French Polynesia is composed of 118 islands divided into 5 archipelagoes located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Spread over a surface larger than Europe, these 118 islands barely occupy 4,000 km² of land (less than 1/100 of the surface of France).

Of this surface the atoll of Rangiroa is the largest with a total of 1600 km². The entire island of Tahiti, the next largest at 1000 km², could fit into its huge lagoon.

250 000 yearly visitors, mostly from the U.S., Japan and Europe, are expected during the next decade.

Situation in the Pacific

• Society islands
  • Winward islands : Tahiti, Moorea, Tetiaroa...
  • Leeward islands : Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea
• Tuamotu islands : Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau, Fakarava...
• Marquesas islands : Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva...
• Australs islands : Rapa, Tubuai...
• Gambier islands : Mangareva...