Mining by country

Mining in French Polynesia

Mining in French Polynesia: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 0% of merchandise exports (2024). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals0%of merchandise exports, 2024.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+0.65above 72% of countries
  • Political stability+0.58above 65% of countries
  • Control of corruption-0.20above 50% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

History of mining in French Polynesia

What the ground holds. phosphate Source: Australian National University

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Oceania

AustraliaPapua New GuineaNew ZealandNew CaledoniaNauruPalauSolomon IslandsCook IslandsFijiKiribati

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from French Polynesia and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.