The duel
World median is the middle country on each statistic: half of all countries with data are above it, half below. It is not an average, so it is never pulled up or down by giants or microstates.
Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
French Polynesia fits inside the median country 32 times.
French Polynesia: 3,471 km² (2023) · World median: 111,370 km² (2023)
How much coast is there?
French Polynesia’s coastline is 5.7 times as long as the median country’s.
French Polynesia: 2,525 km (2026 edition) · World median: 440 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
The median country’s highest peak towers 94 m above French Polynesia’s.
French Polynesia: 2,241 m (2026 edition) · World median: 2,335 m (2026 edition)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
The median country has 26 times as many people as French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 282,465 (2025) · World median: 7.4 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
The median country is 21% more densely populated than French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 81 per km² (2025) · World median: 98 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
Men in French Polynesia are 4.8 cm taller than in the median country.
French Polynesia: 178.3 cm (2019) · World median: 173.5 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
Women in French Polynesia are 6.0 cm taller than in the median country.
French Polynesia: 166.5 cm (2019) · World median: 160.6 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in French Polynesia is 3.7 years older than in the median country.
French Polynesia: 34.8 years (2023) · World median: 31.1 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in the median country have 0.4 more children on average than in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 1.49 children per woman (2024) · World median: 1.9 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
12% of people in French Polynesia are 65 or older, versus 8.6% in the median country.
French Polynesia: 11.9% (2025) · World median: 8.6% (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 0 (2025)
How many official languages?
French Polynesia and the median country are practically level.
French Polynesia: 1 (2026) · World median: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
The median country’s economy is 7.2 times the size of French Polynesia’s.
French Polynesia: $6.32 billion (2024) · World median: $45.5 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: Int$21,072 (2025)
How evenly is income shared?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 34.4 (2023)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 12% in French Polynesia, versus 5.1% in the median country.
French Polynesia: 11.7% (2025) · World median: 5.1% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 1.7% (2024)
How expensive is it?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 45% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: $470 (2023)
How long do people live?
People in French Polynesia live 9.6 years longer than in the median country.
French Polynesia: 84.2 years (2024) · World median: 74.6 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 12.7 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 1.7 per 1,000 (2022)
How common is obesity?
50% of adults in French Polynesia are obese, versus 24% in the median country.
French Polynesia: 49.5% (2024) · World median: 24% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 19% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 5.83 (2025)
How much do people drink?
Adults in French Polynesia drink 71% more alcohol than in the median country.
French Polynesia: 7.4 litres (2023) · World median: 4.3 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
French Polynesia has 75% more meat per person than the median country.
French Polynesia: 98.5 kg (2023) · World median: 56.2 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
French Polynesia has 107 kcal more food per person per day than the median country.
French Polynesia: 3,045 kcal (2023) · World median: 2,938 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 1,974 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 9.9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
French Polynesia welcomed 2.3 times as many tourists per resident as the median country (2019).
French Polynesia: 0.78 (2022) · World median: 0.34 (2024)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
82% of people in the median country are online, versus 73% in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 73% (2017) · World median: 82% (2024)
Who has electricity at home?
French Polynesia and the median country are practically level.
French Polynesia: 100% (2024) · World median: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
64% of people in the median country live in cities, versus 62% in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 62% (2025) · World median: 64% (2025)
How many phones per person?
French Polynesia has 119 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, the median country 115.
French Polynesia: 119 (2023) · World median: 115 (2024)
How much railway is there?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 2,141 km (2021)
How much do they fly?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 0.24 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 43% of French Polynesia, but only 31% of the median country.
French Polynesia: 43.1% (2023) · World median: 31.2% (2023)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in French Polynesia emits 10% more CO₂ than someone in the median country.
French Polynesia: 3.3 t (2024) · World median: 3 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
35% of French Polynesia’s electricity is renewable, versus 31% in the median country.
French Polynesia: 34.7% (2024) · World median: 30.8% (2024)
How clean is the air?
The air in the median country carries 4.6 times as much fine dust as in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia: 3.6 µg/m³ (2024) · World median: 16.6 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 2.3 per 100k (2023)
How dangerous are the roads?
French Polynesia: no data · World median: 12.3 per 100k (2021)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
French Polynesia is on average 2.6 °C warmer than the median country.
French Polynesia: 25.6°C (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 23°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
French Polynesia gets 70% more rain than the median country.
French Polynesia: 1,719 mm (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 1,014 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Quick answers
Is French Polynesia bigger than the median country?
The median country is larger. French Polynesia fits inside the median country 32 times.
Which has more people, French Polynesia or the median country?
The median country has 26 times as many people as French Polynesia (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, French Polynesia or the median country?
People in French Polynesia live 9.6 years longer than in the median country. Life expectancy at birth is 84.2 years in French Polynesia and 74.6 in the median country.
Are people taller in French Polynesia or the median country?
Men in French Polynesia are 4.8 cm taller than in the median country (NCD-RisC, cohort born 2019).