French Polynesia is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean that covers a total area of 137 sq km. The country’s population is around 267,000 people and its capital is Papeete. The official languages are French and Tahitian. The currency is the French franc. French Polynesia gained full independence from France in 1960, while the islands remain part of the French Republic. The archipelago is a member of the United Nations and UNESCO.