Discover
The identity of the nation
French Polynesia is an archipelago of 118 islands in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, home to a Polynesian people with a long seafaring tradition and a strong cultural identity. A former colony and now an overseas territory of France, the territory combines a landscape known the world over with a history marked by colonization, nuclear testing, and the pursuit of self-determination.
The Christian faith arrived at the end of the eighteenth century with the first Protestant missionaries and spread rapidly after Tahiti’s royal family converted in the early nineteenth century. Today, the vast majority of the population identifies as Christian, split mainly between the Maohi Protestant Church (the territory’s largest denomination) and the Catholic Church, alongside smaller communities from other Christian traditions.
Despite this broad Christian presence, the challenge is not the first proclamation of the gospel but its depth. Ancient beliefs, such as the fear of the tupapau (the spirits of the dead), coexist with the Christian faith, and for many, being Christian is more a family inheritance than a personal conviction. The distance between the five archipelagos also makes consistent pastoral care difficult, especially on the more remote islands.
The territory still carries deep wounds: decades of French nuclear testing left marks on the health and trust of the people, and the luxury tourism economy exists side by side with pockets of poverty and inequality. Among young people, lack of prospects and isolation have led to silent suffering, reflected in alarming rates of suicide attempts.
Even so, French Polynesia carries unique potential: a welcoming people with a strong musical and communal identity, and an already established church that can mature in depth of discipleship and become a bridge of hope to other islands of the Pacific.
- Before the arrival of Europeans, Polynesian navigators had already been settling the islands for over a thousand years, guiding themselves by the stars and ocean currents.
- 1767 First recorded European contact, with the arrival of British navigators in Tahiti.
- 1797 Arrival of the first Protestant missionaries, marking the start of decades of evangelization work on the islands.
- 1815 Tahiti's royal court converts to Christianity, sparking a mass conversion movement.
- 1842 The islands become a French protectorate.
- 1880 The territory becomes a French colony.
- 1946 French Polynesia becomes an overseas territory of France, and its inhabitants become French citizens.
- 1966-1996 France conducts nearly 200 nuclear tests on the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, leaving deep marks on the health and memory of the people.
- 1984 The territory gains an expanded internal autonomy status.
- Today An autonomous collectivity of France, with active debate over self-determination and a Christian faith deeply tied to cultural identity.
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Frenchofficial language, used daily by about three quarters of the population
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Tahitian (reo tahiti)native Polynesian language, co-official, spoken by about 1 in 5 inhabitants
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Marquesanspoken in the Marquesas Islands, in the north of the territory
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Paumotulanguage of the Tuamotu archipelago, a long chain of coral atolls
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Mangarevan and Rapalanguages of the Gambier and Austral islands, spoken by small communities
French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands scattered across an area of the Pacific Ocean the size of Europe, gathered into five very different archipelagos: the Society Islands (home to Tahiti), the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, the Gambiers, and the Australs. There are two main types of island: volcanic ones, high and green, surrounded by coral reefs, and atolls, low rings of coral around a turquoise lagoon. The distance between the archipelagos is enormous, which makes each island group almost a world of its own, with its own dialect, customs, and pace of life.
Major cities
- PapeeteCapital, on the island of Tahiti, the territory's administrative, commercial, and port center
- FaʻaʻāMost populous city, next to Papeete, home to the international airport
- PunaauiaGrowing residential and commercial area on Tahiti's coast
- Bora BoraIsland symbolizing luxury tourism, with a world-famous lagoon
- UturoaMain city of Raiatea, considered the spiritual birthplace of Polynesian culture
- TaiohaeMain town of the Marquesas Islands, isolated and with a strong identity of its own
Climate and temperature
Poisson cru
Raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk, the most traditional dish of the islands.
Breadfruit (uru)
Baked or boiled fruit, a staple of traditional Polynesian cuisine.
Ma'a Tahiti
Traditional Sunday meal, cooked in an underground oven of heated stones (the ahima'a).
Taro
Boiled root, one of the oldest staple foods in local cuisine.
Coconut
Present in almost every dish, from milk to cream, and also in beverages.
Freshwater shrimp (chevrette)
Farmed locally, served grilled or in coconut sauce.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Hospitality and welcome
Warmly receiving visitors is a deep value of Polynesian culture.
Extended family
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins actively take part in raising children, within broad family networks.
The pastor's role in the community
On many islands, the church pastor carries moral and social weight equal to that of the local chief.
Dance and song as expressions of faith
Ori tahiti (Tahitian dance) and church choirs are part of the same cultural fabric.
Tattooing (tatau) as living memory
Traditional tattooing records genealogy, achievements, and belonging, a practice proudly revived today.
Relationship with sea and land
Life revolves around fishing, the lagoon, and ancestral land, seen as sacred inheritance.
- Treating Polynesian culture as exotic or postcard-like It reduces a real people, with their own faith and history, to a tourist image.
- Ignoring the role of the local church The church is the center of community life, and bypassing it makes any genuine connection harder.
- Disrespecting sacred sites, such as the ancient marae (open-air stone temples) They still carry historical, and for many, spiritual weight.
- Imposing a European pace or rushing relationships Trust on the islands is built gradually, at people's own pace.
- Mocking traditional beliefs that are still present, such as the fear of the tupapau (spirits of the dead) They deserve to be understood with respect, not ridiculed.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Ancient beliefs, such as the fear of the tupapau (spirits of the dead), mix with inherited Christian faith.
Excessive alcohol consumption weakens families and is linked to much of the domestic violence on the islands.
Many young people face hopelessness and isolation, with alarming rates of attempts.
The luxury tourism economy exposes the contrast between visible wealth and the real poverty of the local population.
Decades of French nuclear testing left marks of pain, distrust, and health problems.
Many call themselves Christian out of family tradition, without a personal faith lived out day to day.
The distance between islands makes pastoral care and the training of new leaders difficult.
Many leave the islands in search of education and work in mainland France, emptying communities.
Rivalry between churches, instead of unity, weakens the Christian witness.
A lifestyle geared toward partying and image exalts immediate pleasure over a greater purpose.
In French Polynesia, religious freedom is broad and protected by law, following the same legal framework as France. Christians live out their faith without fear of official persecution, and the church’s presence is so strong that public meetings and events often open with a prayer.
The greatest challenge does not come from outside but from within: the Christian faith, received more than two hundred years ago, has often become more a family tradition than a personal conviction. Ancient beliefs, such as the fear of the tupapau (the spirits of the dead), remain present alongside the Christian faith, and the line between the two is not always clear.
Geographic isolation between the archipelagos also makes pastoral care and the training of new leaders difficult, especially on the more distant islands, such as the Marquesas and the Australs. At the same time, the exodus of young people to mainland France in search of education and work is emptying churches and entire communities.
Despite the absence of persecution, the Polynesian people carry deep wounds, inherited from decades of French nuclear testing and social changes accelerated by tourism. In this context, the church is called to go beyond inherited tradition and proclaim a living faith, able to bring healing, identity, and hope to an entire generation in search of meaning.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
French Polynesia is home to 12 ethnic groups, mainly native Polynesian peoples (Tahitians, Marquesans, and the peoples of the Tuamotus, Gambiers, and Australs), along with Chinese and European communities established for generations. Unlike most of the world, none of these groups is considered unreached by the gospel: the Christian faith, present since the early nineteenth century, has reached nearly the entire population. The challenge today is not first contact with the gospel, but deepening the faith, discipleship, and pastoral care across communities scattered over a vast ocean.
- 0 Unreached 0,0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0,0%
- 16K Superficially reached 5,9%
- 210K Partially reached 77,5%
- 45K Significantly reached 16,6%
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 1 Superficially reached 8,3%
- 4 Partially reached 33,3%
- 7 Significantly reached 58,3%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
one of the most expensive territories in the Pacific, due to distance and imports
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn a few words in Tahitian: even though French is dominant, this gesture shows respect and opens doors.
- Dress lightly and modestly, avoiding beachwear outside the beach or pool.
- Respect the local pace, slower and more relational than the European one.
- Consider the great distances between islands: boat or plane trips between archipelagos can take hours or days.
- Accept invitations to church services and gatherings: they are a real way into the community.
- Be mindful of sun and sea exposure: the tropical climate calls for extra care with health.
- Bring cash for the more remote islands, since cards are not always accepted outside Papeete.
- Greet elders and local leaders with respect: hierarchy and courtesy carry weight in these communities.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.