New Caledonia: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

New Caledonia mine bust creates ghost towns • Apr. 11, 2025, 8:33 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

New Caledonia mining bust creates ghost town • Apr. 11, 2025, 8:33 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

New Caledonia's nickel mine shutdown leaves ghost towns behind • Apr. 11, 2025, 7:35 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

AUDIO: Tensions still high in New Caledonia • Mar. 28, 2025, 9:54 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Thousands leave New Caledonia in civil unrest, as long recovery awaits those staying • Mar. 28, 2025, 3:40 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Facts

Also Known As	Nouvelle-Calédonie
Heads Of Government	High Commissioner (for France): Louis Le Franc; President of the Government (for New Caledonia): Alcide Ponga
Capital	Nouméa
Population	(2025 est.) 266,300
Head Of State	President of France: Emmanuel Macron
Official Language	none⁴
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Territoire des Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances (Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies)¹
Total Area (Sq Km)	18,567
Total Area (Sq Mi)	7,172
Monetary Unit	CFP franc (CFPF)
Population Rank	(2025) 187
Population Projection 2030	328,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 37.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 14.3
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 73.1% • Rural: (2024) 26.9%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2018–2022) 74.2 years • Female: (2018–2022) 80.3 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2006) 98% • Female: (2006) 97%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2021) 10,106
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2021) 35,430
Political Status²	unique collectivity (France) with one legislative house (Congress³ [54])
¹Locally known as Kanaky.²The Nouméa Accord, granting New Caledonia limited autonomy, was signed in May 1998. The accord provided for as many as three future referendums concerning possible independence. The first referendum was held on November 4, 2018. By a narrow margin, voters opted to remain a part of France. The second, held on October 4, 2020, saw voters again reject independence, but by an even narrower margin. The third, held on December 12, 2021, saw more than 95 percent of voters reject independence, but the poll had been boycotted by the pro-independence movement and turnout was greatly reduced to almost half of that of the previous two referendums.³Operates in association with three provincial assemblies.⁴Kanak languages and French have special recognition per the Nouméa Accord.