Bora-Bora is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands. Its population was 10,758 at the 2022 census.[2]

Bora-Bora
Flag of Bora-Bora
Location of the commune (in red) within the Leeward Islands
Location of the commune (in red) within the Leeward Islands
Location of Bora-Bora
Map
Coordinates: 16°29′40″S 151°44′11″W / 16.4944°S 151.7364°W / -16.4944; -151.7364
CountryFrance
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
SubdivisionLeeward Islands
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Gaston Tong Sang[1]
Area
1
41.55 km2 (16.04 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[2]
10,758
 • Density260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code
98714 /98730
Elevation0–727 m (0–2,385 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef (30.55 km2/11.3 sq. miles in total) and of the atoll of Tupai (11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)), located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Bora Bora. The atoll of Tupai has no permanent population apart from some seasonal workers in the coconut plantations.

The surrounding islets include Motu Tapu, Motu Ahuna, Tevairoa, Motu Tane, Motu Mute, Motu Tufari, Motu Tehotu, Motu Pitiaau, Sofitel Motu, Motu Toopua, and Toopuaiti.

Climate

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Bora-Bora has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). The average annual temperature in Bora-Bora is 27.6 °C (81.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,654.1 mm (65.12 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in March, at around 28.6 °C (83.5 °F), and lowest in August, at around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Bora-Bora was 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) on 11 November 1996; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 17.8 °C (64.0 °F) on 10 July 1983.

Climate data for Bora-Bora (Bora Bora Airport, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.6
(96.1)
35.5
(95.9)
35.5
(95.9)
34.3
(93.7)
33.5
(92.3)
33.4
(92.1)
32.2
(90.0)
33.2
(91.8)
34.0
(93.2)
33.9
(93.0)
35.9
(96.6)
34.7
(94.5)
35.9
(96.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0)
31.1
(88.0)
31.4
(88.5)
31.1
(88.0)
30.2
(86.4)
29.3
(84.7)
28.9
(84.0)
29.0
(84.2)
29.4
(84.9)
29.9
(85.8)
30.7
(87.3)
30.8
(87.4)
30.2
(86.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.2
(82.8)
28.3
(82.9)
28.6
(83.5)
28.4
(83.1)
27.7
(81.9)
26.9
(80.4)
26.5
(79.7)
26.4
(79.5)
26.7
(80.1)
27.2
(81.0)
27.9
(82.2)
28.0
(82.4)
27.6
(81.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 25.3
(77.5)
25.4
(77.7)
25.8
(78.4)
25.8
(78.4)
25.2
(77.4)
24.5
(76.1)
24.1
(75.4)
23.9
(75.0)
24.0
(75.2)
24.5
(76.1)
25.0
(77.0)
25.2
(77.4)
24.9
(76.8)
Record low °C (°F) 21.1
(70.0)
20.7
(69.3)
21.3
(70.3)
20.7
(69.3)
19.9
(67.8)
19.5
(67.1)
17.8
(64.0)
19.3
(66.7)
19.2
(66.6)
20.0
(68.0)
20.1
(68.2)
21.0
(69.8)
17.8
(64.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 245.0
(9.65)
211.5
(8.33)
168.1
(6.62)
143.9
(5.67)
112.0
(4.41)
85.5
(3.37)
61.9
(2.44)
63.7
(2.51)
64.6
(2.54)
108.7
(4.28)
138.5
(5.45)
250.7
(9.87)
1,654.1
(65.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 17.2 15.3 14.5 11.8 11.4 9.7 9.4 8.8 9.3 10.6 12.3 16.8 147.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 201.1 202.6 239.4 219.8 224.1 224.5 231.8 248.4 241.0 230.5 217.7 207.0 2,687.9
Source 1: Météo-France[3]
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961-1990)[4]

Administration

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Bora-Bora from air

The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands and consists of the following associated communes:

The administrative center of the commune is the settlement of Vaitape,[5] on the island of Bora Bora. Gaston Tong Sang is the current mayor of Bora Bora.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Les résultats du recensement de la population 2022 de Polynésie française" [Results of the 2022 population census of French Polynesia] (PDF) (in French). Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. January 2023.
  3. ^ "Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records" (PDF). Météo-France. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Bora-Bora Motu Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance
  6. ^ "Le maire". Bora-Bora site officiel. Retrieved 12 March 2019.