Census figures from French Polynesia show that in the six years to last year the population grew by nearly 12 percent to more than 245-thousand.
The figures show that the natural population growth was more than 22-thousand while migration added another 3-thousand inhabitants.
They also show that about three quarters of the population now live on Tahiti and Moorea which continue to be the centre of internal migration.
Faaa on the island of Tahiti is the most populous community with 28-thousand inhabitants followed by the territorial capital, Papeete and Punaauia.
The director of the territorial Institute for Statistics says one of the most significant findings of the census is the reversal of emigration to France.
