2011 Edition

Background

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made 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 a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct a referendum between 2014 and 2019 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Area

18,575 sq km 18,275 sq km 300 sq km

total

18,575 sq km

water

300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Coastline

2,254 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mont Panie 1,628 m

highest point

Mont Panie 1,628 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geographic coordinates

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0.32% 0.22% 99.46% (2005)

arable land

0.32%

other

99.46% (2005)

permanent crops

0.22%

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

cyclones, most frequent from November to March Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active

volcanism

Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active

Natural resources

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Age structure

24.9% (male 32,653/female 31,236) 67.3% (male 86,865/female 85,578) 7.8% (male 8,954/female 10,989) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

24.9% (male 32,653/female 31,236)

15-64 years

67.3% (male 86,865/female 85,578)

65 years and over

7.8% (male 8,954/female 10,989) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

16.28 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

5.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

5.71 deaths/1,000 live births 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

5.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

76.75 years 72.67 years 81.03 years (2011 est.)

female

81.03 years (2011 est.)

total population

76.75 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 96.2% 96.8% 95.5% (1996 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.5% (1996 census)

male

96.8%

total population

96.2%

Major cities - population

NOUMEA (capital) 144,000 (2009)

Median age

30.1 years 29.6 years 30.7 years (2011 est.)

female

30.7 years (2011 est.)

male

29.6 years

total

30.1 years

Nationality

New Caledonian(s) New Caledonian

adjective

New Caledonian

noun

New Caledonian(s)

Net migration rate

4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2011 est.)

Population

256,275 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.524% (2011 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.07 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

57% of total population (2010) 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

57% of total population (2010)

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 Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province Sud

Capital

Noumea 22 16 S, 166 27 E UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

22 16 S, 166 27 E

name

Noumea

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies New Caledonia Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances Nouvelle-Caledonie

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

Dependency status

territorial collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Albert DUPUY (since 6 October 2010) President of the Government Harold MARTIN (since 3 March 2011); note - since 3 March 2011, three different governments of Harold MARTIN have collapsed over the choice of a flag that will be used while it is being decolonized; President MARTIN is head of a caretaker government Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held on 10 June 2011 (next to be held June 2016)

cabinet

Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress

chief of state

President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Albert DUPUY (since 6 October 2010)

elections

French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held on 10 June 2011 (next to be held June 2016)

head of government

President of the Government Harold MARTIN (since 3 March 2011); note - since 3 March 2011, three different governments of Harold MARTIN have collapsed over the choice of a flag that will be used while it is being decolonized; President MARTIN is head of a caretaker government

Flag description

the flag of France is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled to take place between 2014 and 2019

International organization participation

PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

Legal system

civil law system based on French law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held on 10 May 2014) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, Caledonia Together 10, UC 8, UNI 8, AE 6, FLNKS 3, Labor Party 3, other 3 New Caledonia holds two seats in the French Senate; elections last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held not later than September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held on 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held in June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, Caledonia Together 10, UC 8, UNI 8, AE 6, FLNKS 3, Labor Party 3, other 3

elections

unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held on 10 May 2014)

National anthem

"Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers) Chorale Melodia (a local choir) adopted 2008; the anthem 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)

lyrics/music

Chorale Melodia (a local choir)

name

"Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)

National symbol(s)

kagu bird

Political parties and leaders

Caledonia My Country; Caledonia Together [Philippe GOMES]; Caledonian Union or UC [Nicholas ABOUT]; Communist Republican and Left Party or CRC-SPG [Nichole BORVO COHEN-SEAT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or R.D.S.E. [Yvon COLLIN]; Front National or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Labor Party [Louis Kotra UREGEI]; National Union for Independence or UNI; Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; Renewed Caledonian Union; Socialist Group [Jean Pierre BEL]; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; The Future Together or AE [Didier LEROUX]; The Rally or UMP [Gerard LONGUET]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI; Union of Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees [Francois BURCK]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

Budget

$996 million $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

expenditures

$1.072 billion (2001 est.)

revenues

$996 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.3% of GDP (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$79 million (1998 est.)

Economy - overview

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. 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. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

Electricity - consumption

1.674 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007) 94.97 (2006) 95.89 (2005) 96.04 (2004) 105.66 (2003)

Exports

$969.4 million (2009 est.) $969.4 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners

Japan 19.8%, France 16.7%, South Korea 10.5%, Australia 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 4.9% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

2% 26.5% 71.4% (2010 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

26.5%

services

71.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.3 billion (2003 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.158 billion (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.58 billion (2009 est.) $2.58 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 31.8%, China 14.1%, Singapore 13.8%, Australia 11.4%, NZ 4.3% (2010)

Industries

nickel mining and smelting

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2010 est.) 0.9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

102,600 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

20% 20% 60% (2002)

agriculture

20%

industry

20%

services

60% (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

648 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

14,330 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

30.2% of GDP (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

17.1% (2004)

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle Caledonie television and radio stations; a small number of privately-owned radio stations also broadcast (2008)

Internet country code

.nc

Internet hosts

22,456 (2010)

Internet users

85,000 (2009)

Telephone system

a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks

international

country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

72,200 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

220,800 (2010)

Airports

25 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

10

over 3,047 m

1

total

12

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

8 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

13

under 914 m

8 (2010)

Heliports

8 (2010)

Merchant marine

3 (France 3) (2010)

registered in other countries

3 (France 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Noumea

Roadways

5,622 km (2006)

total

5,622 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

68,219 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

68,219 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

56,233 55,983 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

55,983 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

56,233

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,272 2,167 (2010 est.)

female

2,167 (2010 est.)

male

2,272

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces; French military, police, and gendarmerie (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu