New Caledonia

Introduction

Background

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over two decades transferred an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. In a referendum held in November 2018, residents rejected independence and decided to retain their territorial status, although two additional referendums may occur in 2020 and 2022, per the Noumea Accord.

Geography

Location

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

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
country comparison to the world: 156

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

2,254 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 10.4% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0.4% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.2% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 9.8% (2011 est.)
forest: 45.9% (2011 est.)
other: 43.7% (2011 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

Environment - current issues

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

282,754 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.19%(male 32,057 /female 30,675)
15-24 years: 16.16%(male 23,355 /female 22,349)
25-54 years: 43.66%(male 62,227 /female 61,215)
55-64 years: 8.57%(male 11,713 /female 12,530)
65 years and over: 9.42%(male 11,790 /female 14,843) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.3 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 33.9 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.4 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.9 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 32.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 31.5 years
female: 33 years
country comparison to the world: 103

Population growth rate

1.3% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Birth rate

14.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia
country comparison to the world: 34

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: 71.1% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.89% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 174

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78 years (2018 est.)
male: 74.1 years
female: 82.2 years
country comparison to the world: 65

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.5% of population
rural: 98.5% of population
total: 98.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population
rural: 1.5% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)

Physicians density

2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)
total: 100% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.9%
male: 97.3%
female: 96.5% (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 38.4%
male: 37.1%
female: 40% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
etymology: British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland)

Dependency status

special collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; note - an independence referendum took place on 4 November 2018 with a majority voting to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; two additional referenda, still unsceheduled, may occur in 2020 and 2022

Government type

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

Capital

name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France); note - in an independence referendum on 4 November 2018, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)

Constitution

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

Legal system

civil law system based on French civil law

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 Laurent PREVOST (since 5 August 2019)
head of government: President of the Government Thierry SANTA (since 9 July 2019); Temporary Vice President Gilbert TUIENON (since 9 July 2019); note - Temporary Vice President Gilbert TUIENON was elected so that the new government could take over; Philippe GERMAIN' s government remained caretaker government until the new government was settled
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 13 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results: Thierry SANTA elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 votes out of 11

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congrès du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblés Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population, which rules on laws affecting the indigenous population
New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term
elections:
Territorial Congress - last held on 12 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
French Senate - election last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held not later than 2019)

French National Assembly - election last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022)
election results: Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by 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); composition - men 30, women 24, percent of women 44.4%
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2

Judicial branch

highest courts: Court of Appeal in Noumea 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); 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)
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

Political parties and leaders

Build Our Rainbow Nation
Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GERMAIN]
Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA]
Future Together (l'Avenir Ensemble) [Harold MARTIN]
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO]
Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI]
National Union for Independence (Union Nationale pour l'Independance) or UNI
Party of Kanak Liberation (Parti de Liberation Kanak) or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]
The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [interim leader Thierry SANTA]
Union for Caledonia in France

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description

New Caledonia has two official flags; alongside the flag of France, the Kanak (indigenous Melanesian) flag has equal status; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk - diameter two-thirds the height of the flag - shifted slightly to the hoist side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faitiere symbol, a native rooftop adornment

National symbol(s)

fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, 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)

Economy

Economy - overview

New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016. In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.11 billion (2017 est.)
$10.89 billion (2016 est.)
$10.77 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2015 dollars
country comparison to the world: 159

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.77 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
3.2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)
$29,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 64.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 38.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -45.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 26.4% (2017 est.)
services: 72.1% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

vegetables; beef, venison, other livestock products; fish

Industries

nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Labor force

119,500 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 22.4%
services: 74.9% (2010)

Unemployment rate

14.7% (2014)
14% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171

Population below poverty line

17% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 1.995 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: 1.993 billion (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Public debt

6.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Stock of domestic credit

$9.522 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$1.469 billion (2014 est.)
-$1.861 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Exports

$2.207 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Exports - partners

China 25.4%, Japan 16.6%, South Korea 14.8%, France 8.2%, Belgium 5%, US 4.6% (2017)

Exports - commodities

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Imports

$2.715 billion (2015 est.)
$4.4 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 24.2%, Singapore 13.1%, China 9.2%, Australia 7.1%, South Korea 5.2%, Malaysia 4.7%, NZ 4.4%, US 4.4% (2017)

Debt - external

$112 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$79 million (31 December 1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$16.43 billion (2015 est.)
$14.55 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$658.2 million (2015 est.)
$593.8 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
110.2 (2017 est.)
107.84 (2016 est.)
107.84 (2015 est.)
89.85 (2013 est.)
90.56 (2012 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Electricity - production

2.945 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - consumption

2.739 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - installed generating capacity

996,200 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - from fossil fuels

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from other renewable sources

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Refined petroleum products - consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - imports

19,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.165 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 92,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 246,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Telephone system

general assessment: well advanced telecoms sector; 4G network services (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 91 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

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

total: 201,000
percent of population: 74% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Military and Security

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; France bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC) (2019)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2(registered in France) (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10(registered in France) (2015)

Airports

25 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 129

Airports - with paved runways

total: 12 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2017)
under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 13 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013)
under 914 m: 8 (2013)

Heliports

8 (2013)

Roadways

total: 5,622 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 142

Merchant marine

total: 10
by type: general cargo 2, other 8 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 151

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Noumea

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

Flag of New Caledonia