French Polynesia
, an overseas territory of France in the South Pacific. It is also called French Oceania. The principal island groups included are the Gambier, Marquesas, Society, Tubuai, and Tuamotu islands. French Polynesia is spread over an area of 2,350,000 square miles (6,086,000 km2) of ocean, but the total land area is only about 1,500 square miles (4,000 km2). Papeete on Tahiti in the Society Islands is the capital. The islands of French Polynesia were acquired during the 19th century. They were placed under a single administration in 1903 and made an overseas territory in 1946. The population in 1988 was 188,814.