French Polynesia vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 109 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Malaysia has 129 times as many people as French Polynesia (36.4 million vs 283,124). Malaysia's economy is 70.8 times the size of French Polynesia's ($466.53 billion vs $6.59 billion GDP).
Comparing French Polynesia and Malaysia: French Polynesia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (136,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); French Polynesia leads on Radios (128,000) against Malaysia (10.90); French Polynesia leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (253,000) against Malaysia (33). Across 109 compared metrics, French Polynesia wins on 32 and Malaysia wins on 63.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 43 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 7 metrics compared
- People and Society: 27 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 35.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 13.03 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 72.7 % | 80.14 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 72.7 % | 80.14 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 73% (2017 est.) | percent of population: 98% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 35.55 Mbps★ | 13.03 Mbps | |
| Radios | 128,000★ | 10.9 | |
| Televisions | 40,000★ | 10.8 | |
| Waterways | none | 7,296 |
Economy
43 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 40,367★ | 13.93M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 %★ | -60,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.62 °C | 25.87 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.01★ | 260.01 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,827.53 mm | 3,150.09 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island, Tahiti, with approximately 70% of the nation's population | a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 4.78 sq km | 13.3 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 5.6 % | 13.3 %★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 0 species★ | 80 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 2.36 % | 4.11 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 148.92 | 209.87★ | |
| Agricultural land | 299.93 sq. km | 85,710 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 3,471 | 328,550★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,525 km | 4,675 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 10 | 4,420★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Divisions | 5 | 13★ | |
| Independence | none (overseas land of France) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 212 per 100,000 | 206 per 100,000★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
7 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 90.45 % | 94.7 %★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 22.8★ | 21.1 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 84.19 years★ | 76.82 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 84.19 years★ | 76.82 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 92,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 14.1 |
People and Society
27 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airports | 54 | 100★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | about 6 major transport aircraft | 53 | |
| Heliports | 1 | 4★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 782.00M USD | 19.68B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About French Polynesia vs Malaysia
Which has a larger population, French Polynesia or Malaysia?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia has 129 times as many people as French Polynesia (36.4 million vs 283,124). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, French Polynesia or Malaysia?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 70.8 times the size of French Polynesia's ($466.53 billion vs $6.59 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, French Polynesia or Malaysia?▾
French Polynesia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $23,265 in French Polynesia vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).