01
Physical geography
Coastal plains with interior mountains.
Local timeNouméa ·
Oceania / Melanesia · Card 014
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French territory with a special constitutional status in the southwest Pacific. Its capital is Nouméa.
Find New Caledonia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Nouméa
- Languages
- French & Kanak languages
- Currency
- CFP franc (XPF)
- Population
- 295,3332025 · World Bank
- Area
- 18,575 km²7,171.84 square miles
- Status
- French special collectivityInstitutions established under the Nouméa framework.
New Caledonia in context
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Nouméa; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
French is official. Numerous Kanak languages are used across the islands.
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Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
Flag
The Kanak flag shown here has horizontal blue, red and green bands and a yellow disc containing a black flèche faîtière, a traditional roof ornament. It is widely flown alongside the French tricolor, the national flag.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · French National Assembly broadcaster · April 2026 constitutional bill
History & status
France took possession of New Caledonia in 1853. Conflict over land, political rights and independence shaped relations between the Indigenous Kanak people, settlers and the French state. The 1988 Matignon agreements and 1998 Nouméa Accord established a negotiated political framework. Independence referendums were held in 2018, 2020 and 2021; the third was boycotted by major pro-independence groups. Unrest in 2024 deepened economic and political difficulties.
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France takes possession of New Caledonia
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The Matignon agreements are signed
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The Nouméa Accord is signed
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Major unrest disrupts communities and economic activity
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · French National Assembly broadcaster · April 2026 constitutional bill
Economy
Main activities
Nickel mining and processing are major industrial activities and export earners. Services, public spending and financial transfers from France also support the economy. Nickel prices, high production costs and the disruption caused by the 2024 unrest have placed substantial pressure on businesses and employment.
Industry and production
Nickel mining and metallurgy, construction, retail, tourism and public services.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · French National Assembly broadcaster · April 2026 constitutional bill
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Thousands of people295.32025 · thousands of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 109,338 | 109.338 |
| 1980 | 149,817 | 149.817 |
| 1990 | 176,456 | 176.456 |
| 2000 | 223,098 | 223.098 |
| 2010 | 261,582 | 261.582 |
| 2020 | 284,176 | 284.176 |
| 2025 | 295,333 | 295.333 |
Real GDP, 2015–2015
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars8.72015 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8,738,203,074 | 8.738 |
Government
A French collectivity with a special constitutional status. Its institutions include provincial assemblies, a Congress and a collegial government elected by Congress. A High Commissioner represents the French state. Proposals for a new status remain politically contested; the French National Assembly rejected the Bougival-related constitutional bill in April 2026.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · French National Assembly broadcaster · April 2026 constitutional bill
Knowledge check
Three questions about New Caledonia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for New Caledonia?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · French National Assembly broadcaster · April 2026 constitutional bill
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.