French Polynesia

Summary

Official Name

Overseas Lands of French Polynesia

Population

278,000

Principal Languages

French, Tahitian

Literacy Rate

98% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)

General References

Besnier 1992, Wurm 2007, Wurm and Hattori 1981

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for French Polynesia is 9. All are living languages. Of these, 7 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional and 7 are in trouble.

Languages

Austral aut: Austral Islands. Users: 5,000, all users. L1 users: 3,000 (2007 census). L2 users: 2,000. Ethnic population: 6,720 (2017 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Reo Tuhaa Pae, Tubuai-Rurutu Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Chinese, Hakka hak: Windward Islands. Users: 1,100 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 100 in French Polynesia (2015 census). L2 users: 1,000 (2015). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
French fra: Users: 278,600 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 55,600 in French Polynesia (2018). L2 users: 223,000 (2018). 35,000 monolinguals. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Mangareva mrv: Tuamotu and Gambier Islands: Mangareva island, Rikitea town. Users: 600 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 1,590 (2017 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Alternate Names: Mangarevan Autonym: Reo Magareva Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Marquesic
Marquesan, North mrq: Marquesas Islands: Eiao, Hatutu, Matu One, Motuiti, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, and Ua Pou islands. Users: 5,390 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 6,100 (2017 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Autonym: ’Eo ’Enana Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Marquesic
Marquesan, South mqm: Marquesas Islands: Fatu Hiva, Fatu Huka, Hiva Oa, Mohotani, and Tahuta islands. Users: 2,700 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 3,700 (2017 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Autonym: ’Eo ’Enata Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Marquesic
Rapa ray: Austral Islands: Rapa (Rapa Iti) island, ’Area, Ha’urei villages. Users: 300 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 515 (2012 census). Populations for Rapa island; many more on other islands, especially Tahiti. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Rapan Autonym: Reo Rapa Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central
Tahitian tah: Leeward Islands and Windward Islands; some islands in Tuamotu and Gambier Islands including the Mihiroa group. Users: 63,000 in French Polynesia (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 68,610. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Autonym: Reo Tahiti Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Tuamotuan pmt: Windward Islands: Tahiti; Tuamotu and Gambier Islands: Tuamotu. Users: 4,000 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 16,000 (2017 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). Alternate Names: Paumotu Autonym: Pa’umotu Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Tahitian

[tah] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 63,000 in French Polynesia (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 68,610.

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 278,600 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 55,600 in French Polynesia (2018). L2 users: 223,000 (2018). 35,000 monolinguals.

6b (Threatened)

Tuamotuan

[pmt] 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 4,000 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 16,000 (2017 census).

7 (Shifting)

Austral

[aut] 7 (Shifting). 5,000, all users. L1 users: 3,000 (2007 census). L2 users: 2,000. Ethnic population: 6,720 (2017 census).

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] 7 (Shifting). 1,100 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 100 in French Polynesia (2015 census). L2 users: 1,000 (2015).

Marquesan, South

[mqm] 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 2,700 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 3,700 (2017 census).

Marquesan, North

[mrq] 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 5,390 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 6,100 (2017 census).

Mangareva

[mrv] 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 600 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 1,590 (2017 census).

Rapa

[ray] 7 (Shifting). 300 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 515 (2012 census). Populations for Rapa island; many more on other islands, especially Tahiti.