| OVERVIEW |
| Background |
The French
annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century.
In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by
resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year
moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. |
| Natural
resources |
timber, fish, cobalt,
hydropower |
| Land
use |
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.01%
other: 92.35% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
262,125 (July 2003 est.)
|
| Ethnic
groups |
Polynesian 78%, Chinese
12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% |
| Religions |
Protestant 54%, Roman
Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% |
| Languages |
French (official), Tahitian
(official) |
| Literacy |
definition: age 14 and
over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.) |
| Capital |
Papeete |
| Government
type |
NA |
| Independence |
none (overseas territory
of France) |
| National
holiday |
Bastille Day, 14 July
(1789) |
