Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are handicrafts, public works projects, aquaculture, pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.
$5.65 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$5.674 billion (2005 est.)
$5.525 billion (2004 est.)
-0.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 200
2.7% (2005)
$22,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$18,000 (2004 est.)
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 20%
services: 76.9% (2006)
19.7% (2009)
1.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 28
1.1% (2006 est.)
116,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 181
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2002)
11.7% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121 11.7% (2005)
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
NA%
