Located in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. It includes the Islands of the Society (the largest of them is the island of Tahiti), as well as the islands of Tuamotu, Gambier, Tubuai, Marquesas, etc. The total area is 4 thousand sq. km. Population - 137 thousand (1977), mainly Polynesians, as well as French and Chinese. The administrative center is Papeete (on the island of Tahiti). The official language is French. The first of the islands included in French Polynesia were the Marquesas Islands (in 1595 by the Spaniard A. Mendanya). An important contribution to the discovery and exploration of a number of islands in French Polynesia was made by the Russian navigators I. F. Kruzenshtern, O. E. Kotsebue, M. P. Lazarev. In the 40s. XIX century. the main part of this group of islands was captured by France and established her control over them. Since 1958, Polynesia has had the status of an overseas territory of France. Managed by the High Commissioner. The governing bodies are the Territorial Assembly and the Government Council, elected by the assembly. The territory is represented in the French parliament by 2 members of the National Assembly and 1 senator. Political parties: Unification for the Polynesian Republic, Unification Front Party, Unification of Liberals, Socialist Party, United Polynesian Party. Until the early 60s. the economy was based on agriculture, fishing and the extraction of mother-of-pearl shells and pearls. Copra and vanilla exports were the main source of income for the population. However, subsequently, in connection with the creation of a nuclear missile testing center in Polynesia (on the island of Mururoa), the bulk of the population was involved in the maintenance of this center.
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