ARCHIVE // NC // 2017

New Caledonia

2017 Edition — territory

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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 [time series]
total: 201,000 | percent of population: 74% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, increased network capacity and improved high-speed connectivity and access to international networks | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 120 per 100 persons | international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2015)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 92,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 246,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
vegetables; beef, venison, other livestock products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.995 billion | expenditures: $1.993 billion (2015 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
0% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Current account balance [time series]
$-1.469 billion (2014 est.) | $-1.861 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Debt - external [time series]
$112 million (31 December 2013 est.) | $79 million (31 December 1998 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. 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. In October 2014, French Prime Minister Manuel VALLS confirmed financial support to New Caledonia totaling $500 million for the period 2016-20. The new government, which inherited a $112 million deficit in 2013, is expected to focus on bringing the territory’s budget back into balance. | With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices. In April 2016, PM VALLS committed $180 million to support New Caledonia’s main nickel company, Societe Le Nickel.
Exchange rates [time series]
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - | 110.2 (2016 est.) | 107.84 (2015 est.) | 89.85 (2013 est.) | 90.56 (2012 est.) | 85.74 (2011 est.)
Exports [time series]
$2.207 billion (2014 est.) | $1.314 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135
Exports - commodities [time series]
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners [time series]
China 30.4%, Japan 15.7%, South Korea 14.7%, France 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$15.54 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$10.77 billion (2015 est.) | $10.62 billion (2014 est.) | $10.33 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 dollars | country comparison to the world: 156
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 64.4% | government consumption: 24.3% | investment in fixed capital: 38.1% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 17.2% | imports of goods and services: -44.1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 1.4% | industry: 26.1% | services: 72.4% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$31,100 (2015 est.) | $32,100 (2014 est.) | $29,800 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1.4% (2015 est.) | 1.3% (2014 est.) | 2.2% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 163
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$4.4 billion (2014 est.) | $4.47 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners [time series]
France 25.1%, Singapore 10.1%, China 9.8%, Australia 6.2%, Malaysia 5.9%, South Korea 5.8%, NZ 4.6%, US 4.3% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Industries [time series]
nickel mining and smelting
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.6% (2016 est.) | 0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Labor force [time series]
119,500 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 2.7% | industry: 22.4% | services: 74.9% (2010)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
17% (2008)
Public debt [time series]
6.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 6.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$658.2 million (2015 est.) | $593.8 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$16.43 billion (2015 est.) | $14.55 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$9.522 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
12.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Unemployment rate [time series]
14.7% (2014) | 14% (2009) | country comparison to the world: 167
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
2.5 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - consumption [time series]
2.611 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
78.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
14% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
7.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
557,200 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - production [time series]
2.807 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 112,895 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 68% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 176
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
17,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
116.8 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
17,370 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 18,575 sq km | land: 18,275 sq km | water: 300 sq km | country comparison to the world: 156
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: 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 (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 10.4% | arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 9.8% | forest: 45.9% | other: 43.7% (2011 est.)
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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Terrain [time series]
coastal plains with interior mountains
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
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)
Citizenship [time series]
see France
Constitution [time series]
4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998) (2016)
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 | etymology: British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland)
Dependency status [time series]
territorial collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; an independence referendum is to take place by November 2018
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 Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE (since 20 June 2016) | head of government: President of the Government (vacant); Vice President Jean-Louis D'ANGLEBERME (since 1 April 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress | elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 10 June 2011 (next to be held in June 2016) | election results: Philippe GERMAINE (Caledonia Together) elected president by Territorial Congress; vote NA
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
New Caledonia has two official flags; alongside the flag of France, the Kanak (indigenous Melanesian) flag has equal status; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk - diameter two-thirds the height of the flag - shifted slightly to the hoist side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faitiere symbol, a native rooftop adornment
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France
Independence [time series]
none (special collectivity of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but was rejected; a new referendum must be held before 2019
International organization participation [time series]
ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal in Noumea or Cour d'Appel; organized into civil, commercial, social, and pre-trial investigation chambers; court bench normally includes the court president and 2 counsilors); Administrative Court (number of judges NA); note - final appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation in Paris; final appeals beyond the Administrative Court are referred to the Administrative Court of Appeal (in Paris) | judge selection and term of office: judge appointment and tenure based on France's judicial system | subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts
Legal system [time series]
civil law system based on French law; the 1988 Matignon Accords (signed in the Matignon Hotel) set up a 10-year period of development during which the Kanak community received substantial autonomy but agreed not to raise the independence issue
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) | 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 2 seats in the French Senate; elections last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held not later than September 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2 | elections: last held on 11 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); note - the government that was elected on 11 May 2014 collapsed within 6 months leading to a new election on 31 December 2014 which reelected the same government | election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A | note: as of May 2014, seats by party - CE 13, FLNKS 9, UMP 7, Union for Caledonia in France 6, Build Our Rainbow Nation 6, UNI 6, other 7
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; 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]
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
National symbol(s) [time series]
fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: blue, red, green, yellow, black
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Build Our Rainbow Nation | Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GERMAIN] | Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA] | Future Together (l'Avenir Ensemble) [Harold MARTIN] | Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Roch WAMYTAN] | Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI] | National Union for Independence (Union Nationale pour l'Independance) or UNI | Party of Kanak Liberation (Parti de Liberation Kanak) or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE] | Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE] | The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [Pierre FROGIER] | Union for Caledonia in France
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
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 became 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 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct a referendum by November 2018 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.
Military and Security
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)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 22.46% (male 32,025/female 30,648) | 15-24 years: 16.44% (male 23,438/female 22,438) | 25-54 years: 43.5% (male 61,169/female 60,232) | 55-64 years: 8.4% (male 11,352/female 12,097) | 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 11,396/female 14,275) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
15 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129
Death rate [time series]
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 48.3 | youth dependency ratio: 33.9 | elderly dependency ratio: 14.4 | potential support ratio: 6.9 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 98.5% of population | rural: 98.5% of population | total: 98.5% of population | urban: 1.5% of population | rural: 1.5% of population | total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Languages [time series]
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 77.9 years | male: 73.9 years | female: 82 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 96.9% | male: 97.3% | female: 96.5% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
NOUMEA (capital) 181,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 32 years | male: 31.2 years | female: 32.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Nationality [time series]
noun: New Caledonian(s) | adjective: New Caledonian
Net migration rate [time series]
3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population | note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
279,070 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Population distribution [time series]
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Population growth rate [time series]
1.33% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.93 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 71.2% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.91% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 128
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 12 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 10 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 13 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | under 914 m: 8 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
8 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
registered in other countries: 3 (France 3) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 138
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 2 (registered in France) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 (registered in France) (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Noumea
Roadways [time series]
total: 5,622 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 151