Statistical information New Caledonia 2023
New Caledonia in the World
New Caledonia - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
The first humans settled in New Caledonia around 1600 B.C. The Lapita were skilled navigators and evidence of their pottery around the Pacific has served as a guide for understanding human expansion in the region. Successive waves of migrants from other islands in Melanesia intermarried with the Lapita, giving rise to the Kanak ethnic group considered indigenous to New Caledonia. British explorer James COOK was the first European to visit New Caledonia in 1774, giving it the Latin name for Scotland. Missionaries first landed in New Caledonia in 1840. In 1853, France annexed New Caledonia to preclude any British attempt to claim the island. France declared it a penal colony in 1864 and sent more than 20,000 prisoners to New Caledonia in the ensuing three decades.
Nickel was discovered in 1864 and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that was brutally suppressed by colonial authorities. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, France made New Caledonia an overseas territory and granted French citizenship to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations.
The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s, but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred increasing governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57% to 43%; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53% to 47%. In the third referendum held in December 2021, voters rejected independence 96% to 4%; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. In February 2021, pro-independence parties gained a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time. France and New Caledonia officials remain in talks about the status of the country.
Nickel was discovered in 1864 and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that was brutally suppressed by colonial authorities. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, France made New Caledonia an overseas territory and granted French citizenship to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations.
The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s, but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred increasing governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57% to 43%; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53% to 47%. In the third referendum held in December 2021, voters rejected independence 96% to 4%; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. In February 2021, pro-independence parties gained a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time. France and New Caledonia officials remain in talks about the status of the country.
New Caledonia - Geography 2023
top of pageLocation: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map reference: Oceania
Area
Total: 18,575 km²
Land: 18,275 km²
Water: 300 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries
Total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation
Highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.)
Forest: 45.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 km² (2012)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Geography
Note: 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
New Caledonia - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea: 300,682 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 1.17% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 17% (2008)
Nationality
Noun: New Caledonian(s)
Adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Kanak 39.1%, European 27.1%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.2%, Tahitian 2.1%, Indonesian 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, other 17.7%, unspecified 2.5% (2014 est.)
Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Major-language samples:
Gheos World Guide, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.96% (male 32,199/female 30,825)
15-64 years: 68.45% (male 103,611/female 102,208)
65 years and over: 10.59% (2023 est.) (male 13,914/female 17,925)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 49.6
Youth dependency ratio: 33.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 16
Potential support ratio: 6.3 (2021 est.)
Median age
Total: 33.9 years (2023 est.)
Male: 33.1 years
Female: 34.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2023 est.)
Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Urbanization
Urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas
Population: 198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)
Environment
Current issues: preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.33 megatons (2016 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.1 years (2023 est.)
Male: 75.2 years
Female: 83.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 99.3% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban:
NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.9%
Male: 97.3%
Female: 96.5% (2015)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 41% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 39.2%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 43.2%
New Caledonia - Government 2023
top of pageCountry name
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)
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France
Capital
Name: Noumea
Geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
Time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866, in order to avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the New Caledonian language of Ndrumbea (also spelled Ndumbea, Dubea, and Drubea) spoken in the area gave its name to the capital city, Noumea, as well as to the neighboring town (suburb) of Dumbea
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
Dependent areas
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place
National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
Constitution
History: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)
Amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Legal system: civil law system based on French civil law
International law organization participation
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Patrice FAURE (since 6 June 2021)
Head of government: President of the Government Louis MAPOU (since 22 July 2021); Vice President Isabelle CHAMPMOREAU (since 22 July 2021)
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 8 July 2021 (next to be held in 2,026)
Election results:
2021: Louis MAPOU (PALIKA) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes
2019: Thieryy SANTA (The Republicans) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes
Legislative branch
Description:
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congrès du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblés Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by party-list 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 indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term
New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term
Elections:
Territorial Congress - last held on 12 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
French Senate - election last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2,026)
French National Assembly - election last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held by June 2,027)
French Senate - election last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2,026)
French National Assembly - election last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held by June 2,027)
Election results:
Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26);
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2
Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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 counselors); 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
Political parties and leaders:
Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GOMES]
Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA]
Future With Confidence or AEC [Virginie RUFFENACH]
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO]
Labor Party or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI]
National Union for Independence or UNI [Louis MAPOU]
Oceanian Awakening [Milakulo TUKUMULI]
Party of Kanak Liberation or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Basile CITRE]
The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [Sonia BACKES]
Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA]
Future With Confidence or AEC [Virginie RUFFENACH]
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO]
Labor Party or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI]
National Union for Independence or UNI [Louis MAPOU]
Oceanian Awakening [Milakulo TUKUMULI]
Party of Kanak Liberation or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Basile CITRE]
The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [Sonia BACKES]
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of France)
From the us embassy: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description
: 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 adornmentNational symbols: fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, red
National anthem
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 heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry
New Caledonia - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy overview: upper-middle-income French Pacific territorial economy; enormous nickel reserves; ongoing French independence negotiations; large Chinese nickel exporter; luxury eco-tourism destination; large French aid recipient; high cost-of-living; lingering wealth disparities
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$10.266 billion (2021 est.)
$11.11 billion (2017 est.)
$10.89 billion (2016 est.)
$11.11 billion (2017 est.)
$10.89 billion (2016 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
2% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
3.2% (2015 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
3.2% (2015 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
$35,700 (2021 est.)
$31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)
$31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 64.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 24% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 38.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.7% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -45.5% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.)
Industry: 26.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 72.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture products: coconuts, vegetables, maize, fruit, beef, pork, potatoes, bananas, eggs, yams
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 132,200 (2021 est.)
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
16.57% (2021 est.)
16.43% (2020 est.)
14.91% (2019 est.)
16.43% (2020 est.)
14.91% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 41% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 39.2%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 43.2%
Population below poverty line: 17% (2008)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Revenues: $1.995 billion (2015 est.)
Expenditures: $1.993 billion (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 0% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.4% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
Public debt:
6.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
1.4% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance:
-$654.237 million (2016 est.)
-$1.861 billion (2013 est.)
-$1.861 billion (2013 est.)
Exports:
$1.92 billion (2021 est.)
$1.8 billion (2020 est.)
$1.79 billion (2019 est.)
$1.8 billion (2020 est.)
$1.79 billion (2019 est.)
Partners: China 55%, South Korea 16%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 4%, Spain 3% (2021)
Commodities: iron alloys, nickel, essential oils, recreational boats, shrimp (2021)
Imports:
$2.26 billion (2021 est.)
$2.1 billion (2020 est.)
$2.48 billion (2019 est.)
$2.1 billion (2020 est.)
$2.48 billion (2019 est.)
Partners: France 39%, Australia 14%, Singapore 11%, New Zealand 7%, China 7% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, coal, cars, packaged medicines, delivery trucks (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external:
$112 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$79 million (31 December 1998 est.)
$79 million (31 December 1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 100.88 (2021 est.)
104.711 (2020 est.)
106.589 (2019 est.)
101.047 (2018 est.)
105.633 (2017 est.)
104.711 (2020 est.)
106.589 (2019 est.)
101.047 (2018 est.)
105.633 (2017 est.)
New Caledonia - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 1.071 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 2,940,707,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 64.293 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 91.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 19,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.886 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.007 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)
New Caledonia - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 46,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 260,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2021 est.)
Telephone system
Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast
Internet
Country code: .nc
Users total: 237,800 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 82% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 55,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
New Caledonia - Military 2023
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; France bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC)
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
New Caledonia - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) (registered in France)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (registered in France)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 25 (2021)
With paved runways: 12
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 13
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports: 8 (2021)
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Total: 5,622 km (2006)
Waterways
Merchant marine
Total: 23 (2022)
By type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 17
Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Noumea
New Caledonia - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international: New Caledonia-France-Vanuatu: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs