Administrative divisions of French Polynesia

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In French Polynesia, there are two levels of administrative divisions: five administrative subdivisions (French: subdivisions administratives) and 48 communes.[1][2] Many of the communes are further subdivided into communes associées.[2] The breakdown into administrative subdivisions was as a result of the law #71-1028, dated December 24, 1971.[3] The compositions of the administrative subdivisions and the communes were defined in the decrees #72-408 and #72-407 of May 17, 1972, respectively.[4][5] These subdivisions were confirmed in the decree #2005-1611 of December 20, 2005.[6] Below are several lists of the divisions, according to different sorting schemes.

List of division level types[edit]

The 5 administrative subdivisions and 48 communes of French Polynesia.

Administrative subdivisions[edit]

Name French name Official French name[6] Notes Administrative seat[6] Area (km2)[7] Population (2017)[8]
Windward Islands Îles du Vent la subdivision administrative des îles du Vent part of the Society Islands Papeete 1,194.1 207,333
Leeward Islands Îles Sous-le-Vent la subdivision administrative des îles Sous-le-Vent part of the Society Islands Uturoa 403.5 35,393
Marquesas Islands Îles Marquises la subdivision administrative des îles Marquises a northeastern Polynesian outlier Nuku-Hiva 1,049.3 9,346
Austral Islands Îles Australes la subdivision administrative des îles Australes includes the Bass Islands Tubuai 147.8 6,965
Tuamotu-Gambier Îles Tuamotu-Gambier la subdivision administrative des îles Tuamotu-Gambier Papeete 726.5 16,881
French Polynesia Papeete 3,521.2 275,918

Communes[edit]

Name Subdivision[6] INSEE code[1] Administrative seat[5] Area (km2)[7] Population (2017)[8]
Fatu-Hiva Marquesas Islands 98718 Omo'a 85.0 612
Hiva-Oa Marquesas Islands 98723 Atuona 326.5 2,243
Nuku-Hiva Marquesas Islands 98731 Taiohae 387.8 2,951
Tahuata Marquesas Islands 98746 Vaitahu 61.0 653
Ua-Huka Marquesas Islands 98756 Hane 83.4 674
Ua-Pou Marquesas Islands 98757 Hakahau 105.6 2,213
Anaa Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98711 Tuuhora 55.7 811
Arutua Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98713 Rautini 46.0 1,664
Fakarava Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98716 Rotoava 110.0 1,637
Fangatau Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98717 Teana 14.3 296
Gambier Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98719 Rikitea 46.0 1,535
Hao Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98720 Otepa 65.0 1,258
Hikueru Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98721 Tupapati 15.2 275
Makemo Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98726 Pouheva 93.0 1,508
Manihi Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98727 Paeua 25.2 1,141
Napuka Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98730 Tepuka-Maruia 12.1 284
Nukutavake Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98732 Tavava 12.3 295
Puka-Puka Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98737 Teone-Mahina 8.0 163
Rangiroa Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98740 Tiputa 144.5 3,657
Reao Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98742 Rapuarava 18.0 587
Takaroa Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98749 Te Havaroa 35.0 1,175
Tatakoto Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98751 Tumukuru 7.3 259
Tureia Îles Tuamotu-Gambier 98755 Hakamaru 19.2 336
Raivavae Austral Islands 98739 Rairua 20.4 903
Rapa Austral Islands 98741 Ahurei 40.6 507
Rimatara Austral Islands 98743 Amaru 9.1 872
Rurutu Austral Islands 98744 Moerai 32.8 2,466
Tubuai Austral Islands 98753 Mataura 45.0 2,217
Bora-Bora Leeward Islands 98714 Vaitape 40.3 10,549
Huahine Leeward Islands 98724 Fare 74.8 6,075
Maupiti Leeward Islands 98728 Maupiti 11.4 1,286
Tahaa Leeward Islands 98745 Patio 90.2 5,234
Taputapuatea Leeward Islands 98750 Taputapuatea 88.5 4,792
Tumaraa Leeward Islands 98754 Tumaraa 63.2 3,721
Uturoa Leeward Islands 98758 Uturoa 35.1 3,736
Arue Windward Islands 98712 Arue 20.5 10,243
Faaa Windward Islands 98715 Faaa 34.2 29,506
Hitiaa O Te Ra Windward Islands 98722 Tiarei 218.2 10,033
Mahina Windward Islands 98725 Mahina 51.6 14,763
Moorea-Maiao Windward Islands 98729 Afareaitu 141.8 17,816
Paea Windward Islands 98733 Paea 64.5 13,021
Papara Windward Islands 98734 Papara 92.5 11,680
Papeete Windward Islands 98735 Papeete 17.4 26,926
Pirae Windward Islands 98736 Pirae 35.4 14,209
Punaauia Windward Islands 98738 Punaauia 75.9 28,103
Taiarapu-Est Windward Islands 98747 Afaahiti 218.3 12,701
Taiarapu-Ouest Windward Islands 98748 Vairao 104.3 8,078
Teva I Uta Windward Islands 98752 Mataiea 119.5 10,254
French Polynesia Papeete 3521.2 275,918

Notes[edit]

For French administrative convenience, Clipperton Island had been attached to French Polynesia until February 20, 2007, but never formed part of any administrative subdivision or commune of French Polynesia. On February 21, 2007, Clipperton Island was transferred from the High Commissioner of the republic in French Polynesia to the Minister of Overseas France.[9] [10] [11]

Area statistics[edit]

The communes of French Polynesia have the following statistical info: The average size of French Polynesian communes is 78.06 km2, while the median area is 55.4 km2, higher than the average and median areas of metropolitan French communes (14.88 km2 and 10.73 km2, respectively), but the size of these communes is predominantly dependent on the land area of the islands they occupy.

Population statistics[edit]

The communes of French Polynesia have the following statistical info: The average commune population is 5,725, while the median is 2,268, much higher than the average and median metropolitan French commune (1,542 and 380, respectively).

Sources :

  • https://web.archive.org/web/20060424072420/http://www.polynesie-francaise.gouv.fr/
  • Schmiff, Robert C. (Feb 1962). "Urbanization in French Polynesia". Land Economics. 1. 38: 71–75. doi:10.2307/3144728. JSTOR 3144728.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Sources[edit]