French Polynesia

Summary

Official Name: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
Sovereignty Status: Self-governing overseas collectivity of France
Population: 281,000
General Remarks: Includes Marquesas Islands, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Tahiti and Society Islands
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: 278,200 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 56,200 in French Polynesia (2020). L2 users: 222,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). 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)

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57). 278,200 in French Polynesia, all users. L1 users: 56,200 in French Polynesia (2020). L2 users: 222,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). 35,000 monolinguals.

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.

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).

Mangareva

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

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).

Rapa

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

Maps

French Polynesia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in French Polynesia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for French Polynesia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in French Polynesia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for French Polynesia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for French Polynesia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

View Terms
Each Ethnologue country digest is a licensed product with restricted terms of use. Before downloading the product, you must agree to the following terms:
- This is a license for individual use. Just as with a conventionally published book, it is a violation of copyright to make a copy and give it to others.
- You may not redistribute this work in any form, including ingesting the contents into a database that is shared with others or posting it on a web site (whether public or private).
To inquire about permission for reuse or redistribution, please use the Contact Us form in the footer.
I agree to the digest terms of use.
Digest of the languages of French Polynesia ($149.95, 20 page PDF)

French Polynesia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps