The duel
Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
French Polynesia fits inside New Zealand 76 times
French Polynesia: 3,521 km² (2024) · New Zealand: 267,710 km² (2024)
How much coast is there?
New Zealand’s coastline is 6 times as long as French Polynesia’s
French Polynesia: 2,525 km (2026 edition) · New Zealand: 15,134 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
French Polynesia’s highest peak towers 2,211 m above New Zealand’s
French Polynesia: 2,241 m (2026 edition) · New Zealand: 30 m (2026 edition)
How much of the land is farmed?
Farmland covers 37% of New Zealand, versus 8.1% of French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 8.1% (2024) · New Zealand: 36.8% (2024)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
New Zealand has 19 times as many people as French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 282,465 (2025) · New Zealand: 5.32 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
French Polynesia is 4 times as densely populated as New Zealand
French Polynesia: 80 per km² (2025) · New Zealand: 20 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
French Polynesia and New Zealand are practically level
French Polynesia: 178.3 cm (2019) · New Zealand: 177.7 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
Women in French Polynesia are 1.9 cm taller than in New Zealand
French Polynesia: 166.5 cm (2019) · New Zealand: 164.7 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in New Zealand is 2.5 years older than in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 34.8 years (2023) · New Zealand: 37.3 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in New Zealand have 0.1 more children on average than in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 1.49 children per woman (2024) · New Zealand: 1.57 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
18% of people in New Zealand are 65 or older, versus 12% in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 11.9% (2025) · New Zealand: 17.6% (2025)
How many refugees does it host?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 0.4 per 1,000 (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 5.6 (2026)
How many official languages?
New Zealand has 3 official languages, French Polynesia 1
French Polynesia: 1 (2026) · New Zealand: 3 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
New Zealand’s economy is 42 times the size of French Polynesia’s
French Polynesia: $6.32 billion (2024) · New Zealand: $264 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: Int$57,350 (2025)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 12% in French Polynesia, versus 5.1% in New Zealand
French Polynesia: 11.7% (2025) · New Zealand: 5.1% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 1.1% (2025)
How much does the central government collect in tax?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 29.5% (2024)
How expensive is it?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 86% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: $5,022 (2024)
How long do people live?
People in French Polynesia live 2.2 years longer than in New Zealand
French Polynesia: 84.2 years (2024) · New Zealand: 82 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 4 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 3.6 per 1,000 (2022)
How many hospital beds are there?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 2.5 per 1,000 (2023)
How common is suicide?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 13 per 100k (2023)
How common is obesity?
50% of adults in French Polynesia are obese, versus 35% in New Zealand
French Polynesia: 49.5% (2024) · New Zealand: 34.7% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 9.3% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 7.00 (2025)
How much do people drink?
Adults in New Zealand drink 20% more alcohol than in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 7.4 litres (2023) · New Zealand: 8.9 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
French Polynesia has 24% more meat per person than New Zealand
French Polynesia: 98.5 kg (2023) · New Zealand: 79.5 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
New Zealand has 77 kcal more food per person per day than French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 3,045 kcal (2023) · New Zealand: 3,122 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 1,708 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 12.9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
French Polynesia welcomed 30% more tourists per resident than New Zealand (2019)
French Polynesia: 0.78 (2022) · New Zealand: 0.6 (2024)
How many World Heritage sites?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 3 (2026)
How many Olympic medals has it won?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 166 (2026 edition)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
94% of people in New Zealand are online, versus 73% in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 73% (2017) · New Zealand: 94% (2024)
How fast is home internet?
Home internet in New Zealand is 2.7 times as fast as in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 101 Mbps (2026) · New Zealand: 272 Mbps (2026)
Who has electricity at home?
French Polynesia and New Zealand are practically level
French Polynesia: 100% (2024) · New Zealand: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
84% of people in New Zealand live in cities, versus 62% in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 62% (2025) · New Zealand: 84% (2025)
How many phones per person?
New Zealand has 130 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, French Polynesia 119
French Polynesia: 119 (2023) · New Zealand: 130 (2024)
How much railway is there?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 4,128 km (2018)
How much do they fly?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 2.82 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 42% of French Polynesia, but only 39% of New Zealand
French Polynesia: 42.4% (2024) · New Zealand: 38.9% (2024)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in New Zealand emits 90% more CO₂ than someone in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 3.3 t (2024) · New Zealand: 6.2 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
89% of New Zealand’s electricity is renewable, versus 35% in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 34.7% (2024) · New Zealand: 88.5% (2025)
How clean is the air?
The air in New Zealand carries 94% more fine dust than in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: 3.6 µg/m³ (2024) · New Zealand: 7 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 1.5 per 100k (2022)
How dangerous are the roads?
French Polynesia: no data · New Zealand: 10.9 per 100k (2023)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
French Polynesia is on average 14.5 °C warmer than New Zealand
French Polynesia: 25.6°C (2016–2025 avg) · New Zealand: 11.1°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
French Polynesia gets 8% more rain than New Zealand
French Polynesia: 1,719 mm (2016–2025 avg) · New Zealand: 1,596 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Between them
People, goods and passports that cross from one to the other
Quick answers
Is French Polynesia bigger than New Zealand?
New Zealand is larger. French Polynesia fits inside New Zealand 76 times.
Which has more people, French Polynesia or New Zealand?
New Zealand has 19 times as many people as French Polynesia (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, French Polynesia or New Zealand?
People in French Polynesia live 2.2 years longer than in New Zealand. Life expectancy at birth is 84.2 years in French Polynesia and 82.0 in New Zealand.
Are people taller in French Polynesia or New Zealand?
French Polynesia and New Zealand are practically level (NCD-RisC, cohort born 2019).