French Polynesia Rate of Natural Increase

The rate of natural increase (RNI) in French Polynesia, which measures the difference between birth and death rates, has been moderate in recent years. As of the early 2020s, French Polynesia’s RNI hovers around 0.8% per year, reflecting a gradually declining birth rate and relatively stable death rate. When compared to neighboring Pacific island countries, such as Samoa and Tonga, French Polynesia’s RNI is somewhat lower—Samoa and Tonga both report RNIs closer to 1.2%–1.5%, driven by higher fertility rates and younger populations. In contrast, nearby developed territories like New Caledonia or even Australia have even lower RNIs, in some cases approaching zero or negative growth, due to aging populations and lower birth rates. Thus, French Polynesia’s RNI situates it between the higher-growth Pacific island nations and the slower-growing, more developed regions in Oceania.

Data from US Census International Database