1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 19,060 sq km land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Coastline
2,254 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 12% forests and woodland: 39% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
typhoons most frequent from November to March
Natural resources
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Terrain
coastal plains with interior mountains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 30% (male 29,423; female 28,320) 15-64 years: 65% (male 63,444; female 62,055) 65 years and over: 5% (male 5,202; female 5,753) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
21.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
4.84 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
12.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.01 years male: 71.75 years female: 78.44 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92% female: 90% (1976 est.)
Nationality
noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Net migration rate
0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
194,197 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.64% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.46 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
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
Data code
NC
Dependency status
overseas territory of France since 1956
Executive branch
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995) head of government: President of the Territorial Congress Pierre FROGIER (since 31 July 1995) cabinet: Consultative Committee elections: high commissioner appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress
Flag description
three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be held in 1998)
International organization participation
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melansian Union or UPM [Edmond NEKIRIAI]; Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN]; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; National Front or FN (extreme right) [Guy GEORGE]; Socialist Party of Kanaky or PSK [Jacques VIOLETTE]; Union Oceanienne or UO (conservative) [Michel HEMA]; Front de Developpement des Iles Loyautes or FDIL [Cono HAMU]; Union Caledonian or UC [Bernard LEPEU, president]; A New Caledonia for All or UNCT [Didier LEROUX]; Kanaque Liberation Party or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; New Caledonia National Party [Georges CHATENEY]; Oceanic Democratic Rally or RDO [Alois SAKO]; Kanaque Federal Party of OPAO [Gabrielle PAITA and Auguste SIAPO]; Caledonian Generation [Jean-Raymond POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or USTKE [Louis Kotra UREGEY]; Federation for a New Caledonian Society or FNSC [Jean-Pierre AIFA]; Union to Construct Independence [Frances POADOUY]; Movement for France or MPF [Claude SARAAN]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union for the Rebirth of Caledonia [Jean-Louis MIR]; Christian Social Democrats-All Ethnic Group Accord [Raymond MURA]; Rally for Caledonia [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Rally of the Republic [Dick UKEIWE]; Liberal Caledonian Movement [Jean LEQUES]; Union Nationale pour l'Indepedance or UNI; Developper Ensemble pour construire l'Avenir or DEPCA; Rassemblement pour une Caledonie dans la France or RCF
Legal system
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2 note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - RPR 2
National capital
Noumea
National holiday
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
vegetables; beef, other livestock products
Budget
revenues: $755.6 million expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Currency
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA note: important support from France
Economy-overview
New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. The outlook for 1998 is clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.
Electricity-capacity
253,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
6,204 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
1.145 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1-110.60 (January 1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993); note-linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Exports
total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%, Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$1.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1992 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $930 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
nickel mining and smelting
Inflation rate-consumer price index
1.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force
total: 70,044 (1988) by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 20%, services 40%, mining 8% (1992)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
97,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones
38,748 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations
7
Televisions
47,000 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
15% (1994)
Transportation
Airports
30 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 12 (1997 est.)
Heliports
7 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993) Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by France and Vanuatu