Have you ever wondered how similar or different two countries are? The Country Similarity Index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries. The index is a statistically-based way to measure this. It weighs equally five major aspects of countries: their demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography. The methodology is exactly the same for each country. The research combines 1,000 different data points to arrive at the conclusions.
Top 5 Countries Most Similar to French Polynesia
French Polynesia is part of the South Pacific region. However, the most similar countries to French Polynesia come from a variety of regions, since it is quite unique. Four of the five most similar countries to it also have a tropical climate. In addition, these nations are all mountainous and have a lot of coastline.
(Note that many Polynesian countries have been left off this list, like Micronesia and Kiribati, since there was too little data to include them in the Country Similarity Index)
- Samoa and French Polynesia share Polynesian culture and heritage. However, these islands were colonized by different countries and speak different languages. The island landscapes of Samoa mirror those of French Polynesia, with lush volcanic interiors and reef-fringed coastlines. They rely on subsistence agriculture and tourism.
- Vanuatu is part of Melanesia, but it shares notable geographic and economic traits with French Polynesia. Both are archipelagos in the South Pacific. In addition Vanuatu and French Polynesia were once colonized by France, so French is an official language in both places. Both are also heavily forested. However, Vanuatu is less developed.
- Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean rather than the Pacific, but Mauritius shares French Polynesia’s blend of indigenous and colonial heritage. As a former French colony, Mauritius retains French administrative structures, language influence, and a Francophone identity. However, Mauritius has more of a South Asian influence.
- Costa Rica is located in Central America, but it has some similarities to French Polynesia. Both places invested heavily in eco-tourism and environmental protection. They are also predominately Christian, with a mix of Protestant and Catholics. In addition, they have about the same GDP per capita.
- France is the colonizer of French Polynesia. As a result, France has naturally left a deep mark on the territory. From language and education to administration and law, French systems and culture permeate daily life in French Polynesia. However, France is more developed and has a colder climate.
Top 5 Countries Least Similar to French Polynesia
Interestingly enough, the five least similar countries to Puerto Rico are all located in either Asia or Africa. Four of the five nations are predominately Muslim. These nations tend to have much more conservative laws than French Polynesia. They also have drier climates.
- Sudan is located in the Sahara Desert and borders the Red Sea. In contrast, French Polynesia gets a far greater amount of rainfall. It is a conservative Muslim country that does not allow alcohol, gambling, or prostitution. The majority of its people natively speak Arabic. It is also significantly less developed than French Polynesia.
- Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Asia. The majority of its people are Muslim, and as a result, its laws are more conservative than French Polynesia’s. Afghanistan also uses the Arabic script, unlike French Polynesia. Like other countries on this list its climate is much drier than French Polynesia’s.
- Yemen is on the Arabian Peninsula, across the Red Sea from Sudan. Unlike other countries on the peninsula it is far less wealthy and its infrastructure is less developed. It currently has an on-going civil war. This Arab country has much stricter laws than French Polynesia, since it is based on Shari’a law.
- Eritrea is an African country with a majority Christian population. However, they are mostly Oriental Orthodox. Their people natively speak Semitic languages and use the unique Ge’ez script. The government has been a dictatorship for almost 20 years. Unlike French Polynesia, Eritrea is much less densely forested.
- Saudi Arabia is an Arab country located between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It has an autocratic government with extremely conservative Muslim laws. Its people also tend to be much more wealthy than people in French Polynesia. Unlike French Polynesia, many Saudi Arabian cities have skyscrapers. It is also not as mountainous.
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories Most Similar to French Polynesia
All data accurate as of 2020.
Country Comparison
Most Similar Demographics: Samoa
Most Similar Culture: France
Most Similar Government: France
Most Similar Infrastructure: Belize
Most Similar Geography: Samoa
Least Similar Demographics: Niger
Least Similar Culture: Japan
Least Similar Government: Sudan
Least Similar Infrastructure: Mozambique
Least Similar Geography: Libya
If one is taking into account the other non-sovereign territories, maybe New Caledonia could have been the most similar one to French Polynesia.