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Australia - Oceania
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New Caledonia
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Page last updated on December 15, 2020
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New Caledonia
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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
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Australia - Oceania ::
New Caledonia
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View of the northern portion of New Caledonia. The world's second largest barrier reef encircles the island. Image courtesy of NASA.
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This image shows details of New Caledonia's main city, Noumea, which is built on a peninsula that juts into the lagoon on the southwest side of the island. The reefs here face problems from pollution and overfishing. The tourism industry is very important to the economy of Noumea, with extensive hotel development in the city and along the southeast coast of New Caledonia Island. The picture shows how urban development extends to the steep slopes of the coastal hills. Image courtesy of NASA.
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The harbor at Noumea. Photo courtesy of the US Marine Corps/ Sgt. Douglas D. Simons.
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In 2008, UNESCO added the Lagoons of New Caledonia to the World Heritage Site list. The Lagoons comprise six marine clusters that represent the main diversity of coral reefs and associated ecosystems in the French Pacific Ocean archipelago of New Caledonia and one of the three most extensive reef systems in the world. These Lagoons feature a remarkable diversity of coral and fish species and a continuum of habitats from mangroves to seagrasses with the world's most diverse concentration of reef structures. The Lagoons of New Caledonia display intact ecosystems, with healthy populations of large predators, and a great number and diversity of big fish. They provide habitat to a number of emblematic or threatened marine species such as turtles, whales, and dugongs whose population here is the third largest in the world. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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Introduction :: New Caledonia
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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 :: New Caledonia
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Oceania
slightly smaller than New Jersey
0 km
2,254 km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
coastal plains with interior mountains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
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.)
100 sq km (2012)
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
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 :: New Caledonia
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290,009 (July 2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 182
noun: New Caledonian(s)adjective: New Caledonian
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.)
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
0-14 years: 21.74% (male 32,227/female 30,819)15-24 years: 15.63% (male 23,164/female 22,163)25-54 years: 43.73% (male 63,968/female 62,856)55-64 years: 9.06% (male 12,700/female 13,568)65 years and over: 9.84% (male 12,552/female 15,992) (2020 est.)population pyramid:
The World Factbook Field Image ModalAustralia - Oceania :: New Caledonia Print
Image DescriptionThis is the population pyramid for New Caledonia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 46.6youth dependency ratio: 32.4elderly dependency ratio: 14.2potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.)
total: 32.9 yearsmale: 32.1 yearsfemale: 33.7 years (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 103
1.25% (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 87
14.5 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 128
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 172
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia
country comparison to the world: 31
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
urban population: 71.5% of total population (2020)rate of urbanization: 1.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
total: 5 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 177
total population: 78.4 yearsmale: 74.4 yearsfemale: 82.5 years (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 67
1.88 children born/woman (2020 est.)country comparison to the world: 133
improved: total: 100% of populationunimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
improved: total: 100% of populationunimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
NA
NA
NA
degree of risk: high (2020)food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrheavectorborne diseases: malaria
NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.9%male: 97.3%female: 96.5% (2015)
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Government :: New Caledonia
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conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependanceslocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonieetymology: 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)
special collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; note - independence referenda took place on 4 November 2018 and 4 October 2020 with a majority voting to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an additional referenda, still unsceheduled, may occur in 2022
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France
name: Noumeageographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 Etime 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, in order to avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the New Caledonian language of Ndrumbea (also spelled Ndumbea, Dubea, and Drubea) spoken in the area gave its name to the capital city, Noumea, as well as to the neighboring town (suburb) of Dumbea
3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
none (overseas collectivity of France); note - in two independence referenda, on 4 November 2018 and 4 October 2020, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply
civil law system based on French civil law
see France
18 years of age; universal
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 settledcabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congresselections/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
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 termelections:
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
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 systemsubordinate 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
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
ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO
none (overseas territory of France)
none (overseas territory of France)
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
fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, red
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)
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Economy :: New Caledonia
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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.
$11.11 billion (2017 est.)$10.89 billion (2016 est.)$10.77 billion (2015 est.)note: data are in 2015 dollars
$9.77 billion (2017 est.)
agriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.)industry: 26.4% (2017 est.)services: 72.1% (2017 est.)
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.)
vegetables; beef, venison, other livestock products; fish
nickel mining and smelting
3.5% (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 87
119,500 (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 180
agriculture: 2.7%industry: 22.4%services: 74.9% (2010)
17% (2008)
revenues: 1.995 billion (2015 est.)expenditures: 1.993 billion (2015 est.)
20.4% (of GDP) (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 147
0% (of GDP) (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 45
calendar year
$2.207 billion (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 142
China 25.4%, Japan 16.6%, South Korea 14.8%, France 8.2%, Belgium 5%, US 4.6% (2017)
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
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)
$112 million (31 December 2013 est.)$79 million (31 December 1998 est.)country comparison to the world: 192
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 :: New Caledonia
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electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
2.945 billion kWh (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 133
2.739 billion kWh (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 139
0 kWh (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 175
0 kWh (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 178
996,200 kW (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 128
87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 63
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 153
8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 123
6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 101
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 182
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 174
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 175
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 177
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 186
20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 142
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 188
19,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 124
0 cu m (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 178
0 cu m (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 182
0 cu m (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 160
0 cu m (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 165
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 176
6.165 million Mt (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 128
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Communications :: New Caledonia
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total subscriptions: 82,111subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28.67 (2019 est.)country comparison to the world: 142
total subscriptions: 275,002subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.02 (2019 est.)country comparison to the world: 180
general assessment: well advanced telecoms sector; 3G & 4G network services; one of the highest smart phone adoption rates in the region; telecommunications sector is dominated by govt. owned company with a monopoly on fixed and mobile services, Internet and broadband access (2020)domestic: fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019)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)note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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
.nc
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Transportation :: New Caledonia
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number of registered air carriers: 3 (registered in France) (2020)inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (registered in France)
25 (2013)country comparison to the world: 128
total: 12 (2019)over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 1
total: 13 (2013)914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013)under 914 m: 8 (2013)
8 (2013)
total: 5,622 km (2006)country comparison to the world: 146
total: 19by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 13 (2019)country comparison to the world: 144
major seaport(s): Noumea
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Military and Security :: New Caledonia
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no regular military forces; France bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC) (2019)
defense is the responsibility of France
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Transnational Issues :: New Caledonia
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Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
