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New Caledonia
Area: 18 576 sq km
Population: 278 500 inhab. (estimate 2017)
Density: 14.99 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 17° - 23° S; long. 157° - 174° E
Capital: Nouméa (chief town) 99 926 inhab. (2014); Nouméa 179 509 inhab. (2014), urban agglomeration
Currency: CFP franc (Change franc Pacifique)
Member of SPC
New Caledonia
Nouvelle-Calédonie
Useful informationGMT +11
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Nouméa 23
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Nouméa 26/20
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Nouméa 6/9
Annual average precipitation (mm) Nouméa 1055
Days of rainfall (annual average) Nouméa 106
Politics and current affairsIt has its own special statute, and is governed by a High Commissioner; the New Caledonian Congress is made up of 54 members (the members of the three provincial assemblies being elected directly for a five-year term). It is represented in Paris by two deputies and a senator. With the Nouméa Accord between the government and the local pro-independence movements a long transition period got under way in view of a referendum on independence expected within 2018.
Geography.
The island group in the southwest Pacific Ocean lies just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, about 1500 km from the coast of Australia. It has a tropical climate.
Administrative division
Administrative divisions
Cities
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouméa | 99 926 | inhab. | 2014 |
| Dumbéa | 31 812 | inhab. | 2014 |
Urban agglomerations
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouméa | 179 509 | inhab. | 2014 |
Population
| Population by age and gender (% - 2017) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| MALE | AGE | FEMALE | ||||||
Demographic statistics
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth rate | 15.4 | ‰ | 2016 |
| Death rate | 5.7 | ‰ | 2016 |
Ethnic groups
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanesian | 40.1 | % | 2014 |
| European | 27.2 | % | 2014 |
Religions
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 50.8 | % | 2010 |
| Protestant | 32.4 | % | 2010 |
Languages
| DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| French (official) |
| Melanesian dialects |
Population by selected age groups
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 years | 22.5 | % | 2017 |
| 15-29 years | 24.6 | % | 2017 |
Economy
Economy.
Important economic activities are nickel mining and tourism.
Economy - General data
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 105.33 | index | 2016 |
| Balance of trade | -1 051 | M US$ | 2017 |
Economy - Employment
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active population | 136 128 | units | 2017 |
| Active population, Females | 46 | % | 2017 |
Economy - Unemployment
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 14.8 | % | 2017 |
| Unemployment rate, Females | 48.9 | % | 2017 |
Agriculture
Land use
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| arable land | 0.56 | % | 2015 |
| forests | 45.9 | % | 2015 |
Agriculture - products - Cereals
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cereals, total | 6.74 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| maize | 6.429 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - products - Roots and tubers
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cassava | 0.528 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| potatoes | 1.323 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - products - Vegetables
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| eggplants | 0.211 | 1000 t | 2013 |
| watermelons | 0.751 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - products - Coconut palm
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| coconuts | 19.12 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| copra | 0.1 | 1000 t | 2006 |
Agriculture - products - Aromatics
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| coffee | 0.009 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - products - Fruits
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| fruits, total | 3.983 | 1000 t | 2014 |
Agriculture - products - Citrus fruits
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| citrus fruits | 0.91 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| lemons | 0.25 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - products - Tropical fruits
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| bananas | 1.169 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| mangoes | 0.156 | 1000 t | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Cereals
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| maize | 1.61 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
| sorghum | 0.146 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Roots and tubers
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cassava | 0.241 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
| potatoes | 0.227 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Vegetables
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| watermelons | 0.063 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Coconut palm
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| coconuts | 3.113 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Aromatics
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| coffee | 0.064 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Citrus fruits
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| citrus fruits | 0.144 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
| lemons | 0.093 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Agriculture - areas harvested - Tropical fruits
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| bananas | 0.262 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
| mangoes | 0.031 | 1000 ha | 2016 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
Forestry
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| timber | 27 300 | m³ | 2016 |
Livestock - Cattle
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cattle | 85.389 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
| cattle and buffaloes | 85.389 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Pigs
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| pigs | 37.663 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Sheep
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| sheep | 2.309 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Goats
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| goats | 0.97 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Equines
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| equines, total | 11.25 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
| horses | 11.25 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Poultry
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| birds | 502 | 1000 heads | 2016 |
Livestock - Beekeeping
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| honey | 0.108 | 1000 t | 2014 |
Livestock - Livestock products
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| eggs | 2.161 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| hides and skins | 0.437 | 1000 t | 2013 |
Fishing
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| crustaceans and molluscs | 1 659 | t | 2016 |
| freshwater fishes | 0 | t | 2016 |
Minerals
Mineral resources - Metal ores
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cobalt | 5.6 | 1000 t | 2015 |
| nickel | 186.1 | 1000 t | 2015 |
Energy
Electric energy - Generated
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| - thermal | 2 410 | M kWh | 2015 |
| - hydro | 340 | M kWh | 2015 |
Electric energy - Installed capacity
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| - thermal | 437 | 1000 kW | 2015 |
| - hydro | 78 | 1000 kW | 2015 |
Electric energy - Total production and capacity
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| total net generation | 2 814 | M kWh | 2015 |
| total installed capacity | 557.2 | 1000 kW | 2015 |
Industry
Industry - Iron and Steel, Metallurgy
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| ferroalloys | 240 | 1000 t | 2015 |
| nickel | 6.8 | 1000 t | 2015 |
Industry - Food and beverages
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| beer of barley | 13.7 | 1000 t | 2014 |
| coconut oil | 0.07 | 1000 t | 2014 |
Industry - Glass and other non-metallic mineral products
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cement | 112 | 1000 t | 2015 |
Trade
Composition of goods exports
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| manufactures | 59.041 | % of goods exports | 2015 |
| ores and metals | 37.753 | % of goods exports | 2015 |
International trade by country - Merchandise Export
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 271.1 | M US$ | 2010 |
| Japan | 238.7 | M US$ | 2010 |
International trade by country - Merchandise Import
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 736.9 | M US$ | 2010 |
| China | 582.7 | M US$ | 2010 |
Tourism
International Tourism
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditures | 145 | M US$ | 2015 |
| Number of arrivals | 116 000 | units | 2016 |
Social and welfare
Social statistics - Education
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illiteracy rate, adult | 3.1 | % | 2015 |
Social statistics - Health
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians | 2.5 | per 1000 pop. | 2013 |
Social statistics - Diseases
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuberculosis (prevalence) | 10 | per 100 000 pop. | 2008 |
Other social indicators
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2016 |
| Alcohol consumption per capita | 10.1 | litres | 2008 |
