Population / Demography
The large distances separating each island from one another
makes it difficult for the development of internal relationships.
This geographical disadvantage is strengthened by a demographic
imbalance.
Demographic facts
 The
population of Polynesia evolved slowly until the middle of the 20th
century. Since then, it increased by 3% yearly (see chart below).
People are spread on a surface as large as Europe but with only
3,670 km² of emerged land (ie : a density of 50 persons / km²).
Out of the 118 islands of French Polynesia, 60 are inhabited and
the Society Islands concentrate 85% of the total population.
Consequently, most of the economic activity and business relationships
with the rest of the world (i.e. mostly USA, New Zealand, Japan
and France) is concentrated in this archipelago.
|
Year
|
Inhabitants number
|
|
1946
|
56 000
|
|
1956
|
73 000
|
|
1976
|
135 000
|
|
1988
|
188 000
|
|
1996
|
219 521
|
|
2002
|
238 000
|
Population by archipelagoes :
- Windward Islands : 162.386 persons (74 %)
- Leeward Islands : 26.838 persons (12%)
- Tuamotu & Gambier Islands : 15.370 persons (7 %)
- Marquesas Islands : 8,064 persons (4 %)
- Australs Islands : 6,563 persons (3 %)
The most crowded districts are :
- Faaa (Tahiti) : 25,888 persons
- Papeete (Tahiti) : 25,553 persons
- Punaauia (Tahiti) : 19,524 persons
Those 3 districts totalize alone 69 % of the population of Tahiti
(150,371 persons).
Key data for France and French Polynesia :
| |
Units
|
2000
|
2001
|
| |
|
France
|
F.P.
|
France
|
F.P.
|
| Population |
|
58,9 M
|
231,500
|
59,1 M
|
235,200
|
| Birth rate |
0/00
|
13.2
|
20.3
|
13.1
|
20.1
|
| Death rate |
0/00
|
9.1
|
4.4
|
8.9
|
4.8
|
| Infant death |
0/00
|
4.5
|
7.0
|
4.5
|
7.1
|
| Marriage rate |
0/00
|
5.2
|
4.6
|
5.1
|
3.9
|
|
Life expectancy is 75 years for women and 68 years for men. Men
represent 52% of the population vs. 48% of women. The average Polynesian
population can be classified as young with 43,1 % under 20
years old and only 6% over 60.
Ethnic diversity
The Economical, Social and Cultural Council (CESC) divided the
population in 4 different ethnic groups :
- Maohi community : 65% (Polynesian natives)
- “Demis” community : 16% (issued from a mix marriage
– Euro-Polynesian culture)
- Chinese community : 5% (immigrated during the first
quarter of the 20th century, mostly from the southeast
province of Kwantung – China). They officially acquired the French
citizenship in 1974 thanks to the January 9th, 1973
Law)
- Popa'a community : 12% (98% are French. They are strongly
represented in Administrative organizations (schools, government…)
and the medical sector.
Source :
- Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (www.ispf.pf)
- INSEE
- DOM TOM - Gérard BELORGEY – Geneviève BERTRAND
|
