World · permanent entity record · NC

New Caledonia

Thirty-second orientation

New Caledonia at a glance

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Population: total: 307,612 (2025 est.) male: 153,036 female: 154,576; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Area: total : 18,575 sq km land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Nationality / demonym: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Government: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
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.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18

Claims are attributed · classifications are dated

Claims and contested status

Maintained classification

Dependency or area of special sovereignty

France

U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.

Maintained profile

Classification: Dependency or area of special sovereignty; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
Sovereignty or administration: France; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31
Administrative center: Nouméa; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data

Final CIA World Factbook profile

This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.

CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated 2026-01-18 · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b

Introduction1 fields

Background: 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. 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.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Geography17 fields

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Map references: Oceania; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Area: total : 18,575 sq km land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land boundaries: total: 0 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Coastline: 2,254 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Elevation: highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.) forest: 48.8% (2023 est.) other: 41.1% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to March volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

People and Society24 fields

Population: total: 307,612 (2025 est.) male: 153,036 female: 154,576; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Religions: Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 30 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Median age: total: 34.6 years (2025 est.) male: 33.5 years female: 35.1 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Birth rate: 13.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Net migration rate: 3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Major urban areas - population: 198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.4 years female: 83.3 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Drinking water source: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Physician density: 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2018); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Sanitation facility access: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 46.4% (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Environment6 fields

Environmental issues: preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.) forest: 48.8% (2023 est.) other: 41.1% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 108,200 tons (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Government24 fields

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Legal system: civil law system based on French civil law; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Citizenship: see France; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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 election/appointment process: 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) most recent election date: 8 July 2021 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 expected date of next election: 2026; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of France); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790) note 1: the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853) note 2: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, France's national celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Flag: description: the country has two official flags with equal status, the flag of France and the Kanak (ethnic Melanesian) flag; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the left side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faîtière symbol, a native rooftop adornment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National symbol(s): flèche faîtière (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National color(s): grey, red; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National coat of arms: the emblem features two symbols of the local Kanak people: the flèche faîtière, which is a common rooftop adornment on houses, and the nautilus shell, which represents the sea; the third part of the emblem is a stylized representation of a New Caledonia pine tree; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National anthem(s): title: "Soyons unis, devenons frères" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers) lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir), Edouard “Gulaan” Wamedjo (Nengone)/Chorale Melodia history: adopted 2010; contains a mixture of lyrics in both French and Nengone (a local language) _____ title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle history: official anthem, as a self-governing French territory; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Economy24 fields

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.469 billion (2024 est.) $8.642 billion (2023 est.) $8.678 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Real GDP per capita: $34,600 (2024 est.) $35,000 (2023 est.) $33,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
GDP (official exchange rate): $10.129 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (2022 est.) 0.6% (2021 est.) -0.5% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, maize, eggs, bananas, yams, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Industries: nickel mining and smelting; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Labor force: 130,800 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Unemployment rate: 11.2% (2024 est.) 11% (2023 est.) 10.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Remittances: 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 6.6% of GDP (2020 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Budget: revenues: $1.995 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $1.993 billion (2015 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Public debt: 6.5% of GDP (2014 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exports - partners: China 75%, Japan 9%, Taiwan 3%, India 3%, France 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exports - commodities: iron alloys, nickel, nickel ore, processed crustaceans, shellfish (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Imports - partners: France 36%, Singapore 16%, Australia 15%, China 6%, NZ 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, coal, cars, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.306 (2024 est.) 110.347 (2023 est.) 113.474 (2022 est.) 100.88 (2021 est.) 104.711 (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Energy5 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Communications6 fields

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 46,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 263,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Internet country code: .nc; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 82% (2017 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 56,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Transportation4 fields

Airports: 21 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Heliports: 2 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Merchant marine: total: 23 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 17; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

Military and Security2 fields

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Territorial Directorate of the National Police of New Caledonia (DTPN), Gendarmerie of New Caledonia (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France, which bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18 · source

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