New Caledonia and Dependencies | Facts & Information

Map of New Caledonia And Dependencies

Facts & Figures

• Status: Overseas Territory

   

  President: Philippe Germain (2015)

  High Commissioner: Vincent Bouvier (2014)

  Land area: 7,243 sq mi (18,759 sq km); total area: 7,359 sq mi (19,060 sq km)

  Population (2014 est.): 267,840 (growth rate: 1.42%); birth rate: 15.57/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.46/1000; life expectancy: 77.31

  Capital (2011 est.): Nouméa, 157,000

  Monetary unit: Pacific financial community franc

  Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian and Polynesian dialects

  Ethnicity/race: Kanak 40.3%, European 29.2%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.7%, Tahitian 2%, Indonesian 1.6%, Vietnamese 1%, Ni-Vanuatu 0.9%, other 16.2% (2009 est.)

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

  National Holiday: Bastille Day, July 14

  Literacy rate: 96.2% (1996 est.)

  Economic summary: GDP/PPP(2008 est.): $9.28 billion; per capita $37,700 (2008 est.). Real growth rate: 0.6%. Inflation:1.7% (2013 est.).Unemployment: 17.1% (2004). Arable land: 0.38%.Agriculture: vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish. Labor force: 106,400 (2010); agriculture 20%, industry 20%, services 60% (2002 est.). Industries: nickel mining and smelting. Natural resources:nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper. Exports: $1.321 billion (2012 est.): ferronickels, nickel ore, fish. Imports: $3.245 billion (2012 est.): machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs. Major trading partners: Japan, France, South Korea, Australia, China, Singapore, New Zealand, Belgium (2012).

  Communications: Telephones:main lines in use: 80,000 (2012); mobile cellular: 231,000 (2012). Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle Caledonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast (2008).Internet hosts: 34,231 (2012). Internet users: 85,000 (2009).

  Transportation: Railways: 0 km (2002). Roadways: total: 5,622 km (2006). Ports and harbors:Noumea. Airports: 25 (2013).

  International disputes: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu.