Airports [time series]

29 total, 27 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

no major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

5,448 km total; 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth

Ports [time series]

Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

32,578 telephones (1987); stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of France

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

Aid [time series]

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion

Budget [time series]

revenues $110.5 million; expenditures $110.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1981)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Electricity [time series]

400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 14,440 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Exports [time series]

$75 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--nickel metal 87%, nickel ore; partners--France 56.3%, Japan

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GNP [time series]

$860 million, per capita $5,810; real growth rate 2.4% (1989 est.)

Imports [time series]

$180 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment; partners--France 50.3%, Australia

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

nickel mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.5% (1986)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

New Caledonia has more than 40% 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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.2% (1983)

Climate [time series]

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Coastline [time series]

2,254 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Continental shelf [time series]

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

typhoons most frequent from November to March

Extended economic zone [time series]

200 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 14% meadows and pastures; 51% forest and woodland; 35% other

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains with interior mountains

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

19,060 km2; land area: 18,760 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas territory of France)

Capital [time series]

Noumea

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese

Constitution [time series]

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France

Executive branch [time series]

high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

the flag of France is used

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of France); note--a referendum on independence will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); Head of Government High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Bernard GRASSET (since 15 July 1988)

Legal system [time series]

the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Territorial Assembly

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO

National holiday [time series]

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties [time series]

white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative; Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS); National Front (FN), extreme right; Caledonian Separatist Front, extreme left

Suffrage [time series]

universal adult at age NA Territorial Congress--last held NA June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, others 5; French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) RPCR 1; French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(2 total) RPCR 2

Government type (Type) [time series]

overseas territory of France

Birth rate [time series]

24 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

39 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)

Languages (Language) [time series]

French; Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

64 years male, 71 years female (1990)

Nationality [time series]

noun--New Caledonian(s); adjective--New Caledonian

Net migration rate [time series]

- 7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

153,215 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.0 children born/woman (1990)