Tahiti, Moorea, and Mehetia are high islands. Tetiaroa and Maiao are coral atolls.
The majority of the population speaks French and Tahitian (co-official with French throughout French Polynesia).
Administratively, the Windward Islands form the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands (subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions. Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands is identical with the electoral district of the Windward Islands (circonscription des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's 6 electoral districts (circonsriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia (see also Politics of French Polynesia).