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New Caledonia
map
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Background:
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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 has dissipated. |
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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, east of Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 S, 165 30 E |
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Area:
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total: 19,060
sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km |
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Climate:
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tropical; modified by southeast trade
winds; hot, humid |
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Terrain:
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coastal plains with interior mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m |
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Natural resources:
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nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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160 sq km (1991) |
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones, most frequent from November to
March |
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Environment - current issues:
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erosion caused by mining exploitation and
forest fires |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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213,679 (July 2004 est.) |
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Ethnic groups:
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Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%,
Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other
10% |
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Languages:
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French (official), 33
Melanesian-Polynesian dialects |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of France since 1956
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of France); note
- a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new
referendum is scheduled for 2014 |
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National holiday:
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Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
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Legal system:
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the 1988 Matignon Accords grant
substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law |
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Economy - overview:
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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
one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.
Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the
recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the
next several years. |
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Labor force:
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79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock
products |
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Industries:
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nickel mining and smelting |
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Exports - commodities:
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ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 21.8%, France 19.2%, Taiwan 14%,
Spain 11%, South Korea 8.5%, Australia 7.2%, Italy 5.1% (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals,
foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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France 46.1%, Australia 9.5%, Singapore
9.3%, New Zealand 4.3% (2003 est.) |
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Currency:
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Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF);
note - may adopt the euro in 2003 |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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52,000 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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80,000 (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 4,825
km
paved: 2,287 km
unpaved: 2,538 km (1999) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mueo, Noumea, Thio |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Malaysia 1
by type: cargo 1 |
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Airports:
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25 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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6 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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no regular indigenous military forces;
French Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police
Force |
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Military - note:
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defence is the responsibility of France
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Disputes - international:
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Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New
Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu |
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