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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 country code [time series]

.nc

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

34,231 (2012) country comparison to the world: 104

Internet users [time series]

85,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

76,200 (2011) country comparison to the world: 152

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

227,300 (2011) country comparison to the world: 176

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $996 million expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.3% of GDP (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Debt - external [time series]

$79 million (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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; during 2009-10, France sent more development assistance to New Caledonia than to any of its other overseas territories. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

Exchange rates [time series]

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 85.85 (2011 est.) 90.01 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$969.4 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $1.272 billion (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 19.5%, France 18.4%, Australia 12.9%, South Korea 10.5%, Belgium 5.1%, US 4.8%, China 4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$3.3 billion (2003 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$3.158 billion (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 28.3% services: 69.6% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$15,000 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$3.313 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $3.313 billion (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

France 33.8%, Singapore 19.2%, Australia 11.9%, NZ 4.7%, China 4.4% (2011)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 2.4% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

102,600 (2007) country comparison to the world: 183

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

30.2% of GDP (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Unemployment rate [time series]

17.1% (2004) country comparison to the world: 154

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

3.027 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.558 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

79.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

18.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

2.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

421,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - production [time series]

1.675 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

13,640 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

730 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

14,550 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 18,575 sq km country comparison to the world: 156 land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Coastline [time series]

2,254 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geographic coordinates [time series]

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

100 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains with interior mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Noumea geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Commissioner Albert DUPUY (since 6 October 2010) 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 cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

the flag of France is used

Government type [time series]

parliamentary representative democracy

Independence [time series]

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 2018

International organization participation [time series]

PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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) elections: last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held on 10 May 2014) 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 note: the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population, which rules on laws affecting the indigenous population; 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 17 June 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers) lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir) note: 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)

National holiday [time series]

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

kagu bird

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 (Union Nationale pour l'Independance) 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 of Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees [Francois BURCK]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 2018 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 68,219 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 56,233 females age 16-49: 55,983 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 2,272 female: 2,167 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of France

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; French military, police, and gendarmerie (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.5% (male 32,515/ female 31,113) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 88,485/ female 87,213) 65 years and over: 8% (male 9,335/ female 11,505) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.05 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Death rate [time series]

5.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 177 male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.94 years country comparison to the world: 71 male: 72.88 years female: 81.2 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.8% female: 95.5% (1996 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

NOUMEA (capital) 144,000 (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.4 years male: 29.8 years female: 31 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian

Net migration rate [time series]

4.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 23 note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2012 est.)

Population [time series]

260,166 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Population growth rate [time series]

1.489% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.04 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

25 (2012) country comparison to the world: 127

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

8 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 3 (France 3) (2010) country comparison to the world: 137

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Noumea

Roadways [time series]

total: 5,622 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 151