In French Polynesia, there are two levels of administrative divisions: five administrative subdivisions () and 48 communes.Codification des collectivités d'outre-mer (COM), INSEE, 1 March 2017Loi n° 2004-193 du 27 février 2004 complétant le statut d'autonomie de la Polynésie française (1), Légifrance Many of the communes are further subdivided into communes associées. The breakdown into administrative subdivisions was as a result of the law #71-1028, dated December 24, 1971.Loi n°71-1028 du 24 décembre 1971 relative à la création at à l'organisation des communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance The compositions of the administrative subdivisions and the communes were defined in the decrees #72-408 and #72-407 of May 17, 1972, respectively.Décret n°72-408 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de subdivisions administratives dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, LégifranceDécret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance These subdivisions were confirmed in the decree #2005-1611 of December 20, 2005.Décret n° 2005-1611 du 20 décembre 2005 pris pour l'application du statut d'autonomie de la Polynésie française, Légifrance Below are several lists of the divisions, according to different sorting schemes.
List of division level types
Administrative subdivisions Name French name Official French name Notes Administrative seat Area (km2) Population (2017)Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017 , Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française 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 Name Subdivision INSEE code Administrative seat Area (km2) Population (2017) 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 Faʻaʻā Windward Islands 98715 Faʻaʻā 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 Pīraʻe Windward Islands 98736 Pirae 35.4 14,209 Punaʻauia 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 For French administrative convenience, Clipperton Island had been attached to French Polynesia until 20 February 2007, but never formed part of any administrative subdivision or commune of French Polynesia. On 21 February 2007, Clipperton Island was transferred from the High Commissioner of the republic in French Polynesia to the Minister of Overseas France.
Tahiti is one of the Windward Islands and is the largest island in French Polynesia. It comprises 12 communes: Arue, Faʻaʻā, Hitiaʻa O Te Ra, Mahina, Paea, Papeete, Papara, Pirae, Punaauia, Taiarapu-Est, Taiarapu-Ouest, and Teva I Uta.
Raʻiātea is one of the Leeward islands and is second largest of the Society Islands. It comprises three communes: Uturoa, Taputapuatea, and Tumaraa.
Huahine: Divided into communes for Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.
Area statistics 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 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/
See also Administrative divisions of France Lists of communes of France French Polynesia
References
Sources official government website archived