The World Factbook. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook American Heritage Coll. The World Factbook. The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium.
Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.
The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products.