MigrantoImmigrants in French Polynesia
27.8K foreign-born residents — the #176 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 91% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 22420 |
| New Caledonia | 2237 |
| Algeria | 681 |
| China | 615 |
| USA | 419 |
| Germany | 360 |
| Vanuatu | 210 |
| Italy | 148 |
| Canada | 128 |
| Switzerland | 120 |
| New Zealand | 111 |
| United Kingdom | 84 |
| Spain | 80 |
| Australia | 70 |
| India | 38 |
| Wallis and Futuna | 35 |
| Fiji | 30 |
| Japan | 23 |
| Indonesia | 17 |
By region of origin
Europe is the leading region of origin at 83%
23.2K
2.7K
693
681
547
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia is a primary destination for emigrants from New Caledonia
French Polynesia attracts 44% of all emigrants from New Caledonia, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 10 residents of French Polynesia is foreign-born — 27.8K out of 281.8K, representing 9.9% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 22416 |
| 1995 | 24611 |
| 2000 | 26321 |
| 2005 | 28086 |
| 2010 | 27588 |
| 2015 | 27791 |
| 2020 | 27809 |
| 2024 | 27826 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | France | New Caledonia | Algeria | China | USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17851 | 1745 | 605 | 546 | 372 |
| 1995 | 19606 | 1916 | 664 | 599 | 408 |
| 2000 | 20959 | 2049 | 710 | 641 | 437 |
| 2005 | 22395 | 2232 | 743 | 671 | 457 |
| 2010 | 22012 | 2235 | 717 | 648 | 441 |
| 2015 | 22387 | 2235 | 681 | 615 | 419 |
| 2020 | 22404 | 2236 | 681 | 615 | 419 |
| 2024 | 22420 | 2237 | 681 | 615 | 419 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
French Polynesia as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in French Polynesia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in French Polynesia?
Around 27.8K foreign-born residents live in French Polynesia, making it the #176-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in French Polynesia come from?
Most immigrants in French Polynesia come from France, New Caledonia and Algeria — these three countries account for about 91% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of French Polynesia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 10% of the population of French Polynesia — that's 27.8K out of a total population of 281.8K.
How has immigration to French Polynesia changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in French Polynesia has changed from 27.8K to 27.8K people, a change of about 0%.
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