The overseas community of France, which has expanded rights in comparison with the rest of departments. Of all five overseas communities, only French Polynesia has a special status of "overseas country”. It includes approximately 130 Pacific islands, which are part of five archipelagoes: Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Tubuai, and the Gambier Islands. It was established in 1903 as an association of French colonies in this part of the globe. During 1977-2003, it was gradually transformed into an autonomy with fairly broad powers. GRP per capita in French Polynesia is almost half of France’s average. At the same time, French annual subsidies account for about 20% of French Polynesia's GRP.
Polynesians comprise 78% of the autonomy population, another 6% are Franco-Polynesian mestizos, 12% - Chinese and only 4% - the French proper. The main languages are French and Tahitian, but only French has an official status. The issue of granting independence to the province remains the subject of disagreement and the main cleavage between the various political parties of French Polynesia.