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 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.
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283,019 (july 2008 est.)
Oceania, archipelagoes in the south pacific ocean about half way between south america and australia
Total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km
Slightly less than one-third the size of connecticut
Conventional long form: overseas lands of french polynesia conventional short form: french polynesia local long form: pays d'outre-mer de la polynesie francaise local short form: polynesie francaise former: french colony of oceania
Name: papeete geographic coordinates: 17 32 s, 149 34 w time difference: utc-10 (5 hours behind washington, dc during standard time)
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