · 1 = worst36.57Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force)2025
bottom 6% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force)
French Polynesia 36.57 · world median 12.83 (worse)
Best in the world 0.457 (Niger)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2015
Health & Wellbeing3
Global Violent Deaths200th of 206position · derived · 1 = worst0.33Violent deaths per 100,000 people2021
top 4% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
French Polynesia 0.33 · world median 4.02 (better)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
No real change since 2011
Life Expectancy at Birth6th of 222position · derived84.07Years a newborn would live at current death rates2023
top 2% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
French Polynesia 84.07 · world median 74.63 (better)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2013
Prevalence of Undernourishment94th of 104position · derived · 1 = worst3.8Population undernourished (%)2023
top 43% of 165 countries measured · 165 share 104 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Population undernourished (%)
French Polynesia 3.8 · world median 5.2 (better)
Best in the world 2.5 (62 countries tied)
No real change since 2013
Development & Human Capital2
Access to Electricitytop 28%100Population with electricity access (%)2024
top 28% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
French Polynesia 100 · world median 100
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2014
Arable Land per Person189th of 206position · derived0.009Arable land (hectares per person)2023
bottom 8% of 206 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Arable land (hectares per person)
French Polynesia 0.009 · world median 0.109
Highest 1.459 (Kazakhstan)
No real change since 2013
Environment & Sustainability3
Forest Area67th of 210position · derived43.06Forest area (% of land area)2023
top 31% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
French Polynesia 43.06 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
Internal Displacements by Disaster146th of 160position · derived · 1 = worst21New displacements by disaster (people)2024
top 9% of 160 countries measured
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) · New displacements by disaster (people)
French Polynesia 21 · world median 4,750 (better)
Best in the world 1 (Serbia)
▲ +23 percentile points since 2017
Renewable Share of Electricity Generation89th of 190position · derived34.72Renewables (% of electricity generated)2024
top 46% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Renewables (% of electricity generated)
French Polynesia 34.72 · world median 31.14 (better)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2014
Peace & Security1
Political Stability and Absence of Violence39th of 211position · derived1.03Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2024
top 18% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
French Polynesia 1.03 · world median 0.04 (better)
Best in the world 1.582 (Liechtenstein)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2019
Not currently covered
The newest edition of these reports does not include French Polynesia. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
- Adjusted Net Savings
- Adult Literacy Rate
- Agricultural Emissions
- Agricultural Irrigated Land
- Agriculture Orientation Index
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2020
- Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff · last seen 2000
- Business Ready: Operational Efficiency
- Business Ready: Public Services
- Business Ready: Regulatory Framework
- Cereal Import Dependency Ratio
- Cereal Yield
- Child Marriage
- Children with Functional Difficulties
- Civic Space Ratings
- Coefficient of Human Inequality
- Completeness of Birth Registration
- Container Port Traffic · last seen 2022
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- Cost of Sending Remittances
- Country Policy and Institutional Assessment
- Deaths in Organized Violence
- Debt Service on External Debt
- Dietary Energy Supply
- Ecological Footprint
- Economic Complexity Index
- Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months
- Expected Years of Schooling
- Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)
- Fatal Occupational Injuries
- Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence
- Female Share of Senior and Middle Management
- Firms with a Female Top Manager
- GDP Growth · last seen 2024
- GDP per Capita (PPP)
- GDP per Person Employed
- Gender Development Index
- Gender Inequality Index
- Gender Social Norms Index
- General Government Consumption · last seen 2024
- Gini Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Global Militarisation Index
- Global Multidimensional Poverty Index
- Global Report on Food Crises
- GNI per Capita (PPP)
- Government AI Readiness Index
- Government Effectiveness
- Government Funding per Primary Student
- Government Spending on Education
- Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Gross Savings (% of GDP) · last seen 2016
- Household Consumption · last seen 2024
- Human Capital Index
- Human Development Index
- Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary
- Income Share Held by Lowest 20%
- Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) · last seen 2020
- Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index
- INFORM Risk Index
- INFORM Severity Index
- Informal Employment Rate
- Land Under Cereal Production
- Livestock Density
- Logistics Performance Index
- Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2020
- Maternal Mortality Ratio
- Mean Years of Schooling
- Net Official Development Assistance Received · last seen 1999
- Open Data Inventory
- Organic Agricultural Area
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary · last seen 1985
- Pesticide Use per Hectare
- Physical Violence Index
- PISA Mathematics Performance
- PISA Reading Performance
- PISA Science Performance
- Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day
- Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
- Primary Completion Rate
- Prosperity Gap
- Public Sector Employment
- Public Sector Wage Bill
- Regulatory Quality
- Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita
- Research and Development Spending
- School Life Expectancy · last seen 1992
- Secondary School Enrolment · last seen 1993
- Social Institutions and Gender Index
- Social Protection Coverage
- Statistical Performance Indicators
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
- Tertiary Enrolment Ratio · last seen 1992
- Trade (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Trade Union Density
- Under-Five Mortality Rate
- Upper Secondary Attainment · last seen 2007
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate
- V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index
- Violent Discipline of Children
- Water Stress
- Water Withdrawal by Sector
- Women, Business and the Law
- Working Poverty Rate
- World Energy Trilemma Index
- World Risk Index
- Youth Literacy Rate
- Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training
07Keep reading
Explore further
More countries
08Method
Sources and how to read them
How to read this page
- The scores and ranks belong to their publishers. Nothing is adjusted, rescaled or re-ranked; each is reproduced from the edition named beside it. Where a row says position · derived, the publisher ranks nobody on that measure and the position is ours, made by ordering the published score.
- Each statistic shows its newest edition, which is not always the edition the Country Index uses: the index pins every source to one data year so its average compares like with like.
How a standing is built from percentiles, why French Polynesia can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
Sources
- Statistics: 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
- Capital, languages, currency, codes: Wikidata, public domain (CC0).
- Map and land borders: Natural Earth, public domain. Borders are de facto — where administration actually changes — not claimed.
Photographs
The photograph of French Polynesia on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). French Polynesia: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/french-polynesia