New Caledonia

The first humans settled in New Caledonia around 1600 B.C. The Lapita were skilled navigators, and evidence of their pottery around the Pacific has served as a guide for understanding human expansion in the region. Successive waves of migrants from other islands in Melanesia intermarried with the Lapita, giving rise to the Kanak ethnic group considered indigenous to New Caledonia. British explorer James COOK was the first European to visit New Caledonia in 1774, giving it the Latin name for Scotland. Missionaries first landed in New Caledonia in 1840. In 1853, France annexed New Caledonia to preclude any British attempt to claim the island. France declared it a penal colony in 1864 and sent more than 20,000 prisoners to New Caledonia in the ensuing three decades.

Table of Contents

Nickel was discovered in 1864, and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that colonial authorities brutally suppressed. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, France made New Caledonia an overseas territory and granted French citizenship to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations.

The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s, but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred increasing governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57% to 43%; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53% to 47%. In the third referendum held in 2021, voters rejected independence 96% to 4%; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. Pro-independence parties subsequently won a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time. France and New Caledonia officials remain in talks about the status of the territory.

Geography

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

New Caledonia map showing the various islands that comprise this French territorial archipelago in the Coral Sea.

Geographic coordinates

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 18,575 sq km

land: 18,275 sq km

water: 300 sq km

comparison ranking: total 155

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

2,254 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation

highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use

agricultural land: 10.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.3% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.5% (2022 est.)

forest: 45.8% (2022 est.)

other: 44.1% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea

Natural hazards

cyclones, most frequent from November to March

volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active

Geography – note

consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyauté, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls

People and Society

Population

total: 304,167 (2024 est.)

male: 151,389

female: 152,778

comparison rankings: total 180; female 181; male 181

Nationality

noun: New Caledonian(s)

adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups

Kanak 39.1%, European 27.1%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.2%, Tahitian 2.1%, Indonesian 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, other 17.7%, unspecified 2.5% (2014 est.)

Languages

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d’informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

French audio sample:

Religions

Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.7% (male 32,238/female 30,858)

15-64 years: 68.4% (male 104,825/female 103,349)

65 years and over: 10.8% (2024 est.) (male 14,326/female 18,571)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 46.1 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 34.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 33.5 years

female: 35.1 years

comparison ranking: total 103

Population growth rate

1.14% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 80

Birth rate

13.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 123

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 157

Net migration rate

3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 30

Population distribution

most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea

Urbanization

urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 178

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.4 years

female: 83.3 years

comparison ranking: total population 65

Total fertility rate

1.83 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 135

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.3% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)

Physician density

0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

22.5% (2023 est.)

Literacy

total population: 96.9%

male: 97.3%

female: 96.5% (2015)

Environment

Environment – current issues

preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions: 5.33 megatons (2016 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 108,157 tons (2016 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

conventional short form: New Caledonia

local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances

local short form: Nouvelle-Calédonie

etymology: the name came from British explorer Captain James COOK in 1774 and uses the Latin name for Scotland, Caledonia

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France

Dependency status

special collectivity of France

note: independence referenda took place in 2018, 2020, and 2021, with a majority voting in each case to reject independence in favor of the status quo

Capital

name: Noumea

geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866 to avoid confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the name Noumea may come from the local name of the peninsula the city was founded on

Administrative divisions

3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)

Legal system

civil law system based on French civil law

Constitution

history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)

amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply

Citizenship

see France

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Jacques BILLANT (since 3 May 2025)

head of government: President of the Government Alcide PONGA (since 8 January 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress

elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 8 July 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

election results:
2025: Alcide PONGA (The Republicans) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes

2021: Louis MAPOU (PALIKA) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes

Legislative branch

legislature name: Territorial Congress (Congrès du Territoire)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 54 (indirectly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 5/12/2019

parties elected and seats per party: Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26)

expected date of next election: December 2025

note 1: the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population; it rules on laws affecting Kanaks

note 2: New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly (see France entry for electoral details)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d’Appel; organized into civil, commercial, social, and pre-trial investigation chambers; court bench normally includes the court president and 2 counselors); Administrative Court (number of judges NA)

judge selection and term of office: judge appointment and tenure based on France’s judicial system

subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts

note: final appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (in Paris); final appeals beyond the Administrative Court are referred to the Administrative Court of Appeal (in Paris)

Political parties

Caledonia Together or CE
Caledonian Union or UC
Future With Confidence or AEC
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM)
Labor Party or PT
National Union for Independence or UNI
Oceanian Awakening
Party of Kanak Liberation or PALIKA
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS
The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (overseas territory of France)

International organization participation

ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France)

note: in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo

National holiday

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note – the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)

Flag description

two official flags: the flag of France and the Kanak (ethnic Melanesian) flag have equal status; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faîtière symbol, a native rooftop adornment

National symbol(s)

flèche faîtière (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird

National colors

grey, red

National anthem

name: “Soyons unis, devenons freres” (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers)

lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir)

note: adopted 2008; contains a mixture of lyrics in both French and Nengone (an indigenous language); as a self-governing territory of France, in addition to the local anthem, “La Marseillaise” is official (see France)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note – excerpted from the France entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia

Economy

Economic overview

upper-middle-income French Pacific territorial economy; enormous nickel reserves; ongoing French independence negotiations; large Chinese nickel exporter; luxury eco-tourism destination; large French aid recipient; high cost-of-living; lingering wealth disparities

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.266 billion (2021 est.)
$11.11 billion (2017 est.)
$10.89 billion (2016 est.)

note: data are in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 167

Real GDP growth rate

3.5% (2022 est.)
-2.1% (2021 est.)
-2.4% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 97

Real GDP per capita

$35,700 (2021 est.)
$31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 67

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.623 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
0.6% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 39

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.8% (2019 est.)

industry: 22.3% (2019 est.)

services: 65.2% (2019 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 56; industry 126; agriculture 162

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 65.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 23.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 21% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -37.9% (2017 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

coconuts, vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, maize, eggs, bananas, yams, oranges (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2014 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 66

Labor force

130,800 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 180

Unemployment rate

11.2% (2024 est.)
10.9% (2023 est.)
10.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 165

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 32.7% (2024 est.)

male: 30.2% (2024 est.)

female: 35.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 19

Remittances

6.45% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.17% of GDP (2021 est.)
6.57% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $1.995 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures: $1.993 billion (2015 est.)

Public debt

6.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

comparison ranking: 199

Current account balance

-$654.237 million (2016 est.)
-$1.119 billion (2015 est.)
-$1.3 billion (2014 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 128

Exports

$1.92 billion (2021 est.)
$1.8 billion (2020 est.)
$1.79 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 166

Exports – partners

China 75%, Japan 9%, Taiwan 3%, India 3%, France 2% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

iron alloys, nickel, nickel ore, processed crustaceans, shellfish (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$2.26 billion (2021 est.)
$2.1 billion (2020 est.)
$2.48 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 174

Imports – partners

France 36%, Singapore 16%, Australia 15%, China 6%, NZ 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, coal, cars, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
110.306 (2024 est.)
110.347 (2023 est.)
113.474 (2022 est.)
100.88 (2021 est.)
104.711 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.174 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 3.02 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 66.3 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 41; consumption 143; installed generating capacity 131

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 73.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 7.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 17.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 1.026 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 1.001 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

4.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.312 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 2.575 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 137

Energy consumption per capita

(2019)

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 46,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 158

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 260,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 181

Broadcast media

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France’s overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast

Internet country code

.nc

Internet users

percent of population: 82% (2017 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 56,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total 145

Transportation

Airports

21 (2025)

comparison ranking: 134

Heliports

2 (2025)

comparison ranking: 130

Merchant marine

total: 23 (2023)

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 17

comparison ranking: total 146

Ports

total ports: 3 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 2

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Baie de Kouaoua, Baie Ugue, Noumea