1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485) 15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229) 65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
20.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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
12.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.35 years male: 72.1 years female: 78.77 years (1999 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
0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
197,361 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.59% (1999 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 total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.43 children born/woman (1999 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
Capital
Noumea
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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (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 Simon LOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998) cabinet: Consultative Committee elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president 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); note--a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass
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 Melanesian Union or POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union
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 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 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$446.3 million (1995); note?about $50 million yearly support from France for government operations
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. Performance in 1998 was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.
Electricity--consumption
1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 69.87% hydro: 30.13% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Exports
$500 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities
ferronickels, nickel ore
Exports--partners
Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%, Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 25% services: 72% (1996)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$11,400 (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$845 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities
foods, transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals
Imports--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 prices)
1.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force
70,044 (1988)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 20%, industry 16%, services 60%, mining 4% (1996)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
15% (1994)
Communications
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
6 (in addition, there are 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
47,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
27 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports
7 (1998 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