Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia

French Polynesia: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 21.8% in 2012. ▲ Rising

Latest (2012)
21.8%
World rank
5th
of 185 countries
All-time high
21.8%
in 2012
All-time low
9.7%
in 1988
Years of data
5
1988–2012

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia, 1988–2012

051015201988200020121988: 9.7 %1996: 14.4 %2002: 11.7 %2007: 11.7 %2012: 21.8 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia is 21.8%, measured in 2012. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 86.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia peaked at 21.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 1988.

That places French Polynesia 5th out of 185 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 9.7% 9.7% 9.7% 1
1990s 14.4% 14.4% 14.4% 1
2000s 11.7% 11.7% 11.7% 2
2010s 21.8% 21.8% 21.8% 1

Countries ranked near French Polynesia

  1. 2 South Africa 32.3% compare
  2. 3 Palestine 28.7% compare
  3. 4 Botswana 24.4% compare
  4. 6 Namibia 19.9% compare
  5. 7 Curacao 19.1% compare
  6. 8 Lesotho 18.7% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for French Polynesia

All data for French Polynesia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in French Polynesia was 21.8% in 2012, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in French Polynesia?
The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2012.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in French Polynesia?
The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 1988.
How does French Polynesia rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
French Polynesia ranks 5th out of 185 countries with data for 2012.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in French Polynesia?
Over the last ten years it is up 86.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this French Polynesia data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.