Quality of life comparison
If you lived in French Polynesia instead of Iowa, you would:
Health
be 27.0% more likely to be obese
In Iowa, 38.7% of adults are obese as of 2022. In French Polynesia, that number is 49.1% of people as of 2024.
Economy
be 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed
In Iowa, 3.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In French Polynesia, that number is 11.7% as of 2025.
make 64.8% less money
Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in French Polynesia, the GDP per capita is $22,440 as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 17.3% less likely to have internet access
In Iowa, approximately 87.9% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In French Polynesia, about 72.7% do as of 2021.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: Iowa vs. French Polynesia
French Polynesia: At a glance
How big is French Polynesia compared to Iowa? See an in-depth size comparison.