French Polynesia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 109 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 231 times as many people as French Polynesia (65.49 million vs 283,124). South Africa's economy is 64.5 times the size of French Polynesia's ($424.75 billion vs $6.59 billion GDP).
Comparing French Polynesia and South Africa: French Polynesia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (136,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); French Polynesia leads on Radios (128,000) against South Africa (17); French Polynesia leads on Televisions (40,000) against South Africa (6). Across 109 compared metrics, French Polynesia wins on 47 and South Africa wins on 46.
- 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 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 35.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 3.41 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 72.7 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 72.7 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 73% (2017 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 35.55 Mbps★ | 3.41 Mbps | |
| Radios | 128,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 40,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
43 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 40,367★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.62 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.01★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,827.53 mm★ | 652.17 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 | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 4.78 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 5.6 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 0 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 2.36 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 148.92★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 299.93 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 3,471 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,525 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 10 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Divisions | 5 | 9★ | |
| Independence | none (overseas land of France) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 212 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
7 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 90.45 %★ | 68.01 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 22.8★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 84.19 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 84.19 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
27 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 64.2 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 88.52 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.67 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | 755.3 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 76.86 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 283,123.5 persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.7 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | NA | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 10.69 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 5.84 %★ | 6.56 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | NA | 6.6 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 70,445.75 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 35.55 %★ | 3.41 % | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.85 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 119,100★ | 27.77 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 136,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 177.41★ | 166.68 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 15.42 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 64.05 % | 79.63 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 0.02 people/sq km | 0.79 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.63 % | 1.06 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 1.5 % | 23.64 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 954.4 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.46 per woman | 2.17 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | -1,185.3 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 5.68 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.3 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airports | 54 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | about 6 major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 1 | 1 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 782.00M USD | 8.81B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About French Polynesia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, French Polynesia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 231 times as many people as French Polynesia (65.49 million vs 283,124). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, French Polynesia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 64.5 times the size of French Polynesia's ($424.75 billion vs $6.59 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, French Polynesia or South Africa?▾
French Polynesia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $23,265 in French Polynesia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).