1985 Edition

Agriculture

large areas devoted to cattle grazing; major products — coffee, maize, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

fodder and silage crops, about one-half of area planted in field crops; main products — wool, meat, dairy products; food surplus country

large areas devoted to cattle grazing; major products — coffee, maize, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

Aid

bilateral economic aid commitments (ODA and OOF), $338 million (1970-82)

Airfields

31 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

31 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Area

136 ktv Coral Sea New Caledonia NOUMEA Coral Sea Land 22,139 km2; larger than Massachusetts; 22% pasture, 15% forest, 6% arable, 57% waste or other Water

Branches

administered by High Commissioner, responsible to French Ministry for Overseas France and Council of Government; 42-seat Territorial Assembly

unicameral legislature (92-member House of Representatives, commonly called Parliament); Cabinet responsible to Parliament; three-level court system (magistrates, courts, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal)

administered by High Commissioner, responsible to French Ministry for Overseas France and Council of Government; 42-seat Territorial Assembly

Budget

(1981) revenues, $187.1 million; expenditures, $168.3 million

(1984/85) expenditures, $7.3 billion; receipts, $6.0 billion; deficit, $1.3 billion

(1981) revenues, $187.1 million; expenditures, $168.3 million

Capital

Noumea

Wellington

Noumea

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

no major transport aircraft

CNP

$637 million (1979), $4,000 per capita; 1.0% growth (1977)

Coastline

2,254 km People

about 15,134 km People

2,254 km People

Communist

CPNZ about 300, SUP about

Communists

number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese

number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese

Elections

Assembly elections every five years, last in November 1984

held at three-year intervals or sooner if Parliament is dissolved by Prime Minister; last election July 1984 Political parties and leaders: New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; government), David Lange; National Party (NP; opposition), Jim McLay; Social Credit Political League (Socred), Bruce Beetham; New Zealand Party, Bob Jones; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; proSoviet), G. H. "Bill" Andersen

Assembly elections every five years, last in November 1984

Electric power

390,000 kW capacity (1984); 2.1 billion kWh produced (1984), 14,189 kWh per capita

7,300,000 kW capacity (1984); 27.08 billion kWh produced (1984), 8,330 kWh per capita

390,000 kW capacity (1984); 2.1 billion kWh produced (1984), 14,189 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%

87% European, 9% Maori, 2% Pacific Islander, 2% other

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%

Exports

$257.4 million (f.o.b., 1980); 95% nickel metal (95%), nickel ore

$5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1983); principal products — beef, wool, dairy

$257.4 million (f.o.b., 1980); 95% nickel metal (95%), nickel ore

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March New Caledonia 13h km 'l Coral Sea New Caledonia Coral Sea Srtrffional map X He des Pins Land 22,139 km2; larger than Massachusetts; 22% pasture, 15% forest, 6% arable, 57% waste or other Water

Fishing

catch 1 1 6,000 metric tons ( 1 982); exports—80,000 metric tons valued at $1 10 million (1982)

GNP

$637 million (1979), $4,000 per capita; 1.0% growth (1977)

$16.2 billion(year ending March 1984), $5,063 per capita; real average annual growth (1974-84), 1.1%

Government leader

Edgard PISANI, French High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government (since December 1984); KANAK Provisional Government— Jean-Marie Tjibaou, President (since December 1984)

David LANGE, Prime Minister (since July 1984)

Edgard PISANI, French High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government (since December 1984); KANAK Provisional Government— Jean-Marie Tjibaou, President (since December 1984)

Highways

5,399 km total (1979); 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth

5,399 km total (1979); 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth

Imports

$318.2 million (c.i.f., 1980); fuels and minerals, machines and electrical equipment

$5.3 billion (c.i.f., 1983); principal products — petroleum, cars, trucks, iron and steel, petroleum products

$318.2 million (c.i.f., 1980); fuels and minerals, machines and electrical equipment

Industry

mining of nickel

mining of nickel

Inland waterways

none

none

Labor force

50,469 (1980 est); Javanese and Tonkinese laborers were imported for plantations and mines in preWorld War II period; immigrant labor now coming from Wallis Islands, New Hebrides, and French Polynesia; est. 8% unemployment

1,325,000(1981); 29.9% manufacturing, mining, and construction; 24.2% commerce and finance; 21.2% services; 10.7% agriculture; 8.3% transportation and communications; 2% other; unemployment 3.7% (February 1981)

50,469 (1980 est); Javanese and Tonkinese laborers were imported for plantations and mines in preWorld War II period; immigrant labor now coming from Wallis Islands, New Hebrides, and French Polynesia; est. 8% unemployment

Language

French; MelanesianPolynesian dialects

English (official), Maori

French; Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Legal system

French law

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; constitution consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; legal education at Victoria, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago Universities; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

French law

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)

12 nm (economic, including fishing, 200 nm)

12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200

Literacy

unknown

98%

unknown

Major industries

food processing, textile production, machinery, transport equipment, wood and paper products

Major trade partners

(1980)exports — 54.9% France; imports— 32.5% France

(trade year 1982/83) exports— 15% Japan, 15% Australia, 14% US, 11% UK; imports— 21% Japan, 20% Australia, 15% US, 4% FRG

(1980) exports — 54.9% France; imports — 32.5% France

Member of

EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO Economy

ADB, ANZUS, ASPAC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth of Nations, DAC, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG Economy

EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO Economy

Monetary conversion rate

127.05 francs CFP=US$1 (December 1982) Communications

NZ$2.13=US$1 (8 January 1985)

127.05 francs CFP=US$1 (December 1982) Communications

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February

Nationality

noun — New Caledonian(s); adjective— New Caledonian

noun — New Zealander(s); adjective— New Zealand

noun — New Caledonian(s); adjective— New Caledonian

Official name

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

New Zealand

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Organized labor

labor not organized Government

46% of labor force Government

labor not organized Government

Political parties

white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR) — Conservative; Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS)

white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR) — Conservative; Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS)

Political subdivisions

4 islands or island group dependencies — Isle of Pines, Loyalty Islands, Huon Islands, Island of New Caledonia

239 territorial units (boroughs, counties, town and district councils); 657 special-purpose bodies

4 islands or island group dependencies — Isle of Pines, Loyalty Islands, Huon Islands, Island of New Caledo-

Population

153,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 1.7%

3,295,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 1.4%

153,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 1.7%

Ports

1 major (Noumea), 21 minor

1 major (Noumea), 21 minor .

Railroads

none

none

Religion

over 60% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant

81% Christian, 18% none or unspecified, 1% Hindu, Confucian, and other

over 60% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant

Suffrage

universal

universal age 18 and over

universal

Telecommunications

23,000 telephones (17 per 100 popl.); 5 AM, no FM, 7 TV stations; 1 earth satellite station New Zealand Jasman Sea South Pacific Ocean North Island LLINGTON I South Island Dunedin . Chatham • Islands Land 268,676 km2; the size of Colorado; 50% pasture; 16% forest; 10% park and reserve; 3% cultivated; 1% urban; 20% waste, water, or other; 4 principal islands, 2 minor inhabited islands, several minor uninhabited islands Water

23,000 telephones (17 per 100 popl.); 5 AM, no FM, 7 TV stations; 1 earth satellite station

Type

French overseas territory; represented in French parliament by two deputies and one senator

independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state

French overseas territory; represented in French parliament by two deputies and one senator

Voting strength

(1984 election) Territorial Assembly— RPCR, 34 seats; LKS, 6 seats; splinter groups, 2 seats; FLNKS boycotted the election

(1981 election) Parliament— National Party, 47 seats; Labor Party, 43 seats; Social Credit, 2 seats

(1984 election) Territorial Assembly— RPCR, 34 seats; LKS, 6 seats; splinter groups, 2 seats; FLNKS boycotted the election