New Caledonia

overseas territory of France since 1956Independence none (overseas territory of France)

New Caledonia as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNoumea
Area19,060 km2
1992

Every edition of New Caledonia

Populationas each edition published it
174,805 people July 1992 · 153,215 in 1990
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 1.83% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 26.9 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 73.22 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.7 children per woman 1992 · 3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
17 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 39 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $6,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 2.4% in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
19,060km2
Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Coastline
2,254km
land boundaries: noneExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land area

18,760 km2

Climate

  • tropical;
  • modified by southeast trade winds;
  • hot, humid

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

Environment

typhoons most frequent from November to March

Note

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

People

14 fields
Population
174,805
(July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth
23Death
5Net migration
1

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 60%Protestant 30%other 10%
Literacy
91%
(male 91%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)

Infant mortality rate

17 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

70 years male, 76 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

2.7 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

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

Languages

French; 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Labor force

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

Government

Overseas territory of France since 1956

17 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

44.5%
RPCR 44.5%FLNKS 28.5%FN 7%CD 5%UO 4%other 11%

Long-form name

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Type

overseas territory of France since 1956

Capital

Noumea

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence

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

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch

French President, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Leaders

Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991)

Suffrage

universal adult at age 18

Elections

Territorial Assembly:
  • last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993);
  • results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%;
  • seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5;
  • note - election boycotted by FULK
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 - RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%;
  • seats - (2 total) RPCR 2

Member of

FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO

Diplomatic representation

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

Flag

the flag of France is used

Economy

New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources.

17 fields

Budget

Revenues
$224.0 millionExpenditures
$211.0 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Overview

New Caledonia has more than 25% 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.

GNP

exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $6,000 (1991 est.); real growth rate 2.4% (1988)

Exports

$671 million (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities:
nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
partners:
France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%

Imports

$764 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities:
foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
partners:
France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

nickel mining

Agriculture

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

Illicit drugs

illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for some families

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4,185 million

Currency

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

Exchange rates

  • Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 97.81 (January 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987);
  • note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Airports, 29 total, 27 usable

permanent-surface runways
1runways | over 3,659 m
nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m
1runways 1,220-2,439 m
2

Highways

6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)

Ports

Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

Telecommunications

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

Defense Forces

Gendarmerie, Police Force

3 fields

Branches

Gendarmerie, Police Force

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 46,388; NA fit for military service

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Central Intelligence Agency. “New Caledonia.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/new-caledonia/1992.

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →