If you lived in French Polynesia instead of Syria, you would:

Health

live 11.6 years longer

In Syria, the average life expectancy is 73 years (70 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In French Polynesia, that number is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 49.0% more likely to be obese

In Syria, 33.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In French Polynesia, that number is 49.1% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 14.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Syria, 13.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In French Polynesia, that number is 11.7% as of 2025.

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make 21.2 times more money

Syria has a GDP per capita of $1,057 as of 2022, while in French Polynesia, the GDP per capita is $22,440 as of 2024.

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Life

be 75.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Syria, approximately 17.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In French Polynesia, on the other hand, 4.4 children do as of 2022.

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have 53.8% fewer children

In Syria, there are approximately 23.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In French Polynesia, there are 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 13.1% more likely to have access to electricity

In Syria, approximately 88% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 73% in rural areas) as of 2023. In French Polynesia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 56.0% more likely to have internet access

In Syria, approximately 46.6% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In French Polynesia, about 72.7% do as of 2021.

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Geography

see 13.1 times more coastline

Syria has a total of 193 km of coastline. In French Polynesia, that number is 2,525 km.

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Safety

be 85.7% less likely to be murdered

Syria has a homicide rate of 2.1 per 100,000 people as of 2010. In French Polynesia, that number is 0.3 per 100,000 as of 2009.

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Infrastructure

find 5.2 times more home broadband

Syria has 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. French Polynesia has 35.5 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 2.7 times more CO2

Syria emits 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2009–2010). How we calculate this

French Polynesia: At a glance

French Polynesia is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 3,827 sq km. 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. The tests were halted in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
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How big is French Polynesia compared to Syria? See an in-depth size comparison.

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